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Immigration Act 1971

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Changes over time for: Section 33

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Version Superseded: 30/12/2005

Status:

Point in time view as at 01/10/2004. This version of this provision has been superseded. Help about Status

Changes to legislation:

Immigration Act 1971, Section 33 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 02 November 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. Help about Changes to Legislation

33 Interpretation.U.K.

(1)For purposes of this Act, except in so far as the context otherwise requires—

  • aircraft” includes hovercraft, “airport” includes hoverport and “port” includes airport;

  • captain” means master (of a ship) or commander (of an aircraft);

  • certificate of [F1entitlement]” means such a certificate as is referred to in section 3(9) above;

  • F2. . .

  • [F3Convention adoption” has the same meaning as in the M1Adoption Act 1976 and the M2Adoption (Scotland) Act 1978;]

  • crew”, in relation to a ship or aircraft, means all persons actually employed in the working or service of the ship or aircraft, including the captain, and “member of the crew” shall be construed accordingly;

  • [F4entrant” means a person entering or seeking to enter the United Kingdom and “illegal entrant” means a person—

    (a)

    unlawfully entering or seeking to enter in breach of a deportation order or of the immigration laws, or

    (b)

    entering or seeking to enter by means which include deception by another person,

    and includes also a person who has entered as mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) above;]

  • entry clearance” means a visa, entry certificate or other document which, in accordance with the immigration rules, is to be taken as evidence [F5or the requisite evidence] of a person’s eligibility, though not [F6a British citizen], for entry into the United Kingdom (but does not include a work permit);

  • immigration laws” means this Act and any law for purposes similar to this Act which is for the time being or has (before or after the passing of this Act) been in force in any part of the United Kingdom and Islands;

  • immigration rules” means the rules for the time being laid down as mentioned in section 3(2) above;

  • the Islands” means the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, and “the United Kingdom and Islands” means the United Kingdom and the Islands taken together;

  • legally adopted” means adopted in pursuance of an order made by any court in the United Kingdom and Islands [F7, under a Convention adoption] or by any adoption specified as an overseas adoption by order of the Secretary of State under [F8section 4 of the M3Adoption Act 1968][F9section 72(2) of the Adoption Act 1976];

  • limited leave” and “indefinite leave” mean respectively leave under this Act to enter or remain in the United Kingdom which is, and one which is not, limited as to duration;

  • settled” shall be construed in accordance [F10with subsection (2A) below;]

  • ship” includes every description of vessel used in navigation;

  • F2. . .

  • [F11United Kingdom passport” means a current passport issued by the Government of the United Kingdom, or by the Lieutenant-Governor of any of the Islands, or by the Government of any territory which is for the time being a dependent territory within the meaning of the M4British Nationality Act 1981;]

  • work permit” means a permit indicating, in accordance with the immigration rules, that a person named in it is eligible, though not [F6a British citizen], for entry into the United Kingdom for the purpose of taking employment.

[F12(1A)A reference to being an owner of a vehicle, ship or aircraft includes a reference to being any of a number of persons who jointly own it.]

(2)It is hereby declared that, except as otherwise provided in this Act, a person is not to be treated for the purposes of any provision of this Act as ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom or in any of the Islands at a time when he is there in breach of the immigration laws.

[F13(2A) Subject to section 8(5) above, references to a person being settled in the United Kingdom are references to his being ordinarily resident there without being subject under the immigration laws to any restriction on the period for which he may remain.]

(3)The ports of entry for purposes of this Act, and the ports of exit for purposes of any Order in Council under section 3(7) above, shall be such ports as may from time to time be designated for the purpose by order of the Secretary of State made by statutory instrument.

[F14(4)For the purposes of this Act, the question of whether an appeal is pending shall be determined [F15in accordance with section 104 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (pending appeals)]]

(5)This Act shall not be taken to supersede or impair any power exercisable by Her Majesty in relation to aliens by virtue of Her prerogative.

Textual Amendments

F2Definitions of "Concessionaires" and "tunnel system" repealed (2.8.1993) by S.I. 1993/1813, arts. 9, 1, Sch. 6 Pt. I

F3Definition of "Convention adoption" inserted (1.6.2003) by 1999 c. 18, s. 15(1), Sch. 2 para. 2(a) (with s. 17(1)); S.I. 2003/362, art. 2

F4S. 33: Definitions of "entrant" and "illegal entrant" substituted (1.10.1996) by 1996 c. 49, s. 12(1), Sch. 2 para. 4(1); S.I. 1996/2053, art. 2, Sch. Pt. III

F7Words in definition of "legally adopted" inserted (1.6.2003) by 1999 c. 18, s. 15(1), Sch. 2 para. 2(b) (with s. 17(1)); S.I. 2003/362, art. 2

F8In s. 33(1) in the definition of "legally adopted" the words "section 72(2) of the Adoption Act 1976" substituted (E.W.) for the words "section 4 of the Adoption Act 1968" by Adoption Act 1976 (c. 36), s. 73(2), Sch. 3 Pt. I para. 17

F9In s. 33(1) in the definition of "legally adopted" the words "section 72(2) of the Adoption Act 1976" substituted (E.W.) for the words "section 4 of the Adoption Act 1968" by Adoption Act 1976 (c. 36), s. 73(2), Sch. 3 Pt. I para. 17

F12S. 33(1A) inserted (10.2.2003) by 2002 c. 41, s. 144(8) (with s. 159); S.I. 2003/1, art. 2, Sch.

F14S. 33(4) substituted (2.10.2000) by 1999 c. 33, s. 169(1), Sch. 14 paras. 43, 55; S.I. 2000/2444, art. 2, Sch. 1 (subject to transitional provisions in art. 3, Sch. 2 para. 2)

F15Words in s. 33(4) substituted (1.4.2003) by 2002 c. 41, s. 114, Sch. 7 para. 1 (with s. 159); S.I. 2003/754, art. 2, Sch. 1 (with transitional provisions in arts. 3, 4, Sch. 2 (as amended by S.I. 2003/1040 and 2003/1339))

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1S. 33 modified (2.8.1993) by S.I. 1993/1813, arts. 7(1), 1, Sch. 4 para. 1(10) (as amended (1.12.1997) by S.I. 1994/1405, art. 8, Sch. 4 para. 11 Table)

S. 33 extended (with modfications) to Guernsey (1.8.1993) by S.I. 1993/1796, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I

S. 33 extended (with modfications) to Jersey (1.8.1993) by S.I. 1993/1797, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I (as amended (5.6.2003) by S.I. 2003/1252, art. 3) (as amended (17.10.2012) by S.I. 2012/2593, arts. 1, 2(2))

Marginal Citations

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