- Latest available (Revised)
- Point in Time (25/04/2024)
- Original (As enacted)
Immigration Act 1971
You are here:
- UK Public General Acts
- 1971 c. 77
- Introduction
What Version
Advanced Features
- Show Geographical Extent(e.g. England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland)
- Show Timeline of Changes
Opening Options
More Resources
Changes over time for: Introductory Text
Alternative versions:
Status:
Point in time view as at 25/04/2024.
Changes to legislation:
Immigration Act 1971, Introductory Text is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 30 December 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Changes to Legislation
Changes and effects yet to be applied by the editorial team are only applicable when viewing the latest version or prospective version of legislation. They are therefore not accessible when viewing legislation as at a specific point in time. To view the ‘Changes to Legislation’ information for this provision return to the latest version view using the options provided in the ‘What Version’ box above.
Immigration Act 1971
1971 CHAPTER 77
An Act to amend and replace the present immigration laws, to make certain related changes in the citizenship law and enable help to be given to those wishing to return abroad, and for purposes connected therewith.
[28th October 1971]
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Act amended by Immigration Act 1988 (c. 14, SIF 62), s. 7(3)
Act amended (2.10.2000) by S.I. 2000/2326, reg. 8 (with regs. 9, 28) (which S.I. was revoked (with saving) (30.4.2006) by S.I. 2006/1003, reg. 31, Sch. 3 (with Sch. 4))
Act amended (2.10.2000) by 1999 c. 33, s. 59; S.I. 2000/2444, art. 2, Sch. (subject to transitional provisions in art. 3, Sch. 2 para. 2)
Act amended (2.10.2000) by 1999 c. 33, s. 65(1); S.I. 2000/2444, art. 2, Sch. (subject to transitional provisions in art. 3, Sch. 2 para. 2)
Act amended (2.10.2000) by 1999 c. 33, ss. 69, 70; S.I. 2000/2444, art. 2, Sch. (subject to transitional provisions in art. 3, Sch. 2 para. 2)
C2Act excluded (10.6.1991) by Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 1990 (c. 5, SIF 39:1), s. 6(6); S.I. 1991/1072, art. 2, Sch. Pt. I
C3Act modified (10.6.1991) by Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 1990 (c. 5, SIF 39:1), s. 6(6)(a); S.I. 1991/1072, art. 2, Sch. Pt. I
Act modified (7.7.2000) by S.S.I. 2000/200, art. 2(3)
Act modified (2.10.2000) by S.I. 2000/2326, regs. 24(2), 25(2) (with regs. 9, 28) (which S.I. was revoked (with saving) (30.4.2006) by S.I. 2006/1003, reg. 31, Sch. 3 (with Sch. 4))
Act modified (1.9.2001) by 2001 c. 17, s. 32(7) (with ss. 27(3), 39, 78); S.I. 2001/2161, art. 2
Act modified (18.7.2001) by S.I. 2001/2590, art. 4(2)
Act modified (25.2.2002) by S.I. 2002/195, reg. 2(3)
Act modified (30.4.2006) by The Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1003), reg. 30, Sch. 2 paras. 1, 2
C4Act restricted (20.7.1994) by Immigration Act 1988 (c. 14, SIF 62), s. 7(1); S.I. 1994/1923, art. 2
Act restricted (2.10.2000) by S.I. 2000/2326, reg. 14 (with regs. 9, 28) (as amended (1.6.2002) by S.I. 2002/1241 reg. 2(3), Sch. para. 8) (S.I. 2000/2326 was revoked (with saving) (30.4.2006) by S.I. 2006/1003, reg. 31, Sch. 3 (with Sch. 4))
C5Act extended (with modifications) by S.I. 1994/1405, art. 7 (the amendment coming into force in accordance with art. 1 of the amending S.I.) (as amended (2.1.2008) by S.I. 2007/3579, art. 3(c)); and as further amended (16.4.2015) by S.I. 2015/856, arts. 1, 6
C6Act extended (with modifications) (coming into force in accordance with art. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by The Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (Juxtaposed Controls) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/2818), art. 11(1)(a), Sch. 2 para. 1 (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)(a))
C7Act: power to amend conferred (10.2.2003 for certain purposes) by 1999 c. 33, s. 53; S.I. 2003/2, art. 2, Sch.
C8Act applied (with modifications) (1.4.2006) by The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (Application and Modification of Certain Enactments to Designated Staff of SOCA) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/987), art. 6, Sch. 2
C9Act applied (1.8.2008 for certain purposes) by UK Borders Act 2007 (c. 30), ss. 36(4), 59; S.I. 2008/1818, art. 2(a), Sch.
C10Act applied (prosp.) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 133(7)(8), 153(7) (with Sch. 27 para. 36)
C11Act applied (with modifications) (4.8.2014) by The Crime and Courts Act 2013 (Application and Modification of Certain Enactments) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/1704), art. 7, Sch. 2
C12Act extended in part (Jersey) (with modifications) (coming into force in accordance with art. 1(1) of the amending S.I.) by The Immigration (Jersey) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/1281), art. 3, Sch. 1, Sch. 1A (with art. 16)
C13Act: power to amend conferred (28.4.2022 for specified purposes, 28.6.2022 in so far as not already in force) by Nationality and Borders Act 2022 (c. 36), ss. 82(1)(2)(a)(3)-(6), 87(1)(4)(i); S.I. 2022/590, regs. 1(2), 2, Sch. 1 para. 29
C14Act excluded (25.4.2024) by Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act 2024 (c. 8), ss. 2(5)(a), 5, 10(1) (with ss. 4, 10(2))
Commencement Information
I1Act partly in force at Royal Assent see ss. 34(1), 35(1)-(3); Act wholly in force at 1 January 1973.
Options/Help
Print Options
PrintThe Whole Act
PrintThis Introductory Text only
You have chosen to open The Whole Act
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
You have chosen to open The Whole Act as a PDF
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
You have chosen to open the Whole Act
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
Legislation is available in different versions:
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
Point in Time: This becomes available after navigating to view revised legislation as it stood at a certain point in time via Advanced Features > Show Timeline of Changes or via a point in time advanced search.
See additional information alongside the content
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Opening Options
Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once
More Resources
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
- the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
- lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
- confers power and blanket amendment details
- all formats of all associated documents
- correction slips
- links to related legislation and further information resources
Timeline of Changes
This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.
More Resources
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
- the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
- correction slips
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:
- lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
- confers power and blanket amendment details
- all formats of all associated documents
- links to related legislation and further information resources
All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. This site additionally contains content derived from EUR-Lex, reused under the terms of the Commission Decision 2011/833/EU on the reuse of documents from the EU institutions. For more information see the EUR-Lex public statement on re-use.