Employment Tribunal Time Limits

What's changing

From 1 October 2026,  time limits within which an employee may make a claim to an employment tribunal will increase from 3  months to 6  months, in line with the time limit for statutory redundancy and equal pay claims.

This will provide employees and employers with more time to resolve disputes internally or through the conciliation process and to consider the merits of making a claim to an employment tribunal.

Key changes from 1 October 2026

  • This measure increases time limits within which an employee may make a claim to an employment tribunal from 3 months to 6  months, bringing the time limit for the majority of claims in line with the time limit for statutory redundancy and equal pay claims.
  • For breach of employment contract claims in England and Wales, this change will commence on 1 October 2026. For breach of employment contract claims in Scotland, the change will commence on 9 November 2026.

What this means for you

  • The time limit within which you are able to make a claim to the employment tribunal will increase from 3 months to 6 months from 1 October 2026 for the majority of claims.
  • For breach of employment contract claims in England and Wales, this change will commence on 1 October 2026. For breach of employment contract claims in Scotland, the change will commence on 9 November 2026.
  • The process for making a claim, including notifying Acas, has not changed.
  • Where your dispute cannot be resolved using workplace procedures and/or conciliation, the increased time limit will provide an opportunity for you to consider the merits of making a claim to an employment tribunal.
  • If your time limit has passed, you can still make a claim to an employment tribunal.  Judges still have the discretion to consider out of time claims on a case-by-case basis.

What you can do now

  • This change will apply automatically – you do not need to do anything.
  • Be aware that the new 6 month time limit will apply to claims where the problem at work happens on or after 1 October 2026. Where the problem at work happens before 1 October 2026, the existing 3 month time limit will apply.
  • For breach of employment contract claims by employees in England and Wales, the new 6 month time limit will apply where date of the termination of the contract giving rise to the claim occurs on or after 1 October 2026.
  • For breach of employment contract claims by employees in Scotland, the new 6 month time limit will apply where the date of termination of the contract giving rise to the claim occurs on or after 9 November 2026.

Where these changes will apply

Employment tribunal time limit changes apply to England, Wales and Scotland, and also apply to certain cases heard by industrial tribunals in Northern Ireland. In Northern Ireland, the changes would only apply to industrial tribunal claims brought under the National Minimum Wage Act 1998, the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Hours of Work) Regulations 2018, and the Civil Aviation (Working Time) Regulations 2004.

Where to get help

More guidance is available on:

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