Policy paper

Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: CP 1373, 5 August 2025 (accessible)

Published 5 August 2025

Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for the Home Department by Command of His Majesty

August 2025

(This document is accompanied by an Explanatory Memorandum)

CP 1373

Statement of changes in Immigration Rules^{[footnote 1]}

The Home Secretary has made the changes hereinafter stated in the rules laid down by them as to the practice to be followed in the administration of the Immigration Acts for regulating entry into and the stay of persons in the United Kingdom and contained in the statement laid before Parliament on 23 May 1994 (HC 395) as amended. The amending statements were laid before, or presented to, Parliament on 20 September 1994 (Cm 2663), 26 October 1995 (HC 797), 4 January 1996 (Cm 3073), 7 March 1996 (HC 274), 2 April 1996 (HC 329), 29 August 1996 (Cm 3365), 31 October 1996 (HC 31), 27 February 1997 (HC 338), 29 May 1997 (Cm 3669), 5 June 1997 (HC 26), 30 July 1997 (HC 161), 11 May 1998 (Cm 3953), 7 October 1998 (Cm 4065), 18 November 1999 (HC 22), 28 July 2000 (HC 704), 20 September 2000 (Cm 4851), 28 August 2001 (Cm 5253), 16 April 2002 (HC 735), 27 August 2002 (Cm 5597), 7 November 2002 (HC 1301), 26 November 2002 (HC 104), 8 January 2003 (HC 180), 10 February 2003 (HC 389), 31 March 2003 (HC 538), 30 May 2003 (Cm 5829), 24 August 2003 (Cm 5949), 12 November 2003 (HC 1224), 17 December 2003 (HC 95), 12 January 2004 (HC 176), 26 February 2004 (HC 370), 31 March 2004 (HC 464), 29 April 2004 (HC 523), 3 August 2004 (Cm 6297), 24 September 2004 (Cm 6339), 18 October 2004 (HC 1112), 20 December 2004 (HC 164), 11 January 2005 (HC 194), 7 February 2005 (HC 302), 22 February 2005 (HC 346), 24 March 2005 (HC 486), 15 June 2005 (HC 104), 12 July 2005 (HC 299), 24 October 2005 (HC 582), 9 November 2005 (HC 645), 21 November 2005 (HC 697), 19 December 2005 (HC 769), 23 January 2006 (HC 819), 1 March 2006 (HC 949), 30 March 2006 (HC 1016), 20 April 2006 (HC 1053), 19 July 2006 (HC 1337), 18 September 2006 (Cm 6918), 7 November 2006 (HC 1702), 11 December 2006 (HC 130), 19 March 2007 (HC 398), 3 April 2007 (Cm 7074), 4 April 2007 (Cm 7075), 7 November 2007 (HC 28), 13 November 2007 (HC 40), 19 November 2007 (HC 82), 6 February 2008 (HC 321), 17 March 2008 (HC 420), 9 June 2008 (HC 607), 10 July 2008 (HC 951), 15 July 2008 (HC 971), 4 November 2008 (HC 1113), 9 February 2009 (HC 227), 9 March 2009 (HC 314), 24 April 2009 (HC 