Equality Act 2010

Part 4 E+W+S Immigration

[F1 Age E+W+S

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 3 para. 15A and cross-heading inserted (1.10.2012) by The Equality Act 2010 (Age Exceptions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2466), art. 2

15A (1) This paragraph applies in relation to age discrimination. E+W+S

(2) Section 29 does not apply to anything done by a relevant person in the exercise of [F2 relevant functions].

(3) A relevant person is —

(a) a Minister of the Crown acting personally, or

(b) a person acting in accordance with a relevant authorisation.

(4) A relevant authorisation is a requirement imposed or express authorisation given—

(a) with respect to a particular case or class of case, [F3 by or under anything mentioned in sub-paragraph (5)(a) to (c)];

(b) with respect to a particular class of case, by a relevant enactment or by an instrument made under or by virtue of a relevant enactment.

(5) [F4 “Relevant functions” means functions exercisable by virtue of ] —

(a) the Immigration Acts,

(b) the Special Immigration Appeals Commission Act 1997, [F5 or]

(c) [F6 anything which forms part of [F7 assimilated law and was made under section 2(2) of, or paragraph 1A of Schedule 2 to, the European Communities Act 1972 or forms part of assimilated law by virtue of section 3] of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 and [F8 (in either case)]] relates to immigration or asylum. F9 ...

F9 (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(6) The reference in sub-paragraph (5)(a) to the Immigration Acts does not include a reference to—

(a) sections 28A to 28K of the Immigration Act 1971 (powers of arrest, entry and search, etc. ), or

(b) section 14 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc. ) Act 2004 (power of arrest). ]

Textual Amendments

F2 Words in Sch. 3 para. 15A(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Equality (Amendment and Revocation) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/305), regs. 1, 5(7)(a)(i); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F3 Words in Sch. 3 para. 15A(4)(b) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Equality (Amendment and Revocation) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/305), regs. 1, 5(7)(a)(ii); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F4 Words in Sch. 3 para. 15A(5) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Equality (Amendment and Revocation) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/305), regs. 1, 5(7)(a)(iii)(aa); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F5 Word in Sch. 3 para. 15A(5)(b) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Equality (Amendment and Revocation) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/305), regs. 1, 5(7)(a)(iii)(bb); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F6 Words in Sch. 3 para. 15A(5)(c) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Equality (Amendment and Revocation) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/305), regs. 1, 5(7)(a)(iii)(cc); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F7 Words in Sch. 3 para. 15A(5)(c) substituted (1.1.2024) by The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (Consequential Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1424), reg. 1(2), Sch. para. 72(2)(a)

F8 Words in Sch. 3 para. 15A(5)(c) inserted (1.1.2024) by The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (Consequential Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1424), reg. 1(2), Sch. para. 72(2)(b)

F9 Sch. 3 para. 15A(5)(d) and word omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Equality (Amendment and Revocation) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/305), regs. 1, 5(7)(a)(iii)(dd); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Disability E+W+S

16 (1) This paragraph applies in relation to disability discrimination. E+W+S

(2) Section 29 does not apply to—

(a) a decision within sub-paragraph (3);

(b) anything done for the purposes of or in pursuance of a decision within that sub-paragraph.

(3) A decision is within this sub-paragraph if it is a decision (whether or not taken in accordance with immigration rules) to do any of the following on the ground that doing so is necessary for the public good—

(a) to refuse entry clearance;

(b) to refuse leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom;

(c) to cancel leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom;

(d) to vary leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom;

(e) to refuse an application to vary leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom.

(4) Section 29 does not apply to—

(a) a decision taken, or guidance given, by the Secretary of State in connection with a decision within sub-paragraph (3);

(b) a decision taken in accordance with guidance given by the Secretary of State in connection with a decision within that sub-paragraph.

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. 3 wholly in force at 1.10.2012; Sch. 3 not in force at Royal assent see s. 216; Sch. 3 in force at 1.10.2010 for certain purposes by S.I. 2010/2317, art. 2(3); Sch. 3 in force so far as not already in force at 1.10.2012 by S.I. 2012/1569, art. 2(d)

Nationality and ethnic or national origins E+W+S

17 (1) This paragraph applies in relation to race discrimination so far as relating to— E+W+S

(a) nationality, or

(b) ethnic or national origins.

(2) Section 29 does not apply to anything done by a relevant person in the exercise of [F10 relevant functions].

(3) A relevant person is—

(a) a Minister of the Crown acting personally, or

(b) a person acting in accordance with a relevant authorisation.

(4) A relevant authorisation is a requirement imposed or express authorisation given—

(a) with respect to a particular case or class of case, by a Minister of the Crown acting personally;

(b) with respect to a particular class of case, [F11 by or under anything mentioned in sub-paragraph (5)(a) to (c)].

