Immigration Rules Appendix UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-11)

Immigration Rules 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
- 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.
- 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 Suitability.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Suitability.

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
- 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.
- 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.