413), 9 September 2009 (Cm 7701), 23 September 2009 (Cm 7711), 10 December 2009 (HC 120), 10 February 2010 (HC 367), 18 March 2010 (HC 439), 28 June 2010 (HC 59), 15 July 2010 (HC 96), 22 July 2010 (HC 382), 19 August 2010 (Cm 7929), 1 October 2010 (Cm 7944), 21 December 2010 (HC 698), 16 March 2011 (HC 863), 31 March 2011 (HC 908), 13 June 2011 (HC 1148), 19 July 2011 (HC 1436), 10 October 2011 (HC 1511), 7 November 2011 (HC 1622), 8 December 2011 (HC 1693), 20 December 2011 (HC 1719), 19 January 2012 (HC 1733), 15 March 2012 (HC 1888), 4 April 2012 (Cm 8337), 13 June 2012 (HC 194), 9 July 2012 (HC 514), 19 July 2012 (Cm 8423), 5 September 2012 (HC 565), 22 November 2012 (HC 760), 12 December 2012 (HC 820), 20 December 2012 (HC 847), 30 January 2013 (HC 943), 7 February 2013 (HC 967), 11 March 2013 (HC 1038), 14 March 2013 (HC 1039), 9 April 2013 (Cm 8599), 10 June 2013 (HC 244), 31 July 2013 (Cm 8690), 6 September 2013 (HC 628), 9 October 2013 (HC 686), 8 November 2013 (HC 803), 9 December 2013 (HC 887), 10 December 2013 (HC 901), 18 December 2013 (HC 938), 10 March 2014 (HC 1130), 13 March 2014 (HC 1138), 1 April 2014 (HC 1201), 10 June 2014 (HC 198), 10 July 2014 (HC 532), 16 October 2014 (HC 693), 26 February 2015 (HC 1025), 16 March 2015 (HC1116), 13 July 2015 (HC 297), 17 September 2015 (HC 437), 29 October 2015 (HC535), 11 March 2016 (HC 877), 3 November 2016 (HC 667), 16 March 2017 (HC 1078), 20 July 2017 (HC 290), 7 December 2017 (HC 309), 15 March 2018 (HC 895), 15 June 2018 (HC 1154), 20 July 2018 (Cm 9675), 11 October 2018 (HC 1534), 11 December 2018 (HC 1779), 20 December 2018 (HC 1849), 7 March 2019 (HC 1919), 1 April 2019 (HC 2099), 9 September 2019 (HC 2631), 24 October 2019 (HC 170), 30 January 2020 (HC 56), 12 March 2020 (HC 120), 14 May 2020 (CP 232), 10 September 2020 (HC 707), 22 October 2020 (HC 813), 10 December 2020 (HC 1043), 31 December 2020 (CP 361), 4 March 2021 (HC 1248), 10 September 2021 (HC 617), 11 October 2021 (CP 542), 1 November 2021 (HC 803), 14 December 2021 (HC 913), 24 January 2022 (HC 1019), 17 February 2022 (CP 632), 15 March 2022 (HC 1118), 29 March 2022 (HC 1220), 11 May 2022 (HC 17), 20 July 2022 (HC 511), 18 October 2022 (HC 719), 9 March 2023 (HC 1160), 17 July 2023 (HC 1496), 19 July 2023 (HC 1715), 7 September 2023 (HC 1780), 7 December 2023 (HC 246), 15 February 2024 (HC 556), 14 March 2024 (HC 590), 10 September 2024 (HC 217), 26 November 2024 (HC 344), 12 March 2025 (HC 733), 24 June 2025 (HC 836) and 1 July 2025 (HC 997).

