Immigration Act 1971

Information and documents U.K.

4 (1) It shall be the duty of any person examined under paragraph 2[F1 , 2A] or 3 above to furnish to the person carrying out the examination all such information in his possession as that person may require for the purpose of [F2 that or any other person's functions] under that paragraph. U.K.

(2) A person on his examination under paragraph 2[F1 , 2A] or 3 above by an immigration officer [F3 , or on his examination under paragraph 3 above by a designated person, shall, if so required by an immigration officer or designated person ] —

(a) produce either a valid passport with photograph or some other document satisfactorily establishing his identity and nationality or citizenship; and

(b) declare whether or not he is carrying or conveying [F4 , or has carried or conveyed,] documents of any relevant description specified by [F5 the immigration officer or designated person], and produce any documents of that description which he is carrying or conveying.

In paragraph (b), “relevant description” means any description appearing to [F6 the immigration officer or designated person] to be relevant for the purposes of the examination.

(2A) F7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) Where under sub-paragraph (2)(b) above a person has been required to declare whether or not he is carrying or conveying [F8 , or has carried or conveyed,] documents of any description,

F9 [(a) he and any baggage or vehicle belonging to him or under his control; and

(b) any ship, aircraft or vehicle in which he arrived in the United Kingdom,]

may be searched with a view to ascertaining whether he is doing [F10 or, as the case may be, has done] so by [F11 an immigration officer or a person acting under the directions of an immigration officer] :

Provided that no woman or girl shall be searched except by a woman.

[F12 (4) Where a passport or other document is [F13 produced to or found by an immigration officer] in accordance with this paragraph[F14 , the immigration officer] may examine it and detain it—

(a) for the purpose of examining it, for a period not exceeding 7 days;

(b) for any purpose, until the person to whom the document relates is given leave to enter the United Kingdom or is about to depart or be removed following refusal of leave or until it is decided that the person does not require leave to enter;

(c) after a time described in paragraph (b), while the immigration officer thinks that the document may be required in connection with proceedings in respect of an appeal under the Immigration Acts or in respect of an offence.

[F15 (4A) Where a passport or other document is produced to a designated person in accordance with this paragraph, the designated person—

(a) may examine it and detain it; and

(b) must deliver any detained passport or document to an immigration officer as soon as reasonably practicable.

(4B) If a passport or document is delivered to an immigration officer in accordance with sub-paragraph (4A)(b), sub-paragraph (4) applies as if the immigration officer had detained the document (and, accordingly, the immigration officer may continue to detain it in accordance with sub-paragraph (4)(a), (b) or (c)).]

(5) For the purpose of ascertaining that a passport or other document produced or found in accordance with this paragraph relates to a person examined under paragraph 2, 2A or 3 above, the person carrying out the examination[F16 , or any immigration officer or designated person,] may require the person being examined to provide [F17 biometric] information (whether or not by submitting to a process by means of which information is obtained or recorded) F18 ....]

[F19 (6) Biometric information” has the meaning given by section 15 of the UK Borders Act 2007.]

[F20 (7) A person (“P”) who is under 16 may not be required to provide biometric information under sub-paragraph (5) unless—

(a) the decision to require P to provide the information has been confirmed by a chief immigration officer, and

(b) the information is provided in the presence of a person of full age who is—

(i) P's parent or guardian, or

(ii) a person who for the time being takes responsibility for P.

(8) The person mentioned in sub-paragraph (7)(b)(ii) may not be—

(a) a person who is entitled to require the provision of information under sub-paragraph (5) (an “authorised person”), or

(b) an officer of the Secretary of State who is not such a person.

(9) Sub-paragraph (7) does not prevent an authorised person requiring the provision of biometric information by a person the authorised person reasonably believes to be 16 or over.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Sch. 2 para. 4(1)(2) inserted (14.2.2000) by 1999 c. 33, s. 169(1), Sch. 14 paras. 43, 58; S.I. 2000/168, art. 2, Sch. (which amending provision is extended (with modifications) to Jersey (5.6.2003) by S.I. 2003/1252, art. 2, Sch.)

F2 Words in Sch. 2 para. 4(1) substituted (28.7.2014) by Immigration Act 2014 (c. 22), s. 75(3), Sch. 8 para. 3(2); S.I. 2014/1820, art. 3(bb)

F3 Words in Sch. 2 para. 4(2) substituted (28.7.2014) by Immigration Act 2014 (c. 22), s. 75(3), Sch. 8 para. 3(3)(a); S.I. 2014/1820, art. 3(bb)

F4 Words in Sch. 2 para. 4(2)(b) inserted (1.10.1996) by 1996 c. 49, s. 12(1), Sch. 2 para. 5(1); S.I. 1996/2053, art. 2, Sch. Pt. III

F5 Words in Sch. 2 para. 4(2)(b) substituted (28.7.2014) by Immigration Act 2014 (c. 22), s. 75(3), Sch. 8 para. 3(3)(b); S.I. 2014/1820, art. 3(bb)

