The Immigration (Leave to Enter and Remain) Order 2000

Extent to which Entry Clearance is to be Leave to Enter U.K.

4.—(1) A visit visa [F1 (other than a visit visa granted pursuant to the ADS Agreement with China [F2 , or a visit visa for private medical treatment or for entry as an academic visitor]) unless endorsed with a statement that it is to have effect as a single-entry visa]F3 ... shall have effect as leave to enter the United Kingdom on an unlimited number of occasions [F4 during its period of validity], in accordance with paragraph (2).

(2) On each occasion the holder arrives in the United Kingdom, he shall be treated for the purposes of the Immigration Acts as having been granted, before arrival, leave to enter the United Kingdom for a limited period beginning on the date of arrival, being:

(a) six months if six months or more remain of the visa’s period of validity; or

(b) the visa’s remaining period of validity, if less than six months.

[F5 (2A) A visit visa granted pursuant to the ADS Agreement with China endorsed with a statement that it is to have effect as a dual-entry visa, shall have effect as leave to enter the United Kingdom on two occasions during its period of validity, in accordance with paragraph (2B).

(2B) On arrival in the United Kingdom [or entry into a Control Zone ] [or entry into a control zone in France or Belgium, or a supplementary control zone in France, seeking to arrive in the United Kingdom through the tunnel system] on each occasion, the holder shall be treated for the purposes of the Immigration Acts as having been granted, before arrival [or entry into a Control Zone] [or entry into the control zone or supplementary control zone], leave to enter the United Kingdom for a limited period, being the period beginning on the date on which the holder arrives in the United Kingdom [or enters a Control Zone] [or enters a control zone in France or Belgium, or a supplementary control zone in France, seeking to arrive in the United Kingdom through the tunnel system] and ending on the date of expiry of the entry clearance.]

[F6 (2C) A visit visa granted for private medical treatment or for entry as an academic visitor, unless endorsed with a statement that it is to have effect as a single-entry visa, shall have effect as leave to enter the United Kingdom on an unlimited number of occasions during its period of validity in accordance with paragraph (2D).

(2D) On arrival in the United Kingdom [or entry into a Control Zone] [or entry into a control zone in France or Belgium, or a supplementary control zone in France, seeking to arrive in the United Kingdom through the tunnel system] on each occasion, the holder shall be treated for the purposes of the Immigration Acts as having been granted, before arrival [or entry into a Control Zone] [or entry into the control zone or supplementary control zone], leave to enter the United Kingdom for a limited period beginning on the date of arrival [or entry into the Control Zone] [or entry into the control zone or supplementary control zone], being—

(a) where the visit visa is granted for private medical treatment—

(i) 11 months if 11 months remain of the visa’s period of validity, or

(ii) the visa’s remaining period of validity, if less than 11 months, and

(b) where the visit visa is granted for entry as an academic visitor—

(i) 12 months if 12 months remain of the visa’s period of validity, or

(ii) the visa’s remaining period of validity, if less than 12 months.]

[F7 (2E) A Service Provider from Switzerland visa shall have effect as leave to enter the United Kingdom on an unlimited number of occasions during its period of validity, in accordance with paragraph (2F).

(2F) On arrival in the United Kingdom on each occasion, the holder shall be treated for the purposes of the Immigration Acts as having been granted, before arrival, leave to enter the United Kingdom for a limited period beginning on the date of arrival, being:

(a) 90 days if 90 days or more remain of the entry clearance’s period of validity; or

(b) the entry clearance’s remaining period of validity, if less than 90 days.]

(3) In the case of [F8 any form of entry clearance to which this paragraph applies], it shall have effect as leave to enter the United Kingdom on one occasion during its period of validity; and, on arrival in the United Kingdom, the holder shall be treated for the purposes of the Immigration Acts as having been granted, before arrival, leave to enter the United Kingdom:

(a) in the case of an entry clearance which is endorsed with a statement that it is to have effect as indefinite leave to enter the United Kingdom, for an indefinite period; or

(b) in the case of an entry clearance which is endorsed with conditions, for a limited period, being the period beginning on the date on which the holder arrives in the United Kingdom and ending on the date of expiry of the entry clearance.

[F9 (3A) Paragraph (3) applies to –

(a) a visit visa (other than a visit visa granted pursuant to the ADS Agreement with China) endorsed with a statement that it is to have effect as a single entry visa;

(b) a visit visa granted pursuant to the ADS Agreement with China unless endorsed with a statement to the effect that it is to have effect as a dual entry visa; and

(c) any other form of entry clearance [F10 except those to which paragraph (3B) applies].]

[F11 (3B) A short term biometric entry clearance shall have effect as leave to enter the United Kingdom on one occasion during its period of validity; and, on arrival in the United Kingdom, the holder shall be treated for the purposes of the Immigration Acts as having been granted, before arrival, leave to enter the United Kingdom—

(a) in the case of an entry clearance which is endorsed with an indefinite period of leave, for an indefinite period; or

(b) in the case of an entry clearance which is endorsed with conditions, for a limited period, being the period beginning on the date on which the holder arrives in the United Kingdom and ending on the date of the expiry of the holder’s period of leave.]