Implementation

The following paragraphs shall take effect on the date on which the Treaty between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the French Republic concerning the prevention of dangerous journeys enters into force:

• 9.1
• APP UEATS1

Review

Before the end of each review period, the Secretary of State undertakes to review all of the relevant Immigration Rules including any Relevant Rule amended or added by these changes. The Secretary of State will set out the conclusions of the review in a report and publish the report.

The report must in particular:

(a) consider each of the Relevant Rules and whether or not each Relevant Rule achieves its objectives and is still appropriate; and

(b) assess whether those objectives remain appropriate and, if so, the extent to which they could be achieved with a system that imposes less regulation.

“Review period” means:

(a) the period of five years beginning on 6 April 2017; and

(b)subject to the paragraph below, each successive period of five years.

If a report under this provision is published before the last day of the review period to which it relates, the following review period is to begin with the day on which that report is published.

“Relevant Rule” means an Immigration Rule which:

imposes requirements, restrictions or conditions, or sets standards, in relation to any activity carried on by a business or voluntary or community body; or

relates to the securing of compliance with, or the enforcement of, requirements, restrictions, conditions or standards which relate to any activity carried on by a business or voluntary or community body.

Changes to Part 9

9.1. For paragraph 9.1.2, substitute:

“9.1.2. Part 9 applies to the following:

a) Appendix Victim of Domestic Abuse, except paragraph 9.8.4.(a)

b) Appendix Bereaved Partner, except paragraph 9.8.4.(a)

c) Appendix HM Armed Forces

d) Appendix International Armed Forces and International Civilian Employees

e) Appendix Adoption

f) Appendix Family Reunion (Sponsors with Protection)

g) Appendix Child Relative (Sponsors with Protection)

h) Appendix Temporary Permission to Stay for Victims of Human Trafficking or Slavery.

i) Appendix UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme”.

Insertion of new Appendix UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme

APP UEATS1. After Appendix Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP), insert:

“Appendix UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme

Under the UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme (‘Scheme’), the Secretary of State will transfer a limited number of people from France to the UK. The total number of people transferred to the UK will correlate with the number of people who are removed from the UK under the pilot arrangement on the prevention of dangerous journeys.

Applicants to the UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme must be aged 18 or over at the time they submit their application, unless they are applying with a family member who is over the age of 18.

There is a two-stage application process under the Scheme. An applicant must first submit an Expression of Interest application.

The Scheme operates application windows for Expression of Interest applications to be submitted. The Secretary of State for the Home Department will determine any application window. Expression of Interest applications submitted outside an application window will be rejected.

Expression of Interest applications that are made from outside France will not be considered. For Expressions of Interest applications made from within France, the Home Office will decide which Expression of Interest applications will proceed to Entry Clearance, in line with prioritisation criteria set out in guidance for the Scheme. Any outstanding Expression of Interest applications at the time the pilot closes will be rejected.

When an Expression of Interest application is selected, the Home Office will complete an application for entry clearance on behalf of the applicant. Entry clearance applications will be considered against the requirements set out in these Rules.

The Secretary of State may, at their discretion, pause consideration of applications under the scheme to assess whether the volume required to match returns has been met, and will close the scheme when the volume required has been reached. This Scheme cannot be used to apply for leave outside the Rules.

Definitions

For the purposes of this Appendix, a “family group” means two or more applicants who are related to one another as a parent, child or partner, who have confirmed on their Expression of Interest application that they are applying with other family members.

For the purposes of this Appendix, a “family reference number” means the reference provided to an applicant who applies first and indicates that they are applying as part of a family group. That applicant then provides the family reference number to all other members of the family group for them to provide as part of their Expression of Interest application.

For the purposes of this Appendix, “the cap’’ means the total number of individuals removed from the UK through the pilot arrangement on prevention of dangerous journeys at the end of the pilot period.

For the purposes of this Appendix, “application window” means a period determined by the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which Expression of Interest applications may be submitted under the UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme, having regard to the need to meet the cap.

Void applications

UEATS 1.1. A person’s Expression of Interest application will be void if a person has previously submitted an Expression of Interest application and any of the following apply:

a) it was rejected because the person was outside France; or

b) the stated family unit applying has changed between applications (unless the change is as a result of a birth or death in the family); or

c) entry clearance was refused.

UEATS 1.2. A person cannot make multiple active applications at the same time. Where multiple applications are made, only one will be considered.

UEATS 1.3. A person’s entry clearance application will be void if they have not provided any required biometrics.

UEATS 1.4. If a person with an outstanding Expression of Interest or Entry Clearance application under this Scheme travels to the UK and arrives or enters without permission, their application will be void.

Validity requirements

UEATS 2.1. A person making an Expression of Interest application for the UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme must apply online using the specified form: Register for the UK/European Applicant Transfer scheme.

UEATS 2.2. A person making an Expression of Interest application for the UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme must be in France when they submit their application as confirmed by information requested by the Home Office to confirm their location.

