Last amended by Sentencing Act 2026 in 2026. 2 recorded amendment effects (legislation.gov.uk changes data).
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
Summary
Comprehensive reform of the immigration and asylum system. Introduces differential treatment of refugees based on mode of arrival, reforms the Modern Slavery NRM, creates new criminal offences for illegal entry and facilitation, and amends nationality law.
Key Points
- Remedies for historical nationality law unfairness
- Differential treatment based on mode of arrival
- New criminal offences for illegal entry
- Reforms to modern slavery NRM
- Group 1 vs Group 2 refugee distinction
- Life imprisonment for people smuggling causing death
- Age assessment provisions
- Electronic travel authorisation scheme
Parts & Sections
Amendments History
2022 — Nationality and Borders Act 2022
36 recorded amendment effects (legislation.gov.uk changes data).
2022 — The Nationality and Borders Act 2022 (Commencement No. 4 and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023
21 commencement (coming-into-force) effects (legislation.gov.uk changes data).
2023 — Illegal Migration Act 2023
19 recorded amendment effects (legislation.gov.uk changes data).
2022 — The Nationality and Borders Act 2022 (Commencement No. 5 and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2023
15 commencement (coming-into-force) effects (legislation.gov.uk changes data).
2026 — Sentencing Act 2026
2 recorded amendment effects (legislation.gov.uk changes data).
Frequently asked questions
- What does the Act do for people affected by historical unfairness in nationality law?
- The Act enables registration as a British citizen for individuals affected by historical unfairness in nationality law. It addresses specific past legal issues to provide a remedy for those who were disadvantaged by previous rules regarding their status or eligibility for citizenship.
- How does the Act treat refugees differently based on how they arrived in the UK?
- The legislation provides for different treatment of refugees depending on their mode of arrival in the UK. This creates a distinction between different groups of refugees, often referred to as Group 1 and Group 2, which affects the rights and support they receive upon arrival.
- What new criminal offences were introduced by the Nationality and Borders Act 2022?
- The Act introduces new criminal offences specifically for illegal entry into the UK and for facilitating such entry. It also includes provisions for life imprisonment in cases of people smuggling that result in death, significantly increasing the potential penalties for these activities.
- Does the Act make changes to the Modern Slavery National Referral Mechanism?
- The Act includes reforms to the Modern Slavery National Referral Mechanism (NRM). These changes aim to improve the process for identifying and supporting victims of modern slavery within the broader context of immigration and asylum system reforms.
- What provisions does the Act make regarding age assessment?
- The Act includes provisions for age assessment, which are part of the comprehensive reform of the immigration and asylum system. These provisions relate to how the age of individuals seeking asylum or entering the UK is determined and recorded.