(4) In this article “period of validity” means the period beginning on the day on which the entry clearance becomes effective and ending on the day on which it expires.

[F12 (5) In this article—

(a) “period of leave” means the intended period of leave which—

(i) in the case of an indefinite intended period of leave, is endorsed on the person’s short term biometric entry clearance; or

(ii) in the case of a limited period of leave, is stated in the written decision which accompanies the person’s short term biometric entry clearance,

and such a period of leave will only have effect on the person’s arrival in the United Kingdom in accordance with paragraph (3B) and subject to the powers of variation, cancellation and refusal of leave under this Order, the Immigration Acts and the immigration rules; and

(b) “short term biometric entry clearance” means an entry clearance document which—

(i) is issued to a person who has made a successful application for a biometric immigration document from outside the United Kingdom, in order that the person may travel to the United Kingdom to obtain that biometric immigration document; and

(ii) has a period of validity ending before the expiry of the period of leave that the holder’s biometric immigration document will evidence.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in art. 4(1) inserted (1.4.2005) by The Immigration (Leave to Enter and Remain) (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/1159), arts. 1, 4(2)

F2 Words in art. 4(1) inserted (23.11.2016) by The Immigration (Leave to Enter and Remain) (Amendment) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/1132), arts. 1(2), 2(2)(a)(i)

F3 Words in art. 4(1) omitted (23.11.2016) by virtue of The Immigration (Leave to Enter and Remain) (Amendment) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/1132), arts. 1(2), 2(2)(a)(ii)

F4 Words in art. 4(1) inserted (23.11.2016) by The Immigration (Leave to Enter and Remain) (Amendment) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/1132), arts. 1(2), 2(2)(a)(iii)

F5 Art. 4(2A)(2B) inserted (1.4.2005) by The Immigration (Leave to Enter and Remain) (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/1159), arts. 1, 4(3)

F6 Art. 4(2C)(2D) inserted (23.11.2016) by The Immigration (Leave to Enter and Remain) (Amendment) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/1132), arts. 1(2), 2(2)(b)

F7 Art. 4(2E)(2F) inserted (coming into force in accordance with art. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by The Immigration (Leave to Enter and Remain) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/1353), art. 2(3)

F8 Words in art. 4(3) substituted (1.4.2005) by The Immigration (Leave to Enter and Remain) (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/1159), arts. 1, 4(4)

F9 Art. 4(3A) inserted (1.4.2005) by The Immigration (Leave to Enter and Remain) (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/1159), arts. 1, 4(5)

F10 Words in art. 4(3A)(c) inserted (18.3.2015) by The Immigration (Leave to Enter and Remain) (Amendment) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/434), arts. 1(1), 2(3)(a)

F11 Art. 4(3B) inserted (18.3.2015) by The Immigration (Leave to Enter and Remain) (Amendment) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/434), arts. 1(1), 2(3)(b)

F12 Art. 4(5) inserted (18.3.2015) by The Immigration (Leave to Enter and Remain) (Amendment) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/434), arts. 1(1), 2(3)(c)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Art. 4 modified (30.7.2000) by S.I. 1993/1813, art. 7, Sch. 4 para. 3(a)(b) (as inserted by The Channel Tunnel (International Arrangements) (Amendment No. 2) Order 2000 (S.I. 2000/1775), arts. 1, 2(3))

C2 Art. 4 modified (25.5.2001) by S.I. 1993/1813, Sch. 4 para. 4(a)(b) (as substituted by The Channel Tunnel (International Arrangements) (Amendment No. 3) Order 2001 (S.I. 2001/1544), arts. 1(2), 7)

C3 Art. 4 modified by S.I. 1994/1405, art. 7 (as amended (coming into force in accordance with reg. 1(3) of the amending S.I.) by The Channel Tunnel (International Arrangements and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/915), art. 11)

C4 Art. 4 modified (30.9.2020 immediately after the entry into force of S.I. 2020/915, art. 5) by The Channel Tunnel (Arrangements with the Kingdom of the Netherlands) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/916), arts. 1(3), 6

C5 Order extended (with modifications) (1.2.2004 as notified in the Gazettes) by The Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (Juxtaposed Controls) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/2818), arts. 1(2), 11(1)(d), Sch. 2 (as amended (31.3.2021) by The Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (Juxtaposed Controls) (Amendment) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/311), arts. 1(2), 2(7)(d))

C6 Art. 4 modified (25.5.2001) by S.I. 1993/1813, Sch. 4 para. 4(a)(b) (as substituted by The Channel Tunnel (International Arrangements) (Amendment No. 3) Order 2001 (S.I. 2001/1544), arts. 1(2), 7) (as amended (30.9.2020) by The Channel Tunnel (International Arrangements and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/915), arts. 1(2), 5(8))

Commencement Information

I1 Art. 4 in force at 28.4.2000, see art. 1(2)