Commentary on Sections Part 1: Nationality Section 11: Unlawful presence in United Kingdom
60.Section 11 makes provision for construing the expression “in the United Kingdom in breach of the immigration laws” where it occurs in section 4 of, and Schedule 1 to, the BNA 1981 (registration and naturalisation) and in subsection 50(5) of that Act (meaning of “ordinary residence”).
61.Subsection (2) provides that a person is “in the United Kingdom in breach of the immigration laws” at any time when he was here without leave or other entitlement, for example under Community law.
62.Subsection (3) ensures that a person is not treated as being in the United Kingdom at any time when he had not “entered the United Kingdom” within the meaning of section 11 of the 1971 Act. (Section 11 provides that a person is deemed not to have entered the United Kingdom before disembarkation, while in a controlled area at a port or while under immigration control. This includes periods of detention and “temporary admission” under the 1971 Act.)
63.Subsection (4) states that the provisions in this section should be treated as having always had effect, except in relation to certain European Economic Area nationals and their family members.
64.Subsection (5) states that the rule of construction in subsection (2) is without prejudice to the meaning of “in breach of the immigration laws” where it occurs in other contexts.