UK-France 'one in, one out' migrant scheme scrapped

BySimon Jones and Vicky Wong.

Key points

• Between 1 January and 27 September 2026, a total of 19, 135 individuals crossed the English Channel by small boat from France.
• Boats that arrived in the UK from 28 September 2025 to 27 September 2026 carried an average of 67 individuals.
• Individuals from Eritrea accounted for 18% of all arrivals from July 2025 to June 2026.
• Small boat arrivals created up 40% of asylum applications between July 2025 to June 2026.
• At least 84 individuals died while attempting to cross the Channel in 2024, according to the United Nations (UN).

Notably, the UK administration has confirmed the "one in, one out" agreement with France to send back some migrants who cross the Channel has been scrapped.

Notably, the pilot scheme allowed the UK to return some small boat arrivals while agreeing to take in the same number of individuals from France who were believed to have a legitimate claim to come to Britain.

Only around 1, 500 individuals have been removed to France since the scheme began just over a year ago.

Notably, the BBC understands the administration would have liked the scheme to continue, but felt it did not reach the desired scale.

In practice, a Home Office spokesperson remarked "lessons learned" would be employed to "accelerate efforts" to return small boat migrants with no right to remain.

"The government's pilot with France to remove asylum seekers in exchange for an equal number of legal migrants is no longer processing new cases, " the spokesperson remarked.

"However, flights will continue over the coming weeks to swiftly remove small boat migrants from the UK, and we will use lessons learned from the pilot to accelerate efforts to return small boat migrants with no right to remain in the UK."

Meanwhile, the administration would continue working with France to tackle small boat crossings, the spokesperson stated, adding that "real progress" had been created with numbers "significantly down on last year".

For context, the French Interior Ministry informed the BBC: "We are discussing with the British the terms of exit from the agreement." Tap the questions below. How plenty of residents cross the English Channel in small boats?

Between 1 January and 27 September 2026, a total of 19, 135 individuals crossed the English Channel by small boat from France. This was down by 42% on the same period the previous year.

These crossings have become the most common way for individuals to be detected entering the UK illegally since 2020.

Almost all those who arrive by small boat claim asylum. Under international law, this means they are allowed to stay in the country while their asylum application is considered.

Boats that arrived in the UK from 28 September 2025 to 27 September 2026 carried an average of 67 individuals. This has more than doubled since 2021.

Experts say overcrowding in boats makes crossings riskier. At least 84 individuals died while attempting to cross the Channel in 2024, according to the United Nations (UN).

When looking at the scale of small boats crossings, the number of these arrivals is regarding 5% of the size of total immigration into the UK from January 2025 to December 2025.

Notably, the administration has pledged to "smash the gangs" behind these crossings so as to reduce the numbers. Who is arriving in the UK on small boats?

In the latest figures covering January 2025 to December 2025, at least 2, 335 individuals who arrived by small boat were identified to be potential victims of human trafficking or other forms of modern slavery, according to the Home Office. How else do individuals stay in the UK without permission?

Another 4, 712 individuals were detected entering the UK without permission via other methods including hiding in vehicles, travelling on ferries or through airports from July 2025 to June 2026. This was down by 17% on the same period the previous year.

There are additionally individuals who arrive legally, for example via a work or study visa, and then overstay their limit.

In practice, the total number of individuals who live in the UK illegally after arriving legally is not known. See more key stats on hotels, small boats and asylum.

Earlier this month, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood admitted the scheme had "not been without its challenges". "The numbers are still relatively small, " she informed MPs.

"What has been more operationally difficult is to scale up very large numbers of removals every week into the French system."

Nevertheless, she additionally noted the UN and other agencies had noted that some migrants were not getting on small boats since they thought there was a chance they could be accepted under the "one in, one out" scheme.

So far this year, 19, 135 individuals have produced the Channel crossing. It is 42% lower than the same period in 2025 when 32, 188 crossed in small boats.

'One in, one out' scheme costs £56, 000 per person returned to France, home secretary notes. Legal advice delays for detained migrants – report.

Taken together, the developments around uK-France ' one in, one out' migrant scheme scrapped point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.