http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1999/33/section/20Immigration and Asylum Act 1999An Act to make provision about immigration and asylum; to make provision about procedures in connection with marriage on superintendent registrar’s certificate; and for connected purposes.1999-11-22texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-04-09Expert Participation2026-04-07 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999s. 94(3)(3A)Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002s. 44(4)s. 159s. 162(1)Immigration and Asylum Act 1999Sch. 2 para. 21Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002s. 23(2)(a)s. 159s. 162(1)Immigration and Asylum Act 1999Sch. 3 para. 2(5)Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002s. 23(2)(b)s. 159s. 162(1)Immigration and Asylum Act 1999s. 146(2)(za)Immigration Act 2016s. 44(9)s. 94(1)Immigration and Asylum Act 1999s. 94(2A)-(2C)Immigration Act 2016Sch. 11 para. 3(3)s. 94(1)Immigration and Asylum Act 1999s. 94(3A)-(3D)Immigration Act 2016Sch. 11 para. 3(5)s. 94(1)Immigration and Asylum Act 1999s. 94(2D)Immigration Act 2016Sch. 11 para. 7(4)s. 94(1)Immigration and Asylum Act 1999s. 95AImmigration Act 2016Sch. 11 para. 9s. 94(1)Immigration and Asylum Act 1999s. 96(1A)Immigration Act 2016Sch. 11 para. 10(3)s. 94(1)Immigration and Asylum Act 1999s. 97(8)(9)Immigration Act 2016Sch. 11 para. 11(4)s. 94(1)Immigration and Asylum Act 1999s. 98AImmigration Act 2016Sch. 11 para. 13s. 94(1)Immigration and Asylum Act 1999s. 125(2)(ba)Immigration Act 2016Sch. 11 para. 22(3)(b)s. 94(1)Immigration and Asylum Act 1999s. 166(5)(ca)Immigration Act 2016Sch. 11 para. 24(2)s. 94(1)Immigration and Asylum Act 1999s. 166(5A)(5B)Immigration Act 2016Sch. 11 para. 24(3)s. 94(1)Immigration and Asylum Act 1999s. 166(6)(aa)Immigration Act 2016Sch. 11 para. 24(4)s. 94(1)Immigration and Asylum Act 1999s. 97(3A)(b)(iv)Nationality and Borders Act 2022s. 13(2)(c)(ii)s. 87(1)Immigration and Asylum Act 1999s. 98A(5)Nationality and Borders Act 2022s. 13(4)s. 87(1)Immigration and Asylum Act 1999s. 72(10)Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc. ) Act 2004Sch. 4s. 48(3)Immigration and Asylum Act 1999s. 103(4)(a)Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc. ) Act 2004s. 10(4)(b)s. 10(6)s. 48(3)art. 2Immigration and Asylum Act 1999s. 103A(1)Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc. ) Act 2004s. 10(5)s. 10(6)s. 48(3)art. 2Immigration and Asylum Act 1999s. 103A(1) headingAsylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc. ) Act 2004s. 10(5)s. 10(6)s. 48(3)art. 2Immigration and Asylum Act 1999s. 87(3AA)-(3AC)Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025Sch. 1 para. 5(2)s. 65(1)Immigration and Asylum Act 1999s. 87(3D)Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025Sch. 1 para. 5(3)s. 65(1)Immigration and Asylum Act 1999s. 87(4A)Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025Sch. 1 para. 5(5)s. 65(1)Immigration and Asylum Act 1999Sch. 6 para. 4AABorder Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025Sch. 1 para. 6(2)s. 65(1)Immigration and Asylum Act 1999Sch. 6 para. 4CBorder Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025Sch. 1 para. 6(4)s. 65(1)Immigration and Asylum Act 1999s. 84(3C)Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025Sch. 1 para. 7s. 65(1)Immigration and Asylum Act 1999Sch. 5 para. 5(3)(ba)Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025Sch. 1 para. 14(2)s. 65(1)Immigration and Asylum Act 1999Sch. 5 para. 6(2A)(2B)Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025Sch. 1 para. 14(3)(b)s. 65(1)Immigration and Asylum Act 1999Sch. 5 para. 9A-9C and cross-headingBorder Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025Sch. 1 para. 14(5)s. 65(1)Immigration and Asylum Act 1999s. 103(5)(b)The Transfer of Tribunal Functions Order 2008Sch. 3 para. 183(ii)art. 1(1)Immigration and Asylum Act 1999s. 103A(1)The Transfer of Tribunal Functions Order 2008Sch. 3 para. 184art. 1(1)Immigration and Asylum Act 1999s. 10(12)Illegal Migration Act 2023s. 10(6)s. 55(9)s. 68(1) Part I201This section applies to information held by—aa public authority, orbany specified person, for purposes specified in relation to that person.1AThis section also applies to a document or article which—acomes into the possession of a public authority or someone acting on behalf of a public authority , orbis discovered by a public authority or someone acting on behalf of a public authority .1BThis