gobordaGlobal mobility intelligence
Work & skilled workersEffectiveMedium impactVerified

UK National Age Assessment Board Guidance Updated: Clarifications on New Information and File Sharing Platform Transitio

🇬🇧 United KingdomBorder Security1 recorded versionLast change 27 Aug 2026
ConfidenceVery high · 100%

Current rules

The NAAB has updated its guidance to clarify how new information should be considered after an age-assessment decision and to reflect the transition from MOVEit to Portal for file sharing. -New information following an age assessment: Where new evidence comes to the attention of the NAAB after an age assessment, the information must be considered to determine whether it amounts to significant new evidence. If it is determined to be significant new evidence, a further age assessment can be conducted, which includes reviewing the existing assessment. The guidance also provides for consideration of whether the age-disputed person should be invited to submit other new evidence relevant to their age before a decision is made on the new information and any potential reassessment. This is important because a previous NAAB assessment is not necessarily permanently determinative if significant new evidence subsequently emerges. The updated guidance states that a NAAB assessment can cease to be binding where it is overturned through judicial review or where a new assessment decision is made because significant new evidence has come to light. -File-sharing transition: The guidance has also been amended to account for the transition from MOVEit to Portal. This is an operational change affecting how relevant case information and documents are shared between the organisations involved in the NAAB process. -What remains unchanged: The fundamental role of the NAAB remains the same. It remains a Home Office decision-making function that can conduct age assessments following referrals from: local authorities in England, Wales and Scotland; Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland; or the Home Office. The circumstances in which referrals may occur also remain broadly the same.

Overview

This guidance outlines mandatory requirements and general guidance for prison and probation staff managing Foreign National Offenders (FNOs) released into England and Wales on licence or detained in Immigration Detention. It combines two previous policies, details data sharing with Home Office Immigration Enforcement, accommodation options, risk assessment responsibilities, and licence production.

Who is affected by the latest change

  • Staff members of the National Age Assessment Board (NAAB)
  • Local authority children's services staff (England, Wales, Scotland)
  • Children's services staff in Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Trusts
  • Home Office operational staff dealing with individuals who may be referred to the NAAB for age assessment

What changed in the latest version

Before

The old version of the National Age Assessment Board (NAAB) guidance had rules for handling new information after an age assessment decision. Under the existing rules, if someone gave new information after a NAAB age assessment, the NAAB had to decide if it was significant new evidence. If it was, the NAAB could do another age assessment. This included checking the old assessment again. That guidance also had rules for sharing information between the NAAB and other organisations. In practice, the old guidance said to use the MOVEit file-sharing platform to transfer relevant information. The main law has not changed with this update. Specifically, section 56 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022, which sets rules for looking at new information after an age assessment, has not yet started. The updated guidance says this. So, the existing rules for handling new information still apply.

After

The National Age Assessment Board (NAAB) has updated its guidance. It clarifies how to consider new information after an age assessment decision. It also explains the move from MOVEit to Portal for sharing files. - New information after an age assessment: If the NAAB gets new evidence after an age assessment, it must check if it is significant new evidence. If it is significant new evidence, the NAAB can do another age assessment. This includes checking the old assessment again. The guidance also says the NAAB should consider if the person whose age is in doubt should be asked for other new evidence about their age. This happens before a decision is made on the new information and any possible new assessment. This rule is important. A previous NAAB assessment does not always stay final if significant new evidence appears later. The updated guidance says a NAAB assessment can stop being binding. This happens if a court overturns it through judicial review, or if a new assessment decision is made because significant new evidence has appeared. - File-sharing change: The guidance has also changed to reflect the move from MOVEit to Portal. This is a practical change. It affects how organisations involved in the NAAB process share case information and documents. - What stays the same: The main job of the NAAB stays the same. It is still a Home Office decision-making group. It can do age assessments if these groups refer someone to them: local authorities in England, Wales, and Scotland; Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland; or the Home Office. The reasons why someone might be referred also mostly stay the same.

The updated guidance means that caseworkers doing age assessments must now follow new rules for handling new information. This could change the outcome of age decisions. The move from MOVEit to Portal for sharing files means staff must learn a new technical system for securely exchanging sensitive data. These changes are vital to make sure age assessments are efficient and correct. They also help follow rules for handling data. If staff do not follow the updated guidance, it could lead to wrong age decisions or problems with sharing information.

Explained simply

Imagine you're trying to figure out someone's age, but they don't have their birth certificate. A special group in the UK, called the National Age Assessment Board (NAAB), helps decide. This new update changes two things: how they look at any new clues about someone's age that come up later, and how different organisations share information with them. They used to use a system called MOVEit to share files, but now they're switching to a new, safer system called Portal. So, anyone involved in these age checks needs to know these new ways of working.

Frequently asked

Version history

  1. v9Effective 27 Aug 2026EffectiveMedium impact
    UK National Age Assessment Board Guidance Updated: Clarifications on New Information and File Sharing Platform Transition

    UK Visas and Immigration has updated its 'National Age Assessment Board: caseworker guidance'. This update started on 27 August 2026. The new guidance changes how to consider new information during age assessments. It also explains the move from the MOVEit file sharing platform to Portal for sharing data. This guidance is mainly for staff who do age assessments. This includes staff from the National Age Assessment Board (NAAB), local authorities, Health and Social Care Trusts, and the Home Office.

Timeline

  1. Takes effect

    27 Aug 2026

    The updated caseworker guidance for the National Age Assessment Board (NAAB) includes amendments to instructions on considering new information, transitions from the MOVEit file sharing platform to Portal, guidance on conducting abbreviated age assessments, revised timeframes for local authorities to provide information to the NAAB, and changes regarding the provision of interpreters by the NAAB f

  2. Announced

    31 Mar 2023

    The UK's National Age Assessment Board (NAAB) has updated its caseworker guidance, effective from 27 August 2026. This latest revision incorporates changes regarding the consideration of new information during age assessment processes and outlines procedures for transitioning from the MOVEit file sharing platform to a new Portal for data exchange. The updates apply to Home Office staff, local auth

Other routes in this country

1 / 6