Migrants arriving illegally in the UK in small boats or stowed away in lorries will be refused British citizenship, new Home Office guidance states.
The "Good Character" guidance for immigration staff has been changed to say people who have arrived in the UK illegally "having made a dangerous journey... will normally be refused citizenship" from 10 February, regardless of when they arrived.
"This policy guidance further strengthens measures to make it clear that anyone who enters the UK illegally, including small boat arrivals, faces having a British citizenship application refused.".
The Home Office said the change "further strengthens" measures to make it clear anyone entering the UK illegally will be refused British citizenship.
People arriving in small boats have risen by almost a third since Labour took office, with nearly 25,000 people arriving between 4 July 2024 and 6 February 2025 - 28% higher than the same dates a year before.
