The Immigration (Collection, Use and Retention of Biometric Information and Related Amendments) Regulations 2021

Type Statutory-Instrument
Publication 2021-06-29
Last updated 2025-12-02
State In force
Department King's Printer of Acts of Parliament
PDF Download
articles Not indexed
Reform history JSON API

Made: 29th June 2021

Coming into force: 1st July 2021

In accordance with section 41(8)(b) of the 1981 Act, section 166(5)(d) of the 1999 Act[^f00005], section 126(8)(b) of the 2002 Act and section 6(6)(e) of the 2007 Act, a draft of these Regulations was laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

PART 1 — PRELIMINARY

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1

PART 2 — PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE USE, RETENTION AND DESTRUCTION OF BIOMETRIC INFORMATION FOR CERTAIN PERSONS WHO ARE SUBJECT TO IMMIGRATION CONTROL

Photographs

2

Attendance to be photographed

3

Use and retention of biometric information

4

Use and retention of existing biometric information

5

Destruction of biometric information

6

Retention of fingerprints

7

whichever is the later.

Destruction etc. of electronic data

8

Biometric information: retention under another power

9

The requirements in this Part to destroy biometric information or data do not apply if and in so far as the information or data is retained in accordance with and for the purposes of another power.

PART 3 — TRANSITIONAL PROVISION

Transitional provision

10

11

The Schedule (which makes amendments to related secondary legislation) has effect.

Amendment of the British Nationality (General) Regulations 2003

1

(7EA) (1) This regulation applies where— (a) a person makes an application for registration or naturalisation as a British citizen; and (b) the Secretary of State already has a record of the person’s fingerprints or a photograph of the person’s face in their possession (for whatever reason). (2) Where this regulation applies, the Secretary of State may use or retain that information for the purposes of these Regulations.

— (a) the date on which the fingerprints were provided; or (b) the date on which they are reused in connection with a relevant application made by the person, whichever is the later.

(5) A relevant application for the purposes of paragraph (1) is an application for— (a) entry clearance; (b) leave to enter; (c) leave to remain; or (d) registration or naturalisation as a British citizen.

Amendment of the Immigration (Provision of Physical Data) Regulations 2006

2

(8A) (1) This regulation applies where— (a) a person makes an application; and (b) the Secretary of State already has a record of the person’s fingerprints or a photograph of the person’s face in their possession (for whatever reason). (2) Where this regulation applies, the Secretary of State may use or retain that information for the purposes of these Regulations.

— (a) the date on which the fingerprints were provided; or (b) the date on which they are reused in connection with an application made by the person which comes within paragraph (5), whichever is the later.

(5) An application comes within this paragraph if it is an application for— (a) entry clearance; (b) leave to enter; (c) leave to remain; or (d) registration or naturalisation as a British citizen.

Amendment of the Immigration (Biometric Registration) Regulations 2008

3

  • “biometric card” means a card which forms part of a biometric immigration document and which is issued to a person who has made an application under regulation 3 or 3A recording the holder’s immigration status;
  • “biometric sticker” means a sticker which forms part of a biometric immigration document which— is issued to a person who has made an application under regulation 3 or 3A recording the holder’s immigration status; and consists of a stamp or other attachment in a passport or other document which indicates that the holder has been granted entry clearance or limited or indefinite leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom;

— (a) the date on which the fingerprints were provided; or (b) the date on which they are reused in connection with a relevant application made by the person, whichever is the later.

(5) A relevant application for the purposes of paragraph (1) is an application for— (a) entry clearance; (b) leave to enter; (c) leave to remain; or (d) registration or naturalisation as a British citizen.

(1A) The reference to the issue of a biometric immigration document in paragraph (1) includes allowing the person to view their biometric immigration document electronically.

(5) Where the person is issued with a biometric card or biometric sticker, the information contained on that card or sticker is to be read subject to the information on the person’s biometric immigration document.

(1A) The reference to the issue of a biometric immigration document in paragraph (1) includes allowing the person to view their biometric immigration document electronically.

(6A) Where the person is issued with a biometric card or biometric sticker, the information contained on that card or sticker is to be read subject to the information on the person’s biometric immigration document.

(ja) other information connected with the holder’s immigration status or nationality;

(16A) The Secretary of State may cancel access to a person’s biometric immigration document electronically if the Secretary of State thinks that— (a) the holder’s leave to enter or remain has been varied, cancelled or invalidated, or has lapsed; or (b) another person has gained access to the biometric immigration document without the consent of the holder or of the Secretary of State.

(5A) The references in paragraphs (1), (2) and (4) to the provision of a biometric immigration document include provision of evidence of the holder’s immigration status held electronically on their biometric immigration document.