(5) [F12 “Relevant functions” means functions exercisable by virtue of ] —

(a) the Immigration Acts,

(b) the Special Immigration Appeals Commission Act 1997, [F13 or]

(c) [F14 anything which forms part of [F15 assimilated law and was made under section 2(2) of, or paragraph 1A of Schedule 2 to, the European Communities Act 1972 or forms part of assimilated law by virtue of section 3] of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 and [F16 (in either case)]] relates to immigration or asylum.F17 ...

F17 (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(6) The reference in sub-paragraph (5)(a) to the Immigration Acts does not include a reference to—

(a) sections 28A to 28K of the Immigration Act 1971 (powers of arrest, entry and search, etc.), or

(b) section 14 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004 (power of arrest).

Textual Amendments

F10 Words in Sch. 3 para. 17(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Equality (Amendment and Revocation) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/305), regs. 1, 5(7)(b)(i); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F11 Words in Sch. 3 para. 17(4)(b) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Equality (Amendment and Revocation) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/305), regs. 1, 5(7)(b)(ii); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F12 Words in Sch. 3 para. 17(5) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Equality (Amendment and Revocation) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/305), regs. 1, 5(7)(b)(iii)(aa); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F13 Word in Sch. 3 para. 17(5)(b) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Equality (Amendment and Revocation) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/305), regs. 1, 5(7)(b)(iii)(bb); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F14 Words in Sch. 3 para. 17(5)(c) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Equality (Amendment and Revocation) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/305), regs. 1, 5(7)(b)(iii)(cc); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F15 Words in Sch. 3 para. 17(5)(c) substituted (1.1.2024) by The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (Consequential Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1424), reg. 1(2), Sch. para. 72(2)(a)

F16 Words in Sch. 3 para. 17(5)(c) inserted (1.1.2024) by The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (Consequential Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1424), reg. 1(2), Sch. para. 72(2)(b)

F17 Sch. 3 para. 17(4)(d) and word omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Equality (Amendment and Revocation) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/305), regs. 1, 5(7)(b)(iii)(dd); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Commencement Information

I2 Sch. 3 wholly in force at 1.10.2012; Sch. 3 not in force at Royal assent see s. 216; Sch. 3 in force at 1.10.2010 for certain purposes by S.I. 2010/2317, art. 2(3); Sch. 3 in force so far as not already in force at 1.10.2012 by S.I. 2012/1569, art. 2(d)

Religion or belief E+W+S

18 (1) This paragraph applies in relation to religious or belief-related discrimination. E+W+S

(2) Section 29 does not apply to a decision within sub-paragraph (3) or anything done for the purposes of or in pursuance of a decision within that sub-paragraph.

(3) A decision is within this sub-paragraph if it is a decision taken in accordance with immigration rules—

(a) to refuse entry clearance or leave to enter the United Kingdom, or to cancel leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom, on the grounds that the exclusion of the person from the United Kingdom is conducive to the public good, or

(b) to vary leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom, or to refuse an application to vary leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom, on the grounds that it is undesirable to permit the person to remain in the United Kingdom.

(4) Section 29 does not apply to a decision within sub-paragraph (5), or anything done for the purposes of or in pursuance of a decision within that sub-paragraph, if the decision is taken on grounds mentioned in sub-paragraph (6).

(5) A decision is within this sub-paragraph if it is a decision (whether or not taken in accordance with immigration rules) in connection with an application for entry clearance or for leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom.

(6) The grounds referred to in sub-paragraph (4) are—

(a) the grounds that a person holds an office or post in connection with a religion or belief or provides a service in connection with a religion or belief,

(b) the grounds that a religion or belief is not to be treated in the same way as certain other religions or beliefs, or

(c) the grounds that the exclusion from the United Kingdom of a person to whom paragraph (a) applies is conducive to the public good.

(7) Section 29 does not apply to—

(a) a decision taken, or guidance given, by the Secretary of State in connection with a decision within sub-paragraph (3) or (5);

(b) a decision taken in accordance with guidance given by the Secretary of State in connection with a decision within either of those sub-paragraphs.

Commencement Information

I3 Sch. 3 wholly in force at 1.10.2012; Sch. 3 not in force at Royal assent see s. 216; Sch. 3 in force at 1.10.2010 for certain purposes by S.I. 2010/2317, art. 2(3); Sch. 3 in force so far as not already in force at 1.10.2012 by S.I. 2012/1569, art. 2(d)

Interpretation E+W+S

19 E+W+S A reference to entry clearance, leave to enter or remain or immigration rules is to be construed in accordance with the Immigration Act 1971.

Commencement Information

I4 Sch. 3 wholly in force at 1.10.2012; Sch. 3 not in force at Royal assent see s. 216; Sch. 3 in force at 1.10.2010 for certain purposes by S.I. 2010/2317, art. 2(3); Sch. 3 in force so far as not already in force at 1.10.2012 by S.I. 2012/1569, art. 2(d)