The UK left the EU on 31 January 2020 but remained subject to the Dublin Regulation during the transition period, i.e. for requests made until 23h00 on 31 December 2020 (UK time). For information about the Dublin procedure in the UK while it was still subject to the Dublin Regulation, see previous updates to this country report.
The UK has indicated it would attempt to negotiate returns agreements with individual EU member states.[1] As of the time of this update, the only formal agreement on returns to EU member states is the UK/France treaty, which does not replicate Dublin and has only returned a limited number of people (see Access to the territory and push backs). An ad hoc agreement is in place with Bulgaria, although returns there have been subject to legal challenge.[2]
[1] Hansard, House of Lords: Immigration, Nationality and Asylum (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, 18 March 2019, available here.
[2] Katy Fallon and Lorenzo Tondo, ‘UK faces legal challenge over asylum seekers’ deportations to Bulgaria’, The Guardian, 13 May 2025, available here.