Immigration Act 1971

[F2 25 Assisting unlawful immigration to member State [F1 or the United Kingdom] U.K.

(1) A person commits an offence if he—

(a) does an act which facilitates the commission of a breach [F3 or attempted breach] of immigration law by an individual who is not [F4 a national of the United Kingdom],

(b) knows or has reasonable cause for believing that the act facilitates the commission of a breach [F3 or attempted breach] of immigration law by the individual, and

(c) knows or has reasonable cause for believing that the individual is not [F4 a national of the United Kingdom].

(2) In subsection (1) “immigration law” means a law which has effect in a member State [F5 or the United Kingdom] and which controls, in respect of some or all persons who are not nationals of the State [F6 or, as the case may be, of the United Kingdom], entitlement to—

(a) enter [F7 or arrive in] the State [F8 or the United Kingdom],

(b) transit across the State [F9 or the United Kingdom], or

(c) be in the State [F10 or the United Kingdom].

[F11 (2A) In subsections (1) and (2), “national of the United Kingdom” means—

(a) a British citizen;

(b) a person who is a British subject by virtue of Part 4 of the British Nationality Act 1981 and who has the right of abode in the United Kingdom; or

(b) a person who is a British overseas territories citizen by virtue of a connection with Gibraltar.]

(3) A document issued by the government of a member State certifying a matter of law in that State—

(a) shall be admissible in proceedings for an offence under this section, and

(b) shall be conclusive as to the matter certified.

[F12 (4) Subsection (1) applies to things done whether inside or outside the United Kingdom.]

(6) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—

(a) on conviction on indictment, to [F13 imprisonment for life], to a fine or to both, or

(b) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both.]

[F14 (7) In this section—

(a) a reference to a member State includes a reference to [F15 Norway or Iceland], F16 ...

F16 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F17 (8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 25 heading inserted (31.12.2020) by The Immigration, Nationality and Asylum (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/745), regs. 1(2), 4(3)(a); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F2 Ss. 25-25C substituted (10.2.2003) for s. 25 by 2002 c. 41, s. 143 (with s. 159); S.I. 2003/1, art. 2, Sch.

F3 Words in s. 25(1)(a)(b) inserted (31.5.2016) by Immigration Act 2016 (c. 19), s. 94(1), Sch. 14 para. 2; S.I. 2016/603, reg. 2(d)

F4 Words in s. 25(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Act 2020 (Consequential, Saving, Transitional and Transitory Provisions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1309), regs. 1(2), 5(3)(a)

F5 Words in s. 25(2) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Immigration, Nationality and Asylum (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/745), regs. 1(2), 4(3)(c)(i); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F6 Words in s. 25(2) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Immigration, Nationality and Asylum (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/745), regs. 1(2), 4(3)(c)(ii); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F7 Words in s. 25(2)(a) inserted (28.6.2022 save in so far as it relates to the insertion of s. 24(E1), otherwise prosp.) by Nationality and Borders Act 2022 (c. 36), ss. 40(4), 87(1); S.I. 2022/590, regs. 1(2), 2, Sch. 1 para. 20 (with Sch. 2 para. 7)

F8 Words in s. 25(2)(a) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Immigration, Nationality and Asylum (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/745), regs. 1(2), 4(3)(c)(iii); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F9 Words in s. 25(2)(b) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Immigration, Nationality and Asylum (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/745), regs. 1(2), 4(3)(c)(iii); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F10 Words in s. 25(2)(c) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Immigration, Nationality and Asylum (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/745), regs. 1(2), 4(3)(c)(iii); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F11 S. 25(2A) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Immigration, Nationality and Asylum (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/745), regs. 1(2), 4(3)(d); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F12 S. 25(4) substituted for s. 25(4)(5) (31.1.2008) by UK Borders Act 2007 (c. 30), ss. 30(1), 59; S.I. 2008/99, art. 2(l)

F13 Words in s. 25(6)(a) substituted (28.6.2022) by Nationality and Borders Act 2022 (c. 36), ss. 41(2), 87(1); S.I. 2022/590, regs. 1(2), 2, Sch. 1 para. 21 (with Sch. 2 para. 7)

F14 S. 25(7)(8) added (1.10.2004) by Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004 (c. 19), s. 1(1); S.I. 2004/2523, art. 2, Sch.

F15 Words in s. 25(7)(a) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Immigration, Nationality and Asylum (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/745), regs. 1(2), 4(3)(e); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F16 S. 25(7)(b) and word omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Act 2020 (Consequential, Saving, Transitional and Transitory Provisions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1309), regs. 1(2), 5(3)(b)

F17 S. 25(8) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Immigration, Nationality and Asylum (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/745), regs. 1(2), 4(3)(g); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Pt. 3 modified by Immigration Act 2014 (c. 22), s. 33C(6) (as inserted (1.11.2016 for specified purposes, 1.12.2016 in so far as not already in force) by Immigration Act 2016 (c. 19), ss. 39(2), 94(1); S.I. 2016/1037, regs. 2(a), 5(c))

C2 Ss. 24-29: amendment to earlier affecting S.I. 1993/1797, Sch. 1 Pt. 1 (11.10.2017 coming into force in accordance with art. 1) by The Immigration (Jersey) (Amendment) Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/981), Sch. Pt. 1 para. 1 (with art. 6)