The UK Government’s controversial ‘one in, one out’ agreement with France has reportedly come to an end, raising further questions about the effectiveness of its approach to irregular migration across the English Channel.
Introduced in July 2025, the agreement was intended to discourage dangerous small boat crossings by allowing the UK to return certain asylum seekers to France. In exchange, an equivalent number of eligible individuals would be admitted legally to the UK from France.
However, despite operating for more than a year, the scheme failed to achieve the scale of returns initially anticipated.
Its reported closure has renewed debate over the future of UK-France immigration cooperation and the Government’s ability to reduce irregular Channel crossings.
What Was the UK-France ‘One In, One Out’ Agreement?
The agreement was introduced on 10 July 2025 as part of wider efforts to address irregular migration between France and the UK.
Under the arrangement, certain individuals who crossed the English Channel in small boats could be returned to France.
In return, the UK would admit eligible applicants from France through a controlled legal process, subject to the relevant eligibility and security requirements.
The intention was to discourage irregular crossings while providing a limited alternative for individuals seeking protection in the UK.
The scheme was also presented as a means of disrupting the business model of people-smuggling networks operating across the Channel.
Why Has the Agreement Come to an End?
According to reports, the agreement was expected to expire on 1 October 2026, following difficulties in increasing the number of returns.
Although the scheme resulted in removals to France, the numbers remained relatively small compared with overall Channel arrivals.
France also reportedly expressed concerns about assuming responsibility for returns without wider European participation.
French officials argued that responsibility for managing irregular migration should not fall exclusively on France and called for a broader arrangement involving the European Union.
The reported decision to end the agreement therefore raises questions about whether a bilateral arrangement can provide an effective long-term response to irregular migration.
How Effective Was the Scheme?
Reports suggest that the UK returned approximately 1,500 asylum seekers to France. In exchange, the UK legally admitted a similar number of individuals from France under the agreement.
However, more than 40,000 people reportedly arrived in the UK by small boat during the period in which the agreement operated.
These figures suggest that the scheme had a limited impact on the overall number of arrivals.
There were also reports of individuals returning to the UK after being removed to France, with some subsequently removed again.
Others reportedly expressed concerns about their safety in France, including threats from people-smuggling networks.
While the Government intended the agreement to discourage irregular crossings, the available figures do not establish whether it achieved a significant deterrent effect.
Concerns Over the Treatment of Asylum Seekers
The agreement also attracted criticism from organisations supporting refugees and asylum seekers.
Medical Justice and other humanitarian organisations raised concerns about the detention and removal of vulnerable individuals, including survivors of trafficking and torture.
Reports also documented allegations of physical injuries and psychological distress among some individuals returned to France.
Home Office figures obtained through freedom of information requests show that officials used force during some removals to France. This affected approximately one in ten of the 224 asylum seekers returned during the first three months of 2026.
These concerns have prompted further scrutiny of the safeguards available to individuals subject to removal.
Under UK law, removal decisions must comply with applicable legal obligations. These include protections against removal where there is a real risk of persecution, torture or other serious harm.
What Does This Mean for UK Asylum Policy?
The reported end of the agreement leaves the Government facing a familiar challenge: how to reduce dangerous Channel crossings while maintaining an effective and lawful asylum system.
The Home Office has indicated that it will continue removing individuals. This applies to those who have no legal right to remain in the UK.
However, removing individuals is not always straightforward.
Legal restrictions, difficulties obtaining travel documents and the circumstances in receiving countries can prevent or delay removals.
The Government must also consider its obligations under domestic immigration legislation and international refugee and human rights law.
The experience of the UK-France agreement demonstrates the practical difficulties of relying on returns arrangements as a principal means of addressing irregular migration.
Could the UK Pursue a New Agreement With Europe?
One possibility is a broader returns arrangement involving the European Union rather than France alone.
French officials have previously indicated that responsibility for managing migration across the Channel should form part of wider UK-EU cooperation.
However, establishing such an agreement would require negotiations over responsibility for asylum seekers and eligibility for returns. These discussions would also need to address the legal safeguards governing removals.
Other proposals, including the use of return hubs in third countries, have also been discussed internationally.
At present, there is no confirmed replacement agreement.
Any future arrangement would need to address the operational and legal difficulties encountered under the previous scheme.
What Happens Next?
The reported closure of the ‘one in, one out’ scheme represents a significant development in the UK’s approach to irregular migration.
Although the agreement facilitated returns to France, the relatively small number of removals compared with Channel arrivals raises questions about its overall effectiveness.
The Government now faces pressure to establish a more sustainable approach to managing irregular migration and securing international cooperation. It must also meet its legal obligations towards people seeking asylum.
Whether a new agreement with France or the wider European Union will follow remains uncertain.
Morgan Smith Immigration will continue to report on developments affecting UK immigration and asylum law. For professional advice on UK immigration matters, contact our team on 0203 959 3335 or email [email protected].
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