UEATS 2.3. An Expression of Interest for the UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme must meet all the following requirements:

a) the applicant must be aged 18 or over on the date the Expression of Interest application is submitted unless they are applying as part of a family group with a parent who is aged 18 or over; and

b) the applicant must not be an EEA national, or enjoy free movement rights as a family member of an EEA national; and

c) the applicant must upload a copy of a passport or other document and a recent photograph which satisfactorily establishes their identity and nationality as part of their Expression of Interest application; and

d) the applicant must have submitted their Expression of Interest application within an application window; and

e) the applicant must not have been granted international protection by another country which, for this purpose, includes being officially recognised as stateless; and

f) the applicant must not have immigration permission in France; and

g) the applicant must not have declared any information on their Expression of Interest application form that could lead to a refusal under Part 9: grounds for refusal.

UEATS 2.4. An applicant who is applying first as part of a family group must:

a) confirm on their Expression of Interest application form that they are applying as part of a family group; and

b) have listed the names of all other family members who are applying as part of their family group on their Expression of Interest application.

UEATS 2.5. All family members in a family group applying after the first applicant must:

a) indicate that they are applying as part of a family group on their Expression of Interest application; and

b) provide the family reference number for their family group on their Expression of Interest application as provided to them by the first applicant; and

c) provide satisfactory evidence of their family connection to the family group.

UEATS 2.6. An Expression of Interest application under the UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme which does not meet all of the validity requirements will be rejected as invalid and not considered.

UEATS 2.7. If an Expression of Interest application under the UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme submitted as part of a family group is rejected as invalid, all linked applications in that family group will also be rejected as invalid and not considered.

UEATS 2.8. An application for entry clearance under the UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme must meet all the following requirements:

a) The application for entry clearance must have been made by the Home Office on behalf of the applicant after a valid Expression of Interest application has been selected for consideration for entry clearance; and

b) The applicant must have provided any required biometrics; and

c) The applicant must have provided a passport or other document which satisfactorily established their identity and nationality.

UEATS 2.9. An Expression of Interest application submitted after the cap has been reached will be rejected.

UEATS 2.10. Expression of Interest applications will be rejected if they have not been selected for consideration for entry clearance at the point the cap is reached.

Suitability requirements

UEATS 3.1. The applicant must not fall for refusal under Part 9: grounds for refusal.

UEATS 3.2. The applicant must not have previously entered or arrived illegally in the UK.

Entry clearance application eligibility requirements

UEATS 4.1. The applicant must not have been granted international protection in another country since submitting their Expression of Interest application.

UEATS 4.2. The applicant must not have immigration status in France.

Decision on an application for UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme

UEATS 5.1. An entry clearance application which does not meet the suitability or eligibility requirements will be refused, otherwise it will be granted, subject to UEATS 5.2. and UEATS 5.3.

UEATS 5.2. If the entry clearance application was submitted as part of a family group and is refused, entry clearance will be refused in respect of all linked applications in that family group.

UEATS 5.3. If the cap has been reached before entry clearance is granted, the entry clearance application will be refused regardless of whether the Expression of Interest application is valid.

Cancellation of permission under UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme

UEATS 6.1. Permission under the UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme may be cancelled if:

a) the applicant ceases to meet the requirements of the Rules under which the entry clearance was granted; or

b) the applicant does not present for travel to the UK, without reasonable excuse, when directed by the Home Office; or

c) the applicant does not collect their visa, without reasonable excuse, when directed by the Home Office; or

d) the applicant has been granted international protection elsewhere; or

e) it is discovered that the applicant had immigration permission in France at the time they applied or were being considered under the Scheme.

Period and conditions under UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme

UEATS 7.1. The applicant will be granted entry clearance to come to the UK for a period of up to three months.

UEATS 7.2. The grant of entry clearance will be subject to all the following conditions:

a) No access to public funds; and

b) No work is permitted; and

c) No study is permitted.

Travel document

UEATS 8.1. A person granted permission under UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme will be provided with a travel document to use to travel to the UK.”.

1. This Statement of Changes can be viewed at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-rules-statement-of-changes. ↩