{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/state-immunity-act-1978",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/state-immunity-act-1978.json",
  "id": "ukpga/1978/33",
  "title": "State Immunity Act 1978",
  "long_title": "An Act to make new provision with respect to proceedings in the United Kingdom by or against other States; to provide for the effect of judgments given against the United Kingdom in the courts of States parties to the European Convention on State Immunity; to make new provision with respect to the immunities and privileges of heads of State; and for connected purposes.",
  "citation": "1978 c. 33",
  "type": "ukpga",
  "year": "1978",
  "number": "33",
  "version": "current",
  "date": "1978-07-20",
  "revised": true,
  "valid_from": "2023-02-23",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "unapplied_effects": 0,
  "provisions": [
    {
      "path": "introduction",
      "kind": "introduction",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Introductory text",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/state-immunity-act-1978/introduction",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "part/I",
      "kind": "part",
      "number": "I",
      "heading": "Proceedings in United Kingdom by or against other States",
      "url": null,
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "part/I/crossheading/immunity-from-jurisdiction",
      "kind": "crossheading",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Immunity from jurisdiction",
      "url": null,
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/I"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/1",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "1",
      "heading": "General immunity from jurisdiction.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/state-immunity-act-1978/section-1",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/I/crossheading/immunity-from-jurisdiction"
    },
    {
      "path": "part/I/crossheading/exceptions-from-immunity",
      "kind": "crossheading",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Exceptions from immunity",
      "url": null,
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/I"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/2",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "2",
      "heading": "Submission to jurisdiction.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/state-immunity-act-1978/section-2",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/I/crossheading/exceptions-from-immunity"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/3",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "3",
      "heading": "Commercial transactions and contracts to be performed in United Kingdom.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/state-immunity-act-1978/section-3",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/I/crossheading/exceptions-from-immunity"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/4",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "4",
      "heading": "Contracts of employment.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/state-immunity-act-1978/section-4",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/I/crossheading/exceptions-from-immunity"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/5",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "5",
      "heading": "Personal injuries and damage to property.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/state-immunity-act-1978/section-5",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/I/crossheading/exceptions-from-immunity"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/6",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "6",
      "heading": "Ownership, possession and use of property.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/state-immunity-act-1978/section-6",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/I/crossheading/exceptions-from-immunity"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/7",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "7",
      "heading": "Patents, trade-marks etc.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/state-immunity-act-1978/section-7",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/I/crossheading/exceptions-from-immunity"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/8",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "8",
      "heading": "Membership of bodies corporate etc.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/state-immunity-act-1978/section-8",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/I/crossheading/exceptions-from-immunity"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/9",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "9",
      "heading": "Arbitrations.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/state-immunity-act-1978/section-9",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/I/crossheading/exceptions-from-immunity"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/10",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "10",
      "heading": "Ships used for commercial purposes.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/state-immunity-act-1978/section-10",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/I/crossheading/exceptions-from-immunity"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/11",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "11",
      "heading": "Value added tax, customs duties etc.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/state-immunity-act-1978/section-11",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/I/crossheading/exceptions-from-immunity"
    },
    {
      "path": "part/I/crossheading/procedure",
      "kind": "crossheading",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Procedure",
      "url": null,
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/I"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/12",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "12",
      "heading": "Service of process and judgments in default of appearance.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/state-immunity-act-1978/section-12",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/I/crossheading/procedure"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/13",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "13",
      "heading": "Other procedural privileges.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/state-immunity-act-1978/section-13",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/I/crossheading/procedure"
    },
    {
      "path": "part/I/crossheading/supplementary-provisions",
      "kind": "crossheading",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Supplementary provisions",
      "url": null,
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/I"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/14",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "14",
      "heading": "States entitled to immunities and privileges.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/state-immunity-act-1978/section-14",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/I/crossheading/supplementary-provisions"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/15",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "15",
      "heading": "Restriction and extension of immunities and privileges.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/state-immunity-act-1978/section-15",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/I/crossheading/supplementary-provisions"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/16",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "16",
      "heading": "Excluded matters.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/state-immunity-act-1978/section-16",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/I/crossheading/supplementary-provisions"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/17",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "17",
      "heading": "Interpretation of Part I.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/state-immunity-act-1978/section-17",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/I/crossheading/supplementary-provisions"
    },
    {
      "path": "part/II",
      "kind": "part",
      "number": "II",
      "heading": "Judgments against United Kingdom in Convention States",
      "url": null,
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/18",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "18",
      "heading": "Recognition of judgments against United Kingdom.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/state-immunity-act-1978/section-18",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/II"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/19",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "19",
      "heading": "Exceptions to recognition.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/state-immunity-act-1978/section-19",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/II"
    },
    {
      "path": "part/III",
      "kind": "part",
      "number": "III",
      "heading": "Miscellaneous and Supplementary",
      "url": null,
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/20",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "20",
      "heading": "Heads of State.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/state-immunity-act-1978/section-20",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/III"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/21",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "21",
      "heading": "Evidence by certificate.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/state-immunity-act-1978/section-21",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/III"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/22",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "22",
      "heading": "General interpretