The Home Office has appointed Planning Inspectorate boss Paul Morrison as its new director general for visas, passports, citizenship and resettlement services.
Morrison, who has spent around 17 years of his career at the Home Office, will return to the department in January.
His most recent role at the Home Office – from 2015 to 2019 – was director for director, resettlement, asylum support and integration, UK Visas and Immigration.
Morrison will take on some of the responsibilities previously held by Joanna Rowland, who was until recently DG for the department’s customer services group – which oversees asylum support and accommodation, passports, citizenship and visas. As part of this role, Rowland was also DG for UK Visas and Immigration and HM Passport Office.
Rowland left the civil service to join the RSPCA as chief executive on 14 November, with Marc Owen appointed as acting DG for visas, passports and citizenship services, including UKVI and HMPO, from 17 November 2025.
The Home Office also recently appointed Rannia Leontaridi to a new position of DG for its asylum group.
At the Planning Inspectorate, chief operating officer Graham Stallwood has been appointed as interim chief exec ahead of an open recruitment campaign in 2026.
Morrison said: "Leading the Planning Inspectorate has been a great privilege. During my time here, I’m proud that we’ve significantly reduced appeal waiting times, modernised digital services and maintained high quality decision-making. None of this would have been possible without the commitment and skill of outstanding colleagues.
"After three years in this role, now feels like the right moment for a new challenge and I’m excited to return to the Home Office as director general for visas, passports, citizenship and resettlement services."