F6 Words in Sch. 2 para. 4(2) substituted (28.7.2014) by Immigration Act 2014 (c. 22), s. 75(3), Sch. 8 para. 3(3)(c); S.I. 2014/1820, art. 3(bb)

F7 Sch. 2 para. 4(2A) repealed (31.8.2006) by Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 (c. 13), ss. {27(2)}, 61, {Sch. 3}; S.I. 2006/2226, art. 3, Sch. 1 (subject to transitional provisions in art. 4)

F8 Words in Sch. 2 para. 4(3) inserted (1.10.1996) by 1996 c. 49, s. 12(1), Sch. 2 para. 5(2)(a); S.I. 1996/2053, art. 2, Sch. Pt. III

F9 Sch. 2 para. 4(3)(a)(b) substituted (1.10.1996) for words by 1996 c. 49, s 12(1), Sch. 2 para. 5(2)(b); S.I. 1996/2053, art. 2, Sch. Pt. III

F10 Words in Sch. 2 para. 4(3) inserted (1.10.1996) by 1996 c. 49, s. 12(1), Sch. 2 para. 5(2)(c); S.I. 1996/2053, art. 2, Sch. Pt. III

F11 Words in Sch. 2 para. 4(3) substituted (28.7.2014) by Immigration Act 2014 (c. 22), s. 75(3), Sch. 8 para. 3(4); S.I. 2014/1820, art. 3(bb)

F12 Sch. 2 para. 4(4)(5) substituted (31.8.2006) for Sch. 2 para. 4(4) by Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 (c. 13), s. 27(1); S.I. 2006/2226, art. 3, Sch. 1 (subject to transitional provisions in art. 4)

F13 Words in Sch. 2 para. 4(4) substituted (28.7.2014) by Immigration Act 2014 (c. 22), s. 75(3), Sch. 8 para. 3(5)(a); S.I. 2014/1820, art. 3(bb)

F14 Words in Sch. 2 para. 4(4) substituted (28.7.2014) by Immigration Act 2014 (c. 22), s. 75(3), Sch. 8 para. 3(5)(b); S.I. 2014/1820, art. 3(bb)

F15 Sch. 2 para. 4(4A)(4B) inserted (28.7.2014) by Immigration Act 2014 (c. 22), s. 75(3), Sch. 8 para. 3(6); S.I. 2014/1820, art. 3(bb)

F16 Words in Sch. 2 para. 4(5) inserted (28.7.2014) by Immigration Act 2014 (c. 22), s. 75(3), Sch. 8 para. 3(7); S.I. 2014/1820, art. 3(bb)

F17 Word in Sch. 2 para. 4(5) inserted (28.7.2014) by Immigration Act 2014 (c. 22), s. 75(3), Sch. 2 para. 1(2)(a); S.I. 2014/1820, art. 3(z)

F18 Words in Sch. 2 para. 4(5) omitted (28.7.2014) by virtue of Immigration Act 2014 (c. 22), s. 75(3), Sch. 2 para. 1(2)(b); S.I. 2014/1820, art. 3(z)

F19 Sch. 2 para. 4(6) inserted (28.7.2014) by Immigration Act 2014 (c. 22), s. 75(3), Sch. 2 para. 1(3); S.I. 2014/1820, art. 3(z)

F20 Sch. 2 para. 4(7)-(9) inserted (28.7.2014) by Immigration Act 2014 (c. 22), ss. 13(2), 75(3); S.I. 2014/1820, art. 3(l)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Sch. 2 paras. 2-4, 7, 16-18, 21-24 applied (with modifications) (2.10.2000) by S.I. 2000/2326, reg. 24(2) (with regs. 9, 28)

Sch. 2 para. 4 modified (18.7.2001) by S.I. 2001/2590, art. 3

5 U.K. The Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument make provision for [F21 requiring—

(a) passengers] disembarking or embarking in the United Kingdom, or any class of such passengers, to produce to an immigration officer, if so required, landing or embarkation [F22 cards, and

(b) passengers embarking in the United Kingdom, or any class of such passengers, to produce to a designated person, if so required, embarkation cards,

in such form] as the Secretary of State may direct, and for requiring the owners or agents of ships and aircraft to supply such cards to those passengers.

Textual Amendments

F21 Word preceding and in Sch. 2 para. 5(a) substituted for words (28.7.2014) by Immigration Act 2014 (c. 22), s. 75(3), Sch. 8 para. 4(2); S.I. 2014/1820, art. 3(bb)

F22 Sch. 2 para. 5(b) and surrounding words substituted for words (28.7.2014) by Immigration Act 2014 (c. 22), s. 75(3), Sch. 8 para. 4(3); S.I. 2014/1820, art. 3(bb)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2 Sch. 2 para. 5 modified (14.3.2003) by The Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (Commencement No. 4) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/754), arts. 3, 4, Sch. 2 para. 4(6)