Immigration Act 1971

Notice of leave to enter or of refusal of leave U.K.

6 (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (3) below, where a person examined by an immigration officer under paragraph 2 above is to be given a limited leave to enter the United Kingdom or is to be refused leave, the notice giving or refusing leave shall be given not later than [F1 twenty-four hours] after the conclusion of his examination (including any further examination) in pursuance of that paragraph; and if notice giving or refusing leave is not given him before the end of those [F1 twenty-four hours], he shall (if not [F2 a British citizen]) be deemed to have been given [F1 leave to enter the United Kingdom for a period of six months subject to a condition prohibiting his taking employment] and the immigration officer shall as soon as may be give him written notice of that leave. U.K.

(2) Where on a person’s examination under paragraph 2 above he is given notice of leave to enter the United Kingdom, then at any time before the end of [F3 twenty-four hours] from the conclusion of the examination he may be given a further notice in writing by an immigration officer cancelling the earlier notice and refusing him leave to enter.

(3) Where in accordance with this paragraph a person is given notice refusing him leave to enter the United Kingdom, that notice may at any time be cancelled by notice in writing given him by an immigration officer; and where a person is given a notice of cancellation under this sub-paragraph, [F4 and the immigration officer does not at the same time give him indefinite or limited leave to enter [F5 or require him to submit to further examination], he shall be deemed to have been given leave to enter for a period of six months subject to a condition prohibiting his taking employment and the immigration officer shall as soon as may be give him written notice of that leave.]

(4) Where an entrant is a member of a party in charge of a person appearing to the immigration officer to be a responsible person, any notice to be given in relation to that entrant in accordance with this paragraph shall be duly given if delivered to the person in charge of the party.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words substituted by Immigration Act 1988 (c. 14, SIF 62), s. 10, Sch. paras. 7, 8(1)(3) respectively

F2 Words substituted by British Nationality Act 1981 (c. 61), s. 52(7), Sch. 4 para. 2 (with Sch. 8 para. 8)

F3 Words substituted by Immigration Act 1988 (c. 14, SIF 62), s. 10, Sch. para. 7

F4 Words substituted by Immigration Act 1988 (c. 14, SIF 62), s. 10, Sch. para. 8(2)(3)

F5 Words in s. 6(3) inserted (8.1.2003) by 2002 c. 41, s. 119, (with s. 159); S.I. 2002/2811, art. 2, Sch.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Sch. 2 para. 6(2) applied (with modifications) by S.I. 2006/1003, reg. 23A (as inserted (6.4.2015) by The Immigration (European Economic Area) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/694), reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 9)

C2 Sch. 2 para. 6(2) applied (1.2.2017 for specified purposes) by The Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/1052), regs. 1(2)(b), 31(2)(a)

C3 Sch. 2 para. 6(2) applied (with modifications) (31.12.2020) by The Citizens' Rights (Frontier Workers) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1213), regs. 1(2)(3), 14(2)

C4 Sch. 2 para. 6(3)(4) modified by Immigration Act 1988 (c. 14, SIF 62), s. 8(6)