Transfers into and returns from the United Kingdom under the UK-France Agreement on the Prevention of Dangerous Journeys, between 6 August 2025 and 30 June 2026
Published 16 July 2026
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This ad hoc statistical release outlines the information on transfers into and returns from the United Kingdom (UK) under the UK-France Agreement. The release covers activity from the commencement of operational delivery on 6 August 2025 to 30 June 2026.
The statistics are intended to provide transparency on the operation of the UK-France Agreement. They include information on the number of individuals transferred to the UK under the agreement (‘IN’) and the number of individuals returned from the UK to France through the readmission process (‘OUT’).
The publication of this information supports the Border Security Commander’s Annual Report which was published on 16 July 2026. It is intended to provide the public with clear and timely statistics in an area of high public interest. The next immigration system statistics quarterly release will be published on 27 August 2026, providing comprehensive statistics on people coming to the UK (including via illegal routes) and returns from the UK.
1. Background to the UK-France Agreement
The UK–France Agreement on the Prevention of Dangerous Journeys came into force on 6 August 2025 and established a pilot partnership between the UK and France. It is intended to deter dangerous small boat crossings across the English Channel, disrupt organised immigration crime, and save lives by demonstrating that journeys to the UK via illegal routes are not a viable route to remain in the country.
The pilot operates on a reciprocal basis. For every eligible individual returned from the UK to France, an equivalent number will be transferred from France to the UK. Individuals transferred to the UK are subject to eligibility, security and identity checks prior to travel. Those returned to France are individuals who arrived in the UK via small boat and fall within the scope of the readmission arrangements agreed between the 2 countries.
‘IN’ figures represent individuals who have been transferred from France to the UK under the agreement, following completion of the relevant eligibility, documentation and security processes.
‘OUT’ figures represent individuals who arrived in the UK via small boat from France; were identified as being within the scope of the pilot scheme; and have subsequently been returned to France under the readmission arrangements established by the agreement.
2. Individuals transferred into and returned from the UK under the UK-France Agreement
As of 30 June 2026, there were 1,117 individuals transferred to the UK and 1,087 individuals returned to France under the agreement.
Table 1: Number of individuals per month who have been transferred to the UK (‘IN’) and returned to France (‘OUT’) under the UK–France Agreement on the Prevention of Dangerous Journeys, August 2025 to June 2026
| Year | Month | IN | OUT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | August | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | September | 3 | 17 |
| 2025 | October | 51 | 58 |
| 2025 | November | 87 | 78 |
| 2025 | December | 104 | 64 |
| 2026 | January | 122 | 88 |
| 2026 | February | 3 | 49 |
| 2026 | March | 73 | 109 |
| 2026 | April | 138 | 142 |
| 2026 | May | 222 | 218 |
| 2026 | June | 314 | 264 |
| Total | Total | 1,117 | 1,087 |
Source: Home Office operational reporting systems
3. Notes and data quality
The figures are derived from operational reporting systems and have been reconciled against the entry clearance visas, asylum claims, and returns data used for the Immigration system statistics quarterly release. Individuals transferred into the UK are also recorded in visa case working systems and therefore recorded as visas issued within the wider entry clearance visa datasets (Vis_D02). Those who claim asylum are also recorded in asylum case working systems and recorded within the wider asylum datasets (Asy_D01). Individuals returned to France are recorded in returns case working systems and are therefore recorded in the wider returns datasets (Ret_D01 of the Immigration system statistics data tables). More detail on the wider entry clearance visas, asylum claims, and returns data can be found in the User guide to: Immigration system statistics.
Operational data may be revised where records are corrected, duplicate applications are identified, or cases are reclassified following further investigation or assurance activity.
The ‘OUT’ figures count completed returns to France rather than referrals, detention activity or readmission requests.
Individuals who have previously been returned to France under the UK-France Agreement on the Prevention of Dangerous Journeys and who subsequently re-enter the UK via illegal routes are counted only once, independently of whether they have been returned to France on more than one occasion.