International Protection Act 2026

Termination of screening

35. (1) Subject to subsection (2), the Minister and any other person carrying out procedures in respect of a person under this Part shall endeavour to carry out those procedures as soon as practicable and, where possible, no later than—

(a) 7 days after the person arrives at a screening centre, or

(b) in the case of an applicant referred to in section 23 (1), 7 days after the procedures have commenced in respect of the applicant in accordance with alternative arrangements referred to in that section.

(2) Nothing in subsection (1) shall operate to prevent the Minister or any other person from performing a function under this Part after the expiry of the period referred to in subsection (1).

(3) Subject to subsection (4), the procedures under this Part shall be terminated immediately where—

(a) the person expresses an intention to withdraw the application concerned under section 70 ,

(b) the person is arrested on suspicion of committing an offence,

(c) the person is surrendered under the Extradition Act 1965 , or

(d) the person is considered by a registered medical practitioner to be unable to be the subject of procedures under this Part for reasons of ill-health.

(4) Where the procedures under this Part are terminated in accordance with subsection (3) the Minister—

(a) may—

(i) complete, in so far as practicable, the form referred to in section 33 in respect of the person, and

(ii) require the applicant to comply with alternative arrangements under section 23 ,

and

(b) shall record the reason why the procedures were terminated under subsection (3) in the form referred to in section 33 .