section does not apply to—ainformation which is held by the Crown Prosecution Service, orba document or article which comes into the possession of, or is discovered by, the Crown Prosecution Service, or someone acting on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service,if section 40 of the UK Borders Act 2007 applies to the information, document or article.2The information , document or article may be supplied to the Secretary of State for use for immigration purposes.2AThe Secretary of State may—aretain for immigration purposes a document or article supplied to him under subsection (2), andbdispose of a document or article supplied to him under subsection (2) in such manner as he thinks appropriate (and the reference to use in subsection (2) includes a reference to disposal).2BSubsection (2A)(a) does not affect any other power of the Secretary of State to retain a document or article.3“Immigration purposes” means any of the following—athe administration of immigration control under the Immigration Acts;bthe prevention, detection, investigation or prosecution of criminal offences under those Acts;cthe imposition of penalties or charges under Part II;dthe provision of support for asylum-seekers and their dependants under Part VI;daanything else that is done in connection with the exercise of a function under any of the Immigration Acts;esuch other purposes as may be specified.3APublic authority” means a person with functions of a public nature but does not include—aHer Majesty's Revenue and Customs,beither House of Parliament or a person exercising functions in connection with proceedings in Parliament,cthe Scottish Parliament or a person exercising functions in connection with proceedings in the Scottish Parliament,dthe National Assembly for Wales or a person exercising functions in connection with proceedings in that Assembly, orethe Northern Ireland Assembly or a person exercising functions in connection with proceedings in that Assembly.4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5“Specified” means specified in an order made by the Secretary of State.6This section does not limit the circumstances in which information , documents or articles may be supplied apart from this section.7Nothing in this section authorises information, a document or an article to be supplied if to do so would contravene a restriction on the disclosure of information (however imposed).Words in s. 20(1A)(b) substituted (12.7.2016) by Immigration Act 2016 (c. 19), ss. 55(4), 94(1); S.I. 2016/603, reg. 3(h)Words in s. 20(2) inserted (10.2.2003) by Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (c. 41), ss. 132(3), 162(1) (with s. 159); S.I. 2003/1, art. 2, Sch.S. 20(4) omitted (12.7.2016) by virtue of Immigration Act 2016 (c. 19), ss. 55(9), 94(1); S.I. 2016/603, reg. 3(h)S. 20 modified (10.2.2003) by Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (c. 41), ss. 131, 162(1) (with s. 159); S.I. 2003/1, art. 2, Sch.S. 20(1A) inserted (10.2.2003) by Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (c. 41), ss. 132(2), 162(1) (with s. 159); S.I. 2003/1, art. 2, Sch.S. 20(2A) inserted (10.2.2003) by Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (c. 41), ss. 132(4), 162(1) (with s. 159); S.I. 2003/1, art. 2, Sch.S. 20 restricted (7.4.2005) by Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (c. 11), s. 53(1), Sch. 2 para. 17 (with s. 22); S.I. 2005/1126, art. 2(1)S. 20(2B) inserted (12.7.2016) by Immigration Act 2016 (c. 19), ss. 55(6), 94(1); S.I. 2016/603, reg. 3(h)Words in s. 20(6) inserted (10.2.2003) by Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (c. 41), ss. 132(5), 162(1) (with s. 159); S.I. 2003/1, art. 2, Sch.S. 20(7) inserted (12.7.2016) by Immigration Act 2016 (c. 19), ss. 55(10), 94(1); S.I. 2016/603, reg. 3(h)Words in s. 20(1A)(a) substituted (12.7.2016) by Immigration Act 2016 (c. 19), ss. 55(4), 94(1); S.I. 2016/603, reg. 3(h)S. 20(3A) inserted (12.7.2016) by Immigration Act 2016 (c. 19), ss. 55(8), 94(1); S.I. 2016/603, reg. 3(h)S. 20(1B) inserted (12.7.2016) by Immigration Act 2016 (c. 19), ss. 55(5), 94(1); S.I. 2016/603, reg. 3(h)S. 20(3)(da) inserted (12.7.2016) by Immigration Act 2016 (c. 19), ss. 55(7), 94(1); S.I. 2016/603, reg. 3(h)S. 20(1)(a)(b) substituted for s. 20(1)(a)-(f) (12.7.2016) by Immigration Act 2016 (c. 19), ss. 55(3), 94(1); S.I. 2016/603, reg. 3(h)S. 20 heading substituted (12.7.2016) by Immigration Act 2016 (c. 19), ss. 55(2), 94(1); S.I. 2016/603, reg. 3(h)