Home Office statement on UK-France deal  - Changes to immigration rules

The GLA Migration Sector Advisory Panel has received the following lines from the Home Office’s Asylum and Resettlement External Relations team regarding steps taken towards dismantling criminal trade in small boat crossings:

• “The Treaty between the UK and France taking the latest step towards dismantling the criminal trade in small boat crossings came into effect on Wednesday 6^th August 2025.  

• The agreement means that anyone entering the UK on a small boat can be detained immediately on arrival and returned to France by the UK government

• Under the ‘one-in, one-out’ scheme, an equal number of migrants will be eligible to come to the UK through a new route if they have not attempted an illegal crossing before – subject to full documentation and security and eligibility checks. 

• The first returns to France were successfully completed on 18^th September, and the first applicants arrived under the exchange terms of the Treaty last week through the new safe, legal route.”

The following page provides background information:  Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: CP 1373, 5 August 2025 - GOV.UK.