The Home Office has confirmed that the Government has decided to immediately abolish the Police Registration Scheme.

This means that the Police Registration Scheme has been suspended and that foreign nationals of specified nationalities, aged 16 or older, who are typically granted more than 6 months' leave in certain immigration categories are no longer required to register with the police upon arrival in the United Kingdom or obtain further leave to remain.

What is the Former Police Registration Scheme?

Prior to its abolishment, foreign nationals listed under UK Immigration Rules Appendix 2: police registration who wish to remain in Britain for more than six months had to register with the police within seven days of arrival in the UK.

The official announcement from the Home Office provides the following explanations for the abolition of the Police Registration Scheme:

‘We are abolishing the requirement to register with the police as the police registration scheme in its current form is outdated and no longer provides any public protection benefit to either the Home Office or the police. The data a migrant provides to the police on registration is already captured by the Home Office at the visa application stage, and is available to the police on request via Immigration Enforcement, so there is no need for it to be provided twice.’

What is the impact?

This change will relieve certain foreign nationals of the unnecessary burden of registering in person with the police as they now only have to notify authorities online of their change of address.

Foreign nationals whose visas state that they require to register with the police are no longer required to register. Those who have already registered with the police do not need to take any further action.

• Already registered - Foreign nationals who have already registered with Police do not need anything and no longer need to communicate any updated personal details to the police.
• Visa already issued - Foreign nationals with a visa that is issued with the requirement to register but who have yet to travel to the UK will no longer need to register with the police now. The suspension means that any foreign national who did not register as requested is no longer expected to do so.
• Existing appointments - There is no requirement for foreign nationals to pay/or attend existing appointments. Those who have paid for a Police registration appointment already will not be refunded.
• Retain the Police Registration Certificate- As foreign nationals will not be required to produce the Police Registration Certificate to a police officer or an immigration officer at any other time, there is no need to keep the Police Registration Certificate.
• Future visa application - Any condition of leaving your visa or BRP application will not include a condition to register with the police.

Any questions about the changes to the Police Registration Scheme, you can contact by e-mail to CriminalityPolicyGuidanceQueries@homeoffice.gov.uk.

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