The Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS) in the UK will come fully into effect on 1 October 2025, following a three-month grace period that began on 1 July. The scheme is designed to enhance national security by ensuring transparency of foreign political influence, deterring covert activities by hostile states, and enabling earlier intervention by police and intelligence services. From this date, individuals or organisations acting on behalf of foreign states without registration will face criminal sanctions. Those working undeclared for countries on the enhanced tier, currently Russia and Iran, could face up to five years in prison due to the elevated national security risks these states pose.
FIRS operates through a two-tier system. The political tier requires registration of arrangements to conduct political influence activities in the UK, including lobbying senior decision-makers or engaging in political communications on behalf of a foreign power. The enhanced tier applies to foreign states considered a threat to the UK’s safety or interests and can require disclosure of all activities. Russia and Iran have been placed on this tier, meaning individuals working for these countries must declare their activities promptly or face prosecution. Registration deadlines are within 28 days for the political tier and within 10 days for the enhanced tier after agreements are made.
Exemptions exist for recognised diplomatic work, legal representation, and accredited journalism to ensure the scheme is targeted and proportionate. Failure to comply with registration can result in prison sentences of up to two years for the political tier and five years for the enhanced tier. The scheme draws a clear line between legitimate international engagement and covert foreign interference that undermines public trust in democratic processes.
Once registrations are processed by the FIRS Case Management Team, they will appear on the public register, except in cases where publication could compromise commercial interests or safety. Enhanced tier registrations will generally remain unpublished unless they involve political influence activities. To maintain transparency, the government will also publish an annual report detailing the total number of registrations under each tier.
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