UK-France Migration Deal Expires Amid Stalled Extension Talks
The United Kingdom and France will let their bilateral migration deal expire on October 1 after failing to agree on a broader EU-wide framework.
The 'one in one out' migration deal between the Government of the United Kingdom and France is set to expire on October 1, 2026. Established in July 2025 by Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron, the pilot scheme facilitated the return of over 1,400 small-boat arrivals to France in exchange for a reciprocal number of asylum seekers with UK links.
Negotiations to extend the agreement stalled as France pushed for the scheme to be incorporated into a broader agreement between the European Union and the UK. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez stated that France should not bear the burden of the scheme alone. Conversely, the UK sought to increase removal numbers to create a more effective deterrent against Channel crossings.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood highlighted the operational difficulties of the program, noting a cost of approximately £56,000 per person returned. While flights for individuals already detained will continue for several weeks, the formal bilateral pact is ending. Mahmood dismissed the notion that an EU-wide system would resolve the migration crisis, while UK officials indicated that the deal's scale was never sufficient to serve as a proper deterrent.
