UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme

Overview

The UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme is a way for you to enter the UK legally if you are in France. Your partner and children will be able to come with you if they are also inin France. France. Your childchildren must must be under 18.18. 

The scheme will be open for applications for a short period. There are a limited number of places to come to the UK on the scheme which will be released gradually.gradually. 

ApplyingIf successful, you will be given entry clearance to the UK for up to 3 months. 

You must not attempt to travel to the UK while you wait for a decision from the Home Office. 

Coming to the UK on the UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme has 35 steps:steps:  

1. Submit an expression of interestinterest application application.for you or your family  

2. Confirm you are inin France France using your mobile phone or other device.device  

3. If

   Prove invited,your identity provide biometrics (fingerprints and a photo) at aan visain-person application centre (VAC) in France.appointment  

1. IfPrepare successful,to you’lltravel be given entry clearance to thethe UK  

2. Get UKhelp forin up to 3 months.the UK  

You Each mustof notthese attemptsteps toand travelwhat you’ll need to thecomplete UKthem whileis youexplained wait for a decision from the Home Office.below.  

Do notnot submit an submit an expression of interest application if you:you: 

• are not in FranceFrance 
• have previously entered or arrived in the UK illegallyillegally 
• have international protection from any other countrycountry 
• are officially recognised as stateless by any other countrycountry 
• areare from anthe EEAEU, nationalIceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland 
• are the family member ofof someone anfrom EEAthe nationalEU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland 
• havehave immigration permission in any other type of immigration status in FranceFrance 
• have previously been refused entry clearance on the scheme

What you will need

You will need:need: 

• a mobile phonephone 

• an email addressaddress 

• a

  a valid or passportexpired document that shows your oridentity otherand documentnationality, (validsuch oras expired)a thatpassport establishesor yournational identity anddocument – nationality - if you are selected you will need to bring this to your appointmentappointment 

• a digital photo of your passport or other document (valid or expired) to upload to the application formform 

• a recent digital photo of yourself – it must be no more than 3 months oldold 

If you are applying as a family member you will also need evidence of your family relationship. For example:example: 

• a copy of a marriage or civil partnership certificatecertificate 

• a birth certificate for children

How to submit an expression of interest application

You mustcan submitapply yourby yourself, or as a family group. Your family group can include you and your:

• husband, wife or civil partner
• children under 18

You must submit your own expression of interest application if you are 18 or overover. You but you can ask someone for help.help. 

If you are under 18 you must apply as part of a family group with a parent. You cancan submit your submit your own form, or your parent can do it for you.you. 

One adult family member must apply first. If you are the first person applying as part of a family group, you will be asked to list the names of your family members applying with you on your application form.form. 

You will then be sent a family reference number by email onceafter you’veyou submit your submitted your expression of interest application.application. Your Your family members must use this reference number when they fill in their own expression of interest applications. They’llThey will also need to provide evidence of their relationship toto you you.or other members of the family. 

Applicants under 18 can use the email address and phone number provided by the main applicant. Adult family members should provide their own email address and phone number.  

Family groups will have their expression of interest applications assessed together.together. 

You will need to upload a copy of a valid or expired document containing a photo of you that shows your identity and nationality, such as a: 

• passport 
• travel document 
• national identity document 
• UK biometric residence permit 

If you are selected, you must bring the original, physical version of this document to your appointment.

If you do not have any of these documents, you may be able to use a combination of other official documents, such as a photo driving licence and birth certificate. At least one of your documents must show a photo of you, your name, date of birth, nationality and sex. You will need to bring these documents to your appointment.

Start now

ConfirmingConfirm your location

OnceAfter you and eachany other adult in your family group have submitted youran expression of interest applications,application, you will each beget sent an email and text message with instructions on how to prove you are in France. You will have 24 hours to reply to this message. If you cannot find the email in your inbox, check your junk or spam folder.folder. 

The Home Office will then review your application. This may take some time, and you should not contactcontact the UKHome VisasOffice to and Immigration (UKVI) to ask about progress. The Home Office will becontact you inafter your contact once your expression of interest application has been considered.considered. 

You will not need to make any other applicationapplication to the for entry clearance under the scheme. scheme.  

If you are selected to be considered to come to the UK, the Home OfficeOffice will contact willyou to manageconfirm your thisidentity onin person.

If your behalf.

expression of interest application is unsuccessful

If your expression of interest is unsuccessful you will be contacted, but this may take some time.time. If you have applied as a family group, other family members will also be unsuccessful.  

You may be able to apply again, unless your application was rejected because you were not in France. 

If your expression of interest was rejected before 12 November 2025 with a message stating you cannot reapply, you may still be eligible, except if the rejection was due to you not being in France. 

Any future UK visa applications you make will be considered separately.

ConfirmingProve your identity in person

As part of the application, you’llyou will need to prove your identity. You will be given an in-person appointmentappointment in at a VAC in France to provide your biometrics (fingerprints and a photo).photo). 

You willcannot needprovide toyour bringbiometrics without youran original,appointment. 

You must bring the original, physical identity documents tothat you used in your appointment.online application to your appointment.  

You must be prepared to travel to the UKUK immediately after immediately after your appointment if your application is successful.successful. 

Do not travel to a VAC without an appointment.

You must notnot attempt to attempt to travel to the UK while you wait for a decision from the Home Office.

Getting a decision on your application

If your application is unsuccessful

Yousuccessful, you will getbe aninformed emailabout whenyour travel to the HomeUK. You Officewill hasbe madegranted aentry decisionclearance onto yourthe application.UK Thisfor willup confirmto that3 months to allow you to travel to the UK legally. 

If your application hasis beenunsuccessful refused.at this stage, you will get an email from the Home Office explaining the decision. 

YouIf your application is refused at this stage, you will not be able to apply again.again. 

If one person’s application is unsuccessful and you are applying as a family, the whole family group will be unsuccessful.

Travel to the UK if your entry clearance application is successful

YouWe will willcheck getyou anare emailfit whento thetravel Hometo Officethe hasUK.  

You madewill abe provided with information decisionabout your onjourney to yourthe application.UK. You This will confirmbe thatgiven youa havetravel beendocument grantedto entryuse clearanceto travel to the UKUK and forescorted up to 3your transport.

Get monthshelp toin allowthe youUK

You towill travelbe tomet after you’ve landed in the UK legally.and passed through immigration control. We will help to arrange travel for you. 

You willmay be givenable ato travelstay documentwith tofamily usealready toliving travelin to the UK.UK or make other arrangements. We will discuss this with you.  

You will not be able to work, study or access public funds on this visa. Ifvisa. If you want to stay in thethe UK you UK you will need to successfully  apply for another type of permission to stay, such onceas youa havevisa arrived.

Youor willasylum, once be contacted with information on how to travel to the UK. You should not give up any existing accommodation until you are contacted with information about travel to the UK.

If you have made an asylum claim in another country you should withdraw it before you come to the UK.arrived.