The United Kingdom has extradition treaties with over 100 countries — but there are significant gaps. Understanding which countries have no extradition treaty with the UK, and what that means in practice in 2026, is essential for anyone facing UK-related criminal proceedings or international law enforcement attention.
How UK Extradition Arrangements Are Structured
The Extradition Act 2003 provides the principal domestic framework for extradition involving the United Kingdom.
Under Category 1, the UK handles surrender requests involving EU Member States and Gibraltar through arrangements established by the UK–EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
Category 2 includes territories covered by bilateral treaties, the European Convention on Extradition, the Commonwealth Scheme or another applicable legal instrument. Within this group, territories are divided into Type A and Type B, which are subject to different evidentiary requirements.
A country that is not currently designated as Category 1 or Category 2 does not necessarily become legally unreachable. For an individual request, the Secretary of State may consider a special extradition arrangement. In addition, immigration removal, domestic prosecution and other forms of international cooperation may remain available.
Countries Without a Standard UK Extradition Arrangement
The phrase “countries with no extradition treaty with the UK” is commonly used to describe jurisdictions that are not currently designated as Category 1 or Category 2 territories under the United Kingdom’s published extradition framework.
According to the current Home Office guidance, examples of jurisdictions not listed in either category include:
Africa
- Zimbabwe
Middle East and Central Asia
- Afghanistan
- Iran
- Syria
- Yemen
- Kyrgyzstan
- Turkmenistan
- Uzbekistan
East and Southeast Asia
- China
- Cambodia
- Laos
- Mongolia
- North Korea
- Vietnam
Europe and the Former Soviet Region
- Belarus
Latin America
- Venezuela
This should not be treated as a permanent or universal list of countries that will not extradite to the UK. Government designations, treaties, domestic legislation and diplomatic relations may change.
Moreover, the absence of a standard Category 1 or Category 2 arrangement does not necessarily make extradition impossible. The UK may consider a special extradition arrangement for an individual case. Immigration removal, domestic prosecution, provisional arrest in a third country or another form of international cooperation may also remain available.
For this reason, the legal position must be assessed for the specific country pair, alleged offence, nationality of the person and procedural route proposed by the authorities.
For a broader comparison of treaty relationships in other regions, see our guide to non-extradition countries.
Countries Commonly Misclassified as Having No UK Extradition Treaty
Online lists often confuse limited practical cooperation or difficult diplomatic relations with the complete absence of a formal extradition arrangement.
Russia and South Africa are currently designated as Category 2 Type A territories. Bolivia, Cuba and Nicaragua are designated as Category 2 Type B territories. They should therefore not be included in a list of countries with no standard UK extradition arrangement.
The existence of a formal route does not make extradition automatic. Courts and competent authorities may still examine dual criminality, evidence, human rights, political motivation, passage of time and other available grounds for refusal. However, practical difficulties are legally different from the absence of an extradition framework.
How Did Brexit Change UK Extradition?
The United Kingdom no longer participates in the European Arrest Warrant framework for new cases.
Since 1 January 2021, extradition between the UK and EU Member States has operated under the surrender provisions of the UK–EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The system remains warrant-based and provides a streamlined procedure, but it contains rules that differ from the former European Arrest Warrant framework.
The current arrangements include provisions concerning proportionality, political offences and the surrender of nationals. Their practical effect depends on the requested country and the circumstances of the individual case.
Why the Absence of a Treaty Does Not Remove Legal Risk
A person located in a country without a standard UK extradition arrangement may still face legal consequences.
Possible mechanisms include:
- a special extradition arrangement for the individual case;
- deportation or immigration removal;
- prosecution in the country where the person is located;
- provisional arrest during international travel;
- arrest in a third country that has a formal extradition relationship with the UK;
- an INTERPOL Red Notice or Wanted Diffusion;
- restrictions affecting immigration status, visas or border entry.
An INTERPOL Red Notice is not an international arrest warrant. Its legal effect depends on the domestic law of the country concerned.
Therefore, the absence of a treaty may make the process more complex, but it does not provide immunity from arrest, removal or another lawful form of transfer.
Legal Grounds for Refusing Extradition
The existence of an extradition route does not mean that surrender will be granted automatically.
Depending on the applicable procedure, the court may consider:
- dual criminality;
- double jeopardy;
- improper political or discriminatory motivation;
- passage of time;
- forum, including whether prosecution should take place elsewhere;
- the person’s age or serious health condition;
- conviction in the person’s absence;
- proportionality;
- prison conditions and other human-rights risks;
- insufficient evidence where a prima facie case is required;
- specialty, onward extradition and death penalty assurances.
The available objections differ between Category 1, Category 2 and special-arrangement cases.
Legal Assistance With UK Extradition Cases
UK extradition cases may involve the Extradition Act 2003, the UK–EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, bilateral treaties, Commonwealth arrangements, human-rights law and INTERPOL data.
A legal assessment may include:
- verifying the current extradition relationship between the two countries;
- reviewing the underlying warrant and supporting documents;
- identifying whether Category 1, Category 2 or a special arrangement applies;
- assessing dual criminality and evidentiary requirements;
- examining forum, political motivation and human-rights objections;
- coordinating related INTERPOL, immigration and criminal proceedings;
- working with lawyers authorised to practise in the relevant jurisdictions.
Our international extradition lawyers can assess the countries, documents and immediate legal risks involved.
Contact our legal team for a confidential assessment of your case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the UK extradite someone from China?
The UK suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong in 2020. Mainland China has no extradition treaty with the UK. However, China does enforce INTERPOL Red Notices and has pursued individuals internationally through its own transnational enforcement programs.
Is Russia a safe destination from UK extradition?
Russia has no functional extradition relationship with the UK. However, Russia remains an INTERPOL member and Red Notices circulate there. The geopolitical situation since 2022 has made Russia an inherently unpredictable jurisdiction for any long-term protection strategy.
Does the UK extradite its own citizens?
Yes — unlike many civil law countries, the UK extradites its own nationals. British citizenship is not a bar to extradition under UK law.
Does Zimbabwe Extradite to the UK?
There is currently no standard Category 1 or Category 2 extradition route between Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom. Nevertheless, the UK may still submit a request through diplomatic channels, and Zimbabwean authorities would assess it under their domestic law and any other applicable legal mechanism.
The outcome would depend on the alleged offence, the available evidence, nationality, human-rights considerations and the legal basis relied upon in the individual case.
Does South Africa Have an Extradition Treaty With the UK?
Yes. South Africa is currently designated as a Category 2 Type A territory under the UK extradition framework. Therefore, a formal extradition route exists between South Africa and the United Kingdom.
However, extradition is not automatic. The competent authorities may still consider dual criminality, statutory bars, human-rights concerns, the supporting information and other circumstances of the case.
Does South Africa Extradite to the UK?
South Africa may extradite a person to the United Kingdom where the applicable legal requirements are satisfied. The UK must submit the necessary request and supporting materials through the appropriate channels, while South African authorities and courts apply domestic law.
The result depends on the alleged conduct, evidentiary requirements, available grounds for refusal and any constitutional or human-rights issues.INTERPOL Red Notice
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, please consult a qualified lawyer.