Illegal Migration Act 2023
2023 Chapter 37An Act to make provision for and in connection with the removal from the United Kingdom of persons who have entered or arrived in breach of immigration control; to make provision about detention for immigration purposes; to make provision about unaccompanied children; to make provision about victims of slavery or human trafficking; to make provision about leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom; to make provision about citizenship; to make provision about the inadmissibility of certain protection and certain human rights claims relating to immigration; to make provision about the maximum number of persons entering the United Kingdom annually using safe and legal routes; to make further provision about the credibility of claimants making asylum and human rights claims; and for connected purposes.
Introduction¶
F11 Introduction¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Duty to make arrangements for removal¶
F12 Duty to make arrangements for removal¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F13 Amendment of date in section 2(3) etc¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F14 Unaccompanied children and power to provide for exceptions¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F15 Disregard of certain claims, applications etc¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F16 Removal for the purposes of section 2 or 4¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F27 Powers to amend Schedule 1¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F28 Further provisions about removal¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F29 Support where asylum claim inadmissible¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F210 Other consequential amendments relating to removal¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Detention, bail etc¶
F211 Powers of detention¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .I4I112 Period for which persons may be detained¶
F313 Powers to grant immigration bail¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F314 Disapplication of duty to consult Independent Family Returns Panel¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F315 Electronic devices etc¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Unaccompanied children¶
F416 Accommodation and other support for unaccompanied migrant children¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F417 Transfer of children from Secretary of State to local authority and vice versa¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F418 Duty of local authority to provide information to the Secretary of State¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F419 Enforcement of local authorities’ duties under sections 17 and 18¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F420 Extension to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F421 Transfer of children between local authorities¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Modern slavery¶
F422 Provisions relating to removal and leave¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F423 Provisions relating to support: England and Wales¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F424 Provisions relating to support: Scotland¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F425 Provisions relating to support: Northern Ireland¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F426 Suspension and revival of sections 22 to 25¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F427 Procedure for certain regulations under section 26¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F428 Amendments relating to sections 22 to 25¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .I1229 Disapplication of modern slavery provisions¶
Entry, settlement and citizenship¶
F530 Entry into and settlement in the United Kingdom¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F531 Persons prevented from obtaining British citizenship etc¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F532 British citizenship¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F533 British overseas territories citizenship¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F534 British overseas citizenship¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F535 British subjects¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F536 Disapplication of sections 32 to 35¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F537 Amendments relating to sections 32 to 36¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Legal proceedings¶
F538 Suspensive claims: interpretation¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F539 Serious harm suspensive claims: interpretation¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F540 Meaning of “serious and irreversible harm”¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F541 Relationship with other proceedings¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F542 Serious harm suspensive claims¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F543 Removal conditions suspensive claims¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F544 Appeals in relation to suspensive claims¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F545 Permission to appeal in relation to suspensive claims certified as clearly unfounded¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F546 Suspensive claims out of time¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F547 Suspensive claims: duty to remove¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F548 Upper Tribunal consideration of new matters¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F549 Appeals in relation to suspensive claims: timing¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F550 Procedure for Tribunal Procedure Rules¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F551 Finality of certain decisions by the Upper Tribunal¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .I1452 Judges of First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal¶
In section 5(1) of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (judges and other members of the Upper Tribunal), after paragraph (c) insert—F653 Special Immigration Appeals Commission¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F654 Interim remedies¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F655 Interim measures of the European Court of Human Rights¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F656 Legal aid¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Age assessments etc¶
F657 Decisions relating to a person’s age¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F658 Age assessments: power to make provision about refusal to consent to scientific methods¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Inadmissibility of certain asylum and human rights claims¶
I2I1159 Inadmissibility of certain asylum and human rights claims¶
Safe and legal routes¶
I16I560 Cap on number of entrants using safe and legal routes¶
- “local authority” means—
- in England and Wales, a county council, a county borough council, a district council, a London borough council, the Common Council of the City of London or the Council of the Isles of Scilly, and
- in Scotland, a council constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc (Scotland) Act 1994;
- “safe and legal route” means a route specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State.
F961 Report on safe and legal routes¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Credibility of claimant¶
I8I662 Credibility of claimant: concealment of information etc¶
General¶
I963 Financial provision¶
There is to be paid out of money provided by Parliament—I764 Consequential and minor provision¶
I1565 Regulations¶
F1066 Defined expressions¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .I367 Extent¶
I1368 Commencement¶
I1069 Short title¶
This Act may be cited as the Illegal Migration Act 2023.Schedules
F7Schedule 1 ¶
Countries or territories to which a person may be removed
Section 6
F8Schedule 2 ¶
Electronic devices etc
Section 15
Introduction¶
F83 Power to search relevant persons¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F84 Power to search vehicles and containers¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F85 Power to search premises¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F86 Power to search property¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F87 Power of seizure¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F88 Power of retention¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F89 Power to access, copy and use information stored on relevant article¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F810 Relevant articles containing items subject to legal privilege¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F811 Extension of powers to other persons¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Footnotes
- I1S. 12 in force at 28.9.2023 by S.I. 2023/989, reg. 2(a)
- I2S. 59 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 68(1)
- I3S. 67 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 68(3)(c)
- I4S. 12 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 68(1)
- I5S. 60 in force at 28.9.2023 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2023/989, reg. 2(d)
- I6S. 62 in force at 28.9.2023 by S.I. 2023/989, reg. 2(f)
- I7S. 64 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 68(3)(c)
- I8S. 62 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 68(1)
- I9S. 63 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 68(3)(c)
- I10S. 69 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 68(3)(e)
- I11S. 59 in force at 28.9.2023 for specified purposes by S.I. 2023/989, reg. 2(c)
- I12S. 29 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 68(1)
- I13S. 68 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 68(3)(d)
- I14S. 52 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 68(3)(b)
- I15S. 65 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 68(3)(c)
- I16S. 60(7) in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 68(4)(l)
- C1Act excluded (25.4.2024) by Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act 2024 (c. 8), ss. 2(5)(a), 10(1) (with ss. 4, 10(2)) (which excluding Act is repealed (2.12.2025) by Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 (c. 31), ss. 40, 65(3)(a))
- F1Ss. 1-6 repealed (2.12.2025) by Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 (c. 31), ss. 41(1)(a), 65(3)(a)
- F2Ss. 7-11 repealed (2.12.2025) by Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 (c. 31), ss. 41(1)(b), 65(3)(a)
- F3Ss. 13-15 repealed (2.12.2025) by Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 (c. 31), ss. 41(1)(c), 65(3)(a)
- F4Ss. 16-28 repealed (2.12.2025) by Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 (c. 31), ss. 41(1)(d), 65(3)(a)
- F5Ss. 30-51 repealed (2.12.2025) by Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 (c. 31), ss. 41(1)(e), 65(3)(a)
- F6Ss. 53-58 repealed (2.12.2025) by Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 (c. 31), ss. 41(1)(f), 65(3)(a)
- F7Sch. 1 repealed (2.12.2025) by Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 (c. 31), ss. 41(1)(a), 65(3)(a)
- F8Sch. 2 repealed (2.12.2025) by Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 (c. 31), ss. 41(1)(c), 65(3)(a)
- F9S. 61 repealed (2.12.2025) by Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 (c. 31), ss. 41(1)(g), 65(3)(a)
- F10S. 66 repealed (2.12.2025) by Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 (c. 31), ss. 41(1)(h), 65(3)(a)