Employment Tribunal Time Limit Doubles to Six Months From 1 October 2026

When something goes wrong at work, one of the first practical questions is often how long you have to do something about it. From 1 October 2026, most people bringing a claim to an employment tribunal in Great Britain will have longer to start the process. The usual time limit will increase from 3 months minus 1 day to 6 months minus 1 day, so the 2026 changes are worth understanding if you may need to take action.

That does not mean every employment claim will automatically have six months, and it does not mean you should wait before getting advice or taking action. The date when the problem happened, the type of claim and the transitional rules can all matter.

What is changing on 1 October 2026?

From 1 October 2026, the time limit for most employment tribunal claims will increase from 3 months minus 1 day to 6 months minus 1 day. The change is being brought into force by section 152 and Schedule 12 of the Employment Rights Act 2025, subject to transitional provisions in regulations made in 2026.

The important point is that this is a change to the time available to bring a claim, not a change to the basic process for making one. You will still need to follow the relevant procedure, including notifying Acas where required.

How long will I have to make an employment tribunal claim?

For most claims, the deadline will be 6 months minus 1 day where the time limit starts on or after 1 October 2026. Before the change, the usual limit is 3 months minus 1 day.

The exact point when the clock starts depends on the type of claim. For example, an unfair dismissal claim usually runs from the effective date of termination, while pay claims generally run from the date the incorrect payment was made and discrimination claims can run from the date of the last act included in the claim.

Because the rules differ between claim types, it is safer to think of 6 months minus 1 day as the new usual limit for most claims rather than a universal deadline for every employment dispute.

Does the six-month deadline apply to every employment claim?

No. Some claims already have different time limits, and there are circumstances where a much shorter deadline applies.

For example, certain statutory redundancy pay, equal pay, trade union and armed forces claims already have a 6 months minus 1 day limit. There are also special procedures with shorter deadlines. In some unfair dismissal situations involving interim relief, for example, the deadline can be just 7 days.

The type of claim therefore matters as much as the general change in October.

What happens if the problem happened before 1 October 2026?

The new six-month rule does not simply apply to every dispute that is still unresolved on 1 October.

The transitional regulations say the amendments do not apply where the relevant date occurs before 1 October 2026. For many claims, the relevant date is the date of the act, conduct or failure complained about. For a series of similar acts or failures, it can be the date of the last act or failure in the series. The legislation also sets specific relevant dates for some categories of claim.

In practical terms, a problem that arose before 1 October 2026 will generally remain subject to the existing shorter time limit, while a relevant event occurring on or after 1 October may fall under the new limit. Because transitional rules can be more complicated for particular claims, readers should check the rules for their specific situation rather than assume which deadline applies.

What does this mean for unfair dismissal claims?

For an unfair dismissal claim in Great Britain, the usual employment tribunal time limit will increase to 6 months minus 1 day where the relevant time limit starts on or after 1 October 2026.

The clock usually starts from the effective date of termination, which in most cases is the last day of employment or the date of dismissal where no notice is given.

The time-limit change is separate from the separate reforms to unfair dismissal qualifying requirements. Do not assume that a longer tribunal deadline means that every dismissal can be challenged as unfair. The eligibility rules for a claim still matter.

What about discrimination, pay and other employment claims?

The change covers the majority of employment tribunal claims, including many claims relating to discrimination, pay, dismissal and other employment rights. However, the starting point for the time limit differs depending on the claim.

Acas says that discrimination time limits usually run from the last act of discrimination being included in the claim. For pay and wages, the limit generally starts from the date you were not paid correctly.

If your situation involves more than one type of claim, or a series of events, working out the correct deadline can become more complicated.

What about Scotland?

The main change takes effect on 1 October 2026 in Scotland for the majority of employment tribunal claims, just as it does in England and Wales.

There is an important Scottish exception for breach-of-employment-contract claims. For those claims, the new six-month time limit starts from 9 November 2026 where the relevant termination date meets the new rules.

That later date does not mean all Scottish employment tribunal deadlines change on 9 November. It is a specific commencement arrangement for breach-of-contract claims. A separate Scotland guide can explain that position in more detail.