(22A) (1) This regulation applies where the holder of a biometric immigration document, other than in a case to which regulation 16A applies, satisfies an authorised person that they are unable to access their biometric immigration document electronically. (2) An authorised person may require the holder of the biometric immigration document to provide an additional photograph of the holder’s face to that provided on the application for the document.

Signed

Kevin Foster — Parliamentary Under Secretary of State — Home Office — 29th June 2021

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Part 2 of these Regulations makes provision for photographs to be taken of certain persons who are subject to immigration control. It also makes provision about the use and retention of these photographs and of fingerprints taken under equivalent provisions in sections 141 and 142 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (c. 33) (“the 1999 Act”).

Regulation 2 deals with who may be photographed, by whom and during what time period. It provides safeguards for children under sixteen and others.

Regulation 3 sets out the procedure for taking such photographs. The Secretary of State may require a person to attend at a specified place to be photographed, and a person who fails to comply with such a requirement may be arrested and photographed before being released.

“Biometric information” is defined in section 144(2) of the 1999 Act by reference to the definition in section 15 of the UK Borders Act 2007 (c. 30), and in this context refers to photographs and fingerprint records.

Regulation 4 makes provision about the uses for which biometric information provided under these Regulations or under section 141 of the 1999 Act may be retained.

Regulation 5 provides that where the Secretary of State already holds biometric information about a person (for whatever reason), the Secretary of State may reuse that information for the purposes of the 1999 Act or of these Regulations.

Regulations 6 and 8 respectively make provision about the destruction of biometric information and of electronic data relating to such information. Regulation 7 makes specific provision about the period for which a record of fingerprints may be retained.

Regulation 9 provides that the requirements in these Regulations to destroy biometric information or data do not apply if the data is retained in accordance with other powers. Those powers are contained in section 127 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (c. 41), the British Nationality (General) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/548) (“the 2003 Regulations”), the Immigration (Provision of Physical Data) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1743) (“the 2006 Regulations”) and the Immigration (Biometric Registration) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/3048) (“the 2008 Regulations”).

Part 3 (regulation 10) makes transitional provision for any period between the coming into force of these Regulations and relevant amendments made to the 1999 Act by the Immigration Act 2016 (c. 19).

Part 4 (regulation 11 and the Schedule) makes related amendments to the 2003 Regulations, the 2006 Regulations and the 2008 Regulations. In particular, those amendments align the period for which biometric information may be retained under those Regulations with that prescribed for the retention of a record of fingerprints in regulation 7. The 2008 Regulations are also amended to make different provision in relation to different types of biometric immigration document.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 1981 c. 61 (“the 1981 Act”). Section 41(1)(bza) was inserted by section 10(2) of the Immigration Act 2014 (c. 22). Section 41(3) was amended by Schedule 1 to the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (c. 41) (“the 2002 Act”) and Schedule 3 to the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 (c. 13).

[^f00002]: 1999 c. 33 (“the 1999 Act”). Section 144 was amended by section 128 of the 2002 Act and paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 and paragraph 17(3) of Schedule 9 to the Immigration Act 2014. Section 144A was inserted by section 14(2) of the Immigration Act 2014. See section 167(1) for the definition of “prescribed”.

[^f00003]: 2002 c.41. Section 126(1) was amended by paragraph 3 of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 2014.

[^f00004]: 2007 c. 30. Section 8 was substituted by section 14(1) of the Immigration Act 2014. By virtue of section 41(1ZC) of the 1981 Act, section 144A(1) of the 1999 Act and section 126(8A) of the 2002 Act, section 8 applies to biometric information provided in accordance with regulations made under the relevant sections of those Acts as it applies to such information provided in accordance with regulations under section 5 of that Act. Section 144A(2) and (3) of the 1999 Act makes further provision about regulations made by virtue of section 144A(1). Section 6(6) is applied to regulations under section 8 by section 8(9) of that Act.

[^f00005]: Section 166(5) was amended but that amendment is not relevant.

[^f00006]: 1971 c. 77.

[^f00007]: 2016 c. 19.

[^f00008]: Section 147 was amended by section 66 of the 2002 Act; there are other amendments not relevant to these Regulations.

[^f00009]: Under paragraph 2 of Schedule 10 to the Immigration Act 2016, where immigration bail is granted to a person, it must be granted subject to one or more conditions listed in paragraph 2(1), including a condition requiring the person to report to the Secretary of State or such other person as may be specified.

[^f00010]: Paragraph 16 was amended by section 140(1) of and paragraph 60 of Schedule 14 to the 1999 Act, section 73(5) of the 2002 Act, section 42(3) of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, section 5(2) of the Immigration Act 2014, section 60(10) of the Immigration Act 2016 and S.I. 1993/1813.

[^f00011]: Paragraph 17 was amended by Schedule 4 to the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 (c. 49), section 140(2) of the 1999 Act and sections 63 and 64 of the 2002 Act.

[^f00012]: Section 3ZA was inserted by section 2 of the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Act 2020 (c.20).

[^f00013]: Section 141 was amended by section 66(2) of the 2002 Act, section 15(4) of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004 (c.19), section 28 of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 (c. 13), section 51 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 (c. 11), paragraph 29 of Schedule 9 to the Immigration Act 2014, section 57 of, and paragraph 30 of Schedule 10 to, the Immigration Act 2016 and S.I. 2017/617.

[^f00015]: S.I. 2003/548. Relevant amending instrument is S.I. 2015/738.

[^f00016]: S.I. 2006/1743. Relevant amending instrument is S.I. 2015/737.

[^f00017]: S.I. 2008/3048. Relevant amending instruments are S.I. 2009/819, 2012/594 and 2015/433.

Editorial notes

[^key-08469b78d2861ea4c9089767422c7112]: Words in reg. 2(12)(a)(iii)(aa) substituted (with effect retrospectively in accordance with s. 44(17) of the amending Act) by Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 (c. 31), ss. 44(13)(b), 65(3)(b)

[^key-17a08c57cae969fe2fe3aec18120115e]: Reg. 5 in force at 1.7.2021, see reg. 1(1)

[^key-184b0ddd9856bedf40bdb546c7610bb8]: Reg. 7 in force at 1.7.2021, see reg. 1(1)

[^key-1aca7a5cf23017c26775bdb5a1643f91]: Sch. para. 2 in force at 1.7.2021, see reg. 1(1)

[^key-1b93b73be26775e27f60577f0d229cfe]: Reg. 2(12)(a)(iii)(zaa) inserted (with effect retrospectively in accordance with s. 44(17) of the amending Act) by Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 (c. 31), ss. 44(13)(a), 65(3)(b)

[^key-366deff4d1e10c4f69aef7d58135765d]: Reg. 10 in force at 1.7.2021, see reg. 1(1)

[^key-3b7bac05a94bd36c74c7c8afb246e8c5]: Reg. 8 in force at 1.7.2021, see reg. 1(1)

[^key-45cad8f40d763e8f2e939a7f27a1ccf9]: Words in reg. 2(7)(g)(ii) inserted (with effect retrospectively in accordance with s. 44(17) of the amending Act) by Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 (c. 31), ss. 44(11)(b), 65(3)(b)

[^key-594525bb088f1ad029acaec5773b6b59]: Sch. para. 3 in force at 1.7.2021, see reg. 1(1)

[^key-6bb53dc98cec440e611475d5f99b85ca]: Sch. para. 1 in force at 1.7.2021, see reg. 1(1)

[^key-7219313b94301307968881b77a6612a0]: Reg. 9 in force at 1.7.2021, see reg. 1(1)

[^key-7fb02e843be9cd16383aae31a2083920]: Reg. 2(11)(c)(i)(ii) substituted (with effect retrospectively in accordance with s. 44(17) of the amending Act) by Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 (c. 31), ss. 44(12), 65(3)(b)

[^key-955370c93a972d965916dff9546db595]: Reg. 6 in force at 1.7.2021, see reg. 1(1)

[^key-a16478804b1b14f657291de2b5286f88]: Reg. 7(2)(aa) inserted (27.3.2025) by The Immigration (Biometric Information etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/382), regs. 1(2), 23

[^key-b73620b69cb235adf8c8e22842e5c4b4]: Reg. 1 in force at 1.7.2021, see reg. 1(1)

[^key-b8ee5d1d3304fee4ce77d9301d67162f]: Reg. 3 in force at 1.7.2021, see reg. 1(1)

[^key-bea6bb4dee53374dfb1d831f2aeb43cb]: Reg. 11 in force at 1.7.2021, see reg. 1(1)

[^key-e7c41fd6a5ece20fe4420b3e3ff8eb97]: Reg. 4 in force at 1.7.2021, see reg. 1(1)

[^key-ef835da452ef63d6b04b48e49b6f5809]: Reg. 2(7)(c) substituted (with effect retrospectively in accordance with s. 44(17) of the amending Act) by Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 (c. 31), ss. 44(11)(a), 65(3)(b)

[^key-fadc3e51a5802377887afa34d4f9a38b]: Reg. 2 in force at 1.7.2021, see reg. 1(1)

Reading this document does not replace reading the official text published on legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies arising from the conversion of the original CLML XML to this format.

This text is published under legislation.gov.uk's own terms of reuse, not a Legalize or public-domain licence. legislation.gov.uk
Open Government Licence v3.0 (attribution required)
© Crown and database right. Derived from content available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 from legislation.gov.uk.