gobordaGlobal mobility intelligence
Work & skilled workersPublishedMedium impactVerified

UK Updates Country Policy and Information Note on Modern Slavery in China

🇬🇧 United KingdomAsylum1 recorded versionLast change 1 Sept 2026
ConfidenceVery high · 100%

Current rules

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has published an updated version of the country policy and information note on modern slavery in China, dated August 2026. This new note is to be used by officials when making decisions in asylum and human rights applications. The updated assessment states that: -victims of modern slavery from China form a particular social group for Refugee Convention purposes -victims are generally unlikely to face persecution or serious harm from non-state actors solely because they were victims of modern slavery -certain factors can increase vulnerability to re-trafficking, including homelessness, disability, mental illness, age, lack of education and living in a rural area -forced labour is also perpetrated by the Chinese government, particularly against Uyghurs, other Muslim minority groups and Tibetans -state protection is generally considered available against non-state or rogue state actors -internal relocation is generally considered possible in China -each asylum or human-rights claim must nevertheless be assessed on its individual facts.

Overview

On 1 September 2026, the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) updated its Country Policy and Information Note (CPIN) on modern slavery in China. This revised guidance is directly applied by UKVI officials when assessing asylum and human rights applications from individuals originating from China, particularly those citing modern slavery concerns. The update aims to ensure that decision-making remains current and comprehensive.

Who is affected by the latest change

  • UK Visas and Immigration officials who make decisions on asylum and human rights applications about China
  • People applying for asylum or human rights protection in the UK because of modern slavery concerns in China

What changed in the latest version

Before

The Country Policy and Information Notes for China previously included a version on modern slavery that was last updated on 16 October 2024. Other Country Policy and Information Notes (CPINs) for China included: Christians (updated 4 April 2024), opposition to the state (published 30 January 2026), Falun Gong (published 26 November 2025), Muslims (including Uyghurs in Xinjiang) (updated 23 July 2025), contravention of the population and family planning law and single and unmarried mothers (updated 27 June 2025), Hong Kong national security legislation (published 8 May 2025), non-Christian religious groups (published 15 May 2025), and medical treatment and healthcare (published 23 August 2022).

After

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has published an updated version of the country policy and information note on modern slavery in China. This version is dated August 2026. Officials must use this new note when they decide on asylum and human rights applications. The updated assessment says that: * victims of modern slavery from China form a particular social group. This is for the purpose of the Refugee Convention. The Refugee Convention is an international agreement that defines who is a refugee and what their rights are. * victims are generally unlikely to face persecution or serious harm from people who are not part of the state (non-state actors) just because they were victims of modern slavery. * certain things can make people more likely to be trafficked again (re-trafficking). These include being homeless, having a disability, having a mental illness, age, not having an education, and living in a rural area. * the Chinese government also carries out forced labour. This particularly affects Uyghurs, other Muslim minority groups, and Tibetans. * protection from the state is generally available against non-state actors or rogue state actors. Rogue state actors are officials acting outside of normal government authority. * moving to another place within China (internal relocation) is generally possible. * each asylum or human rights claim must still be judged on its own facts.

This update matters because it gives the latest official guidance. UK Visas and Immigration caseworkers will use this guidance when they assess asylum and human rights claims about modern slavery in China. It is very important for applicants from China, and their legal representatives, to understand this updated note. It may affect how their claims are assessed and decided. The specific information in the note will shape the evidence needed and the legal arguments made. This could affect the result of protection applications.

Explained simply

Imagine the UK government has a special guidebook for deciding if someone from China who says they were forced into modern slavery should be allowed to stay here. They've just updated that guidebook with new information. This means that when officials look at new cases, they'll use the latest information about modern slavery in China to help them make their decision. So, if you're from China and applying for asylum because of modern slavery, the updated rules will apply to your case.

Frequently asked

Version history

  1. v1Effective 1 Sept 2026PublishedMedium impact
    UK Updates Country Policy and Information Note on Modern Slavery in China

    UK Visas and Immigration has published an updated 'Country policy and information note: modern slavery, China, August 2026'. This new guidance is effective from 1 September 2026. It replaces earlier versions about modern slavery in China. It helps officials decide on asylum and human rights applications from people whose cases involve China. This is especially for cases about modern slavery. This update is part of a larger series of Country Policy and Information Notes for China.

Timeline

  1. Announced

    1 Sept 2026

    On 1 September 2026, the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) updated its Country Policy and Information Note (CPIN) on modern slavery in China. This revised guidance is directly applied by UKVI officials when assessing asylum and human rights applications from individuals originating from China, particularly those citing modern slavery concerns. The update aims to ensure that decision-making remains c

  2. Takes effect

    1 Sept 2026

    UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has published an updated version of the country policy and information note on modern slavery in China, dated August 2026. This new note is to be used by officials when making decisions in asylum and human rights applications.

Other routes in this country

1 / 6