What about Northern Ireland?

Northern Ireland has separate employment tribunal arrangements. The main six-month change does not apply there in exactly the same way as it does in Great Britain.

Current government guidance says the changes also apply to certain industrial tribunal claims in Northern Ireland, including specific claims 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.

For other employment disputes in Northern Ireland, readers should use the Northern Ireland-specific guidance rather than assume the Great Britain rules apply.

Does Acas Early Conciliation still matter?

Yes. The extension of the tribunal time limit does not remove the requirement to notify Acas before bringing most employment tribunal claims.

If you notify Acas within the relevant time limit, the limitation period can be paused while Early Conciliation is taking place. Acas says the pause only applies where notification is made within the tribunal time limit.

Early Conciliation can last for up to 12 weeks. If conciliation does not resolve the dispute, Acas issues an Early Conciliation certificate, and you then have at least one month after receiving the certificate to make the tribunal claim, subject to the detailed rules for calculating the time limit.

Do not treat Early Conciliation as a replacement for the tribunal deadline. The safest approach is to start the process promptly if you think you may need to make a claim.

Does raising a grievance extend the tribunal deadline?

No. Raising a grievance, going through disciplinary procedures or appealing an employer’s decision does not automatically change the employment tribunal time limit.

This is important because internal workplace procedures can take time. Acas specifically warns that you still need to notify Acas before your tribunal time limit expires, even if your grievance or appeal is ongoing.

What should you do if you think you may have a claim?

The new six-month limit gives people more time in many cases, but it should not be treated as a reason to put things off.

Start by finding out what type of problem you have and when the relevant event occurred. Keep relevant documents and correspondence together, and consider raising the issue through the appropriate workplace process where that is suitable.

If you are considering an employment tribunal claim, check the current Acas guidance and consider getting independent legal advice. Exact deadlines can be difficult to calculate, particularly where there are several incidents or several possible claims.

What happens if you miss the deadline?

Employment tribunal deadlines are generally strict. In some circumstances a tribunal can accept a claim submitted late, but that depends on the type of claim and the legal test that applies. You should not assume a late claim will be accepted.

Acas advises people to seek help if they think their time limit has already passed.

Employment tribunal time limits 2026 FAQs

When does the employment tribunal time limit change?

For most claims, the new time limit comes into force on 1 October 2026.

Will most employment tribunal claims have six months?

Yes. From 1 October 2026, the usual time limit for most claims becomes 6 months minus 1 day. Some claims have different rules or shorter deadlines.

What if my employment problem happened before 1 October 2026?

The transitional rules mean the new limit does not apply where the relevant date occurs before 1 October 2026. The exact relevant date depends on the claim.

Does Scotland get six months from 1 October 2026?

For most employment tribunal claims, yes. However, there is a later 9 November 2026 commencement date for the new time limit for relevant breach-of-contract claims in Scotland.

Do I still have to contact Acas?

For most employment tribunal claims, yes. You generally need to notify Acas before making the claim, and doing so within the time limit can pause the clock while Early Conciliation takes place.

Does a grievance give me extra time?

No. A grievance, disciplinary process or appeal does not automatically extend the tribunal time limit.

Is every tribunal deadline now six months?

No. The six-month-minus-one-day limit is the new usual limit for most claims, but some claims have different deadlines and some procedures have much shorter limits.

Official information

Acas: Employment tribunal time limits

GOV.UK: Plan to Make Work Pay and Employment Rights Act timeline

legislation.gov.uk: Employment Rights Act 2025 (Commencement No. 5 and Transitional Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

Business.gov.uk: Employment Tribunal Time Limits

GOV.UK: Make a claim to an employment tribunal

Last checked: 28 September 2026.

The law and official guidance can change. This article explains the general position for information and is not a substitute for legal advice. If you think you may have an employment tribunal claim, do not rely on this article alone to work out your deadline.

Related: Employment Rights Changes 2026: The Complete Guide and Sexual Harassment at Work 2026: What Employees Need to Know.