Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS)
The Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS) – a UK government scheme in which organisations and individuals must register activities sponsored by a foreign state or certain state-controlled organisations – comes into force on 1 July 2025.
FIRS aims to protect the safety and interests of the UK by improving the understanding of activity taking place here at the instruction of foreign states or organisations.
This section of the Research Security Hub will give colleagues the information, guidance and support they need in relation to FIRS.
What is Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS)?
The Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS) (Part 4 of the National Security Act 2023) increases the transparency of activity taking place in the UK at the instruction of a foreign state or foreign state-controlled organisation, to protect the safety and interests of the UK.
A ‘foreign state’ means any country which is not part of the UK (except the Republic of Ireland). This includes foreign governments, as well as foreign agencies and authorities.
The requirements of FIRS, the National Security and Investment Act (NSIA), UK strategic export controls and the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) are separate and distinct. Registration, or approval, under one of these schemes is not equivalent to compliance with them all.
Failure to comply is a criminal offence with maximum penalties of up to 5 years imprisonment - the University is here to ensure you are able to comply quickly and easily.
- You can find information on what activities are affected by the scheme and how to register if required below.
- You can also contact the University’s Regulatory Compliance Team for advice on next steps or if you have any question related to FIRS.
What activities need to be registered under this scheme?
There are two tiers of activity that need to be registered:
- the political influence tier – activities carried out in the UK at the instruction of any foreign state to influence political decisions, elections or referendums, or registered political parties.
- the enhanced tier – activities carried out in the UK at the instruction of a specified part of the Russian or Iranian state. Further detail on the specified parts of Russia and Iran can be found at Foreign Influence Registration Scheme: specified powers guidance.
Political influence tier - further information
Examples of activities that could fall under this scheme:
- all communications directly with UK government ministers, MPs and election candidates
- giving money or services to a UK national, an individual living in the UK, or a UK organisation or business
- communicating publicly, for example writing a newspaper article or social media post, unless it is clear which foreign state it is on behalf of
Registration for activity related to research is required under the political influence tier if the research forms part of an intentional effort by a foreign state to influence the UK’s democracy, for example, a specific area of government policy. Provided that academics or researchers have complete discretion about the research conclusions, outcomes or recommendations presented in a research report (without influence by a foreign state), the research activity will not require registration under the political influence tier.
An agreement to carry out political influence activities can either be registered by the person who made the agreement or the organisation they work for. Registration must happen within 28 days of an agreement being made. Registrants are required to update their registration within 14 days where there is a material change to any of the information that they have provided.
Registering an activity does not necessarily mean that it is illegitimate or undesirable. Providing activities are registered, they may go ahead without restriction.
Enhanced tier - further information
Registration is only required under the enhanced tier if the activity is directed by a specified foreign state or specified foreign state-controlled organisation. This could include research which is funded by the specified foreign state or foreign state-controlled organisation, where the funding has conditions attached that it is to be used in a particular way.
Activity cannot begin until the agreement has been registered and registration must happen within 10 days of an agreement being made.
The foreign powers and organisations currently specified under the enhanced tier are from Russia or Iran.
Funding and donations:
Universities that are in receipt of funding, grants or philanthropic donations from a specified foreign state or specified foreign state-controlled organisation are required to register if the funding has conditions attached for it to be used to carry out specific activities. However, unrestricted grants where universities have autonomy over use of funding do not require registration.
International partnerships with specified states:
Where a foreign state is specified under the enhanced tier, that does not mean that all organisations, institutes, or universities which are controlled by that foreign state are also specified. These organisations would only be considered specified if they are named in regulations as a specified foreign state-controlled organisation.
Therefore, those carrying out activities in the UK at the direction of overseas universities would only have to register if the overseas universities were themselves specified.
How to register
There is a dedicated online registration service. If your registrable activity is part of your University work, the University will support you and register the activity on your behalf.
You can contact the University’s Regulatory Compliance Team for advice on next steps or if you have any question related to FIRS.
Pre-existing arrangements
Pre-existing arrangements which were made before 1 July 2025, and which are continuing beyond that date, must be registered by 1 October 2025.
Any arrangements made on or after 1 July 2025 do not benefit from the 3-month grace period and must be registered within the timeframes relevant to each tier.