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Migrants are often told by smugglers that travelling to the UK will be safe and easy. In reality the journey puts people at serious risk of injury, abuse and exploitation. The journey is not only expensive, but dangerous. Men, women and children have died trying to get to the UK in small boats or hidden in lorries.

Migrants are often forced into situations that are extremely dangerous. Most people smugglers:

This puts migrants lives at serious risk during every journey.

Dont risk it. Choose a safe and legal alternative.

Many people have died or been seriously injured trying to travel to the UK in a small boat or by lorry - including children.

The dangers of travelling to the UK in a small boat include:

The dangers of travelling to the UK hidden in a lorry include:

The people who arrange your journey are often part of organised crime gangs and may force you into dangerous situations to pay off your debt to them.

Despite what smugglers may tell you, many illegal migrants struggle to find work and pay for life in the UK. You could end up sleeping in the streets, made to beg and give any money to the smugglers, or forced into slavery.

You may be given work by criminal employers who pay no or low wages and ask you to work in dangerous conditions. They can charge lots of money for travel and unsuitable accommodation.

Relying on smugglers could mean youll:

If you make it to the UK safely, you may not be able to stay. If you get to the UK through a safe country and you make an asylum claim, this may not be considered.

The UK asylum process gives no advantages over other European asylum processes and you should always claim asylum in the first safe country you reach.

If you make it to the UK, the realities may be different to what you expect, for example:

From 1 January 2022, you will be considered for relocation to Rwanda if you make an illegal journey to the UK and have travelled through or have a connection to a safe country.

People relocated to Rwanda will have their asylum claim processed there. Rwanda will have full responsibility for them.

People whose claims for protection are rejected will either be offered the chance to stay in Rwanda or return to their home country they will not return to the UK once their claims have been decided by Rwanda.

There is no limit to the number of people who can be relocated to Rwanda.

The UK is also toughening penalties and introducing new criminal offences for people coming to the UK illegally. It will be a criminal offence to knowingly arrive in the UK without a valid entry clearance when one is required. You could face up to 4 years in jail and be removed to a safe country if you arrive illegally.

If you are caught assisting people smugglers, for example by steering the boat or helping other people to pay smugglers, then the UK government can take criminal action against you. You could go to jail before being removed to a safe country.

The UK government has introduced tougher penalties for people smugglers with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Safely and anonymously report immigration crime, including people smugglers.

The UK is working closely with the French and Belgian governments to do everything possible to stop illegal migrants before they reach the UK. In 2021, French and UK authorities prevented more than 23,000 attempts to travel illegally to the UK. Over 6,000 crossings have been prevented so far in 2022, more than twice as many as at this point last year.

Some of the ways that governments are trying to stop illegal journeys to the UK are described below.

There are a variety of safe and legal routes to enter the UK. People smugglers cannot guarantee your safety or that you will be allowed to stay in the UK. Find out more about safer alternative options below.

You should always claim asylum in the first safe country you reach. You should contact authorities in the country you are in for information on how to do this.

Safe and legal routes to enter the UK include:

You can apply for a visa if you want to come to the UK to work, study or remain with family.

There are different visas you can apply for depending on your circumstances.

Under the UK Resettlement Scheme, the UK will continue to offer a safe and legal route to vulnerable refugees in need of protection. The Mandate Resettlement Scheme is a smaller global scheme that resettles refugees who have a close family member in the UK who is willing to house them.

You cannot apply to the UK government for resettlement to the UK. You will need to have been assessed for resettlement by UNHCR (the UN Refugee Agency).

Visit the UNHCR website for information for refugees, asylum-seekers and stateless people.

In addition to our refugee resettlement schemes, the UK has granted over 29,000 Refugee Family Reunion visas in the last 5 years.

If you were separated from your partner or parent when you were forced to leave your country, you may be able to apply to join them in the UK.

The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy helps people formerly employed by the UK government (Locally Employed Staff) in Afghanistan.

Any current or former locally employed staff who are assessed to be under serious threat to life are offered priority relocation to the UK regardless of their employment status, rank or role, or length of time served.

If you believe you qualify, you should apply using the online application form.

The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme began on 6 January, providing up to 20,000 women, children and others at risk with a safe and legal route to resettle in the UK.

The scheme prioritises:

members of Afghan civil society who supported the UK and international community effort in Afghanistan

vulnerable people, including women, girls and members of minority groups at risk

You cannot directly apply for the scheme, it is managed by a referral process. Further information is available on the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme.

The UK has launched one of the fastest and biggest visa schemes in UK history to support people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. You will need to apply online for permission to enter the UK before you travel.

If you are a Ukrainian national and have settled family in the UK, you can apply for the Ukraine Family Scheme visa for free.

If you are a Ukrainian national but do not have settled family in the UK, apply for a visa under the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (also known as Homes for Ukraine) for free.

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Risks of illegal migration to the UK - GOV.UK