UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme
Source: gov.uk (2025-12-02)

Guidance for submitting an expression of interest application to come to the UK under the UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme.

Overview

The UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme is a way for you to enter the UK legally if you are in France. Your partner and children will be able to come with you if they are also in France. Your children must be under 18.

There are a limited number of places to come to the UK on the scheme which will be released gradually.

If successful, you will be given entry clearance to the UK for up to 3 months.

You must not attempt to travel to the UK while you wait for a decision from the Home Office.

Coming to the UK on the UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme has 5 steps:

Submit an expression of interest application (#how-to) for you or your family

Confirm you are in France (#confirm-location) using your mobile phone or other device

Prove your identity (#prove-identity) at an in-person appointment

Prepare to travel to the UK (#travel-uk)

Get help in the UK (#help-on-arrival)

Each of these steps and what you’ll need to complete them is explained below.

Do not submit an expression of interest application if you:
- are not in France
- have previously entered or arrived in the UK illegally
- have international protection from any other country
- are officially recognised as stateless by any other country
- are from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland
- are the family member of someone from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland
- have immigration permission in France
- have previously been refused entry clearance on the scheme
What you will need

When you start your expression of interest application, you cannot save the form and come back. Make sure you have everything you need before you start.

You will need:

a mobile phone

an email address

a valid or expired document that shows your identity and nationality, such as a passport or national identity document – if you are selected you will need to bring this to your appointment

a digital photo of your passport or other document (valid or expired) to upload to the application form

a recent digital photo of yourself – it must be no more than 3 months old

If you are applying as a family member you will also need evidence of your family relationship. For example:

a copy of a marriage or civil partnership certificate

a birth certificate for children

How to submit an expression of interest application

You can apply by yourself, or as a family group. Your family group can include you and your:
- husband, wife or civil partner
- children under 18
You must submit your own expression of interest application if you are 18 or over. You can ask someone for help.

If you are under 18 you must apply as part of a family group with a parent. You can submit your own form, or your parent can do it for you.

One adult family member must apply first. If you are the first person applying as part of a family group, you will be asked to list the names of your family members applying with you on your application form.

You will be sent a family reference number by email after you submit your expression of interest application. Your family members must use this reference number when they fill in their own expression of interest applications. They will also need to provide evidence of their relationship to you or other members of the family.

Applicants under 18 can use the email address and phone number provided by the main applicant. Adult family members should provide their own email address and phone number.

Family groups will have their expression of interest applications assessed together.

You will need to upload a copy of a valid or expired document containing a photo of you that shows your identity and nationality, such as a:
- passport
- travel document
- national identity document
- UK biometric residence permit
If you are selected, you must bring the original, physical version of this document to your appointment.

If you do not have any of these documents, you may be able to use a combination of other official documents, such as a photo driving licence and birth certificate. At least one of your documents must show a photo of you, your name, date of birth, nationality and sex. You will need to bring these documents to your appointment.

When you start your expression of interest application you cannot save the form and come back. Make sure you have everything you need before you start.

Start now (https://www.register-uk-european-applicant-transfer-scheme.homeoffice.gov.uk/start)

Confirm your location

After you and any other adult in your family group have submitted an expression of interest application, you will each get an email and text message with instructions on how to prove you are in France. You will have 24 hours to reply to this message. If you cannot find the email in your inbox, check your junk or spam folder.

The Home Office will then review your application. This may take some time, and you should not contact the Home Office to ask about progress. The Home Office will contact you after your expression of interest application has been considered.

You will not need to make any other application to the scheme.

If you are selected to be considered to come to the UK, the Home Office will contact you to confirm your identity in person.

If your expression of interest application is unsuccessful

If your expression of interest is unsuccessful you will be contacted, but this may take some time. If you have applied as a family group, other family members will also be unsuccessful.

You may be able to apply again, unless your application was rejected because you were not in France.

If your expression of interest was rejected before 12 November 2025 with a message stating you cannot reapply, you may still be eligible, except if the rejection was due to you not being in France.

Any future UK visa applications you make will be considered separately.

Prove your identity in person

As part of the application, you will need to prove your identity. You will be given an in-person appointment in France to provide your biometrics (fingerprints and a photo).

You cannot provide your biometrics without an appointment.

You must bring the original, physical identity documents that you used in your online application to your appointment.

You must be prepared to travel to the UK immediately after your appointment if your application is successful.

You must not attempt to travel to the UK while you wait for a decision from the Home Office.

Getting a decision on your application

If your application is successful, you will be informed about your travel to the UK. You will be granted entry clearance to the UK for up to 3 months to allow you to travel to the UK legally.

If your application is unsuccessful at this stage, you will get an email from the Home Office explaining the decision.

If your application is refused at this stage, you will not be able to apply again.

If one person’s application is unsuccessful and you are applying as a family, the whole family group will be unsuccessful.

Travel to the UK if your entry clearance application is successful

We will check you are fit to travel to the UK.

You will be provided with information about your journey to the UK. You will be given a travel document to use to travel to the UK and escorted to your transport.

Get help in the UK

You will be met after you’ve landed in the UK and passed through immigration control. We will help to arrange travel for you.

You may be able to stay with family already living in the UK or make other arrangements. We will discuss this with you.

You will not be able to work, study or access public funds on this visa. If you want to stay in the UK you will need to successfully apply for another type of permission to stay (https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration), such as a visa or asylum, once you have arrived.