Create one-off amnesty with extra tax obligation for undocumented people

Introduce a one-off amnesty for undocumented people currently living in the UK without a legal right to remain, granting them legal status to work. As part of this process those who are given the right to remain in the UK could pay a temporary additional tax to support the economy & public services

We believe that a scheme like this, combined with a temporary extra tax contribution, would bring people into the formal workforce, increase revenue for the Treasury, reduce exploitation, and promote community safety. In our view, countries that have introduced similar schemes have seen economic and social benefits and we believe this would create a fair, practical, and compassionate solution for the UK.

The Government does not consider that introducing an amnesty for illegal migrants would be the way forward. An amnesty would be unfair on those people who have come to the UK and sought to remain through legal means. It would undermine public confidence in the UK’s immigration system, fuelling people smuggling and the exploitation of workers in the shadow economy. In addition, it would be likely to create problems for the future by encouraging more people to attempt to enter or stay illegally in the hope that they would be treated similarly.

The Immigration Rules provide for undocumented migrants who have been in the UK for a long time to regularise their status providing they have not broken the law beyond remaining here without lawful immigration status. The current family and private life Immigration Rules translate our obligations under Article 8 of the ECHR.

Fee waivers are available for certain specified human rights applications where a migrant is exercising the right to enter or remain in the UK based on family or private life, but cannot afford the fee, or where payment of the fee would have a disproportionate impact on a child’s wellbeing or best interests.

The Government’s approach to illegal migration is rooted in fairness, public confidence, and the integrity of the UK’s immigration system. Our policies are designed to ensure that migration is controlled, support is targeted to those genuinely in need, and the system is not open to abuse.

That is why we are now introducing the strongest set of reforms in a generation to get a grip on the system. These reforms are firm but fair: protecting genuine refugees while ending the exploitation of Britain’s generosity. Above all, they will reduce pressure on our community, restore order, and rebuild public confidence. Further information can be found online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-and-returns-policy-statement.

We must maintain the integrity of our immigration system and ensure it is fair to those who have done the right thing and migrated here lawfully, plus contributed by paying items like the Immigration Health Surcharge, while also ensuring it works for UK taxpayers who fund public services. We will not reward those who exploit the system and break the rules by implementing this request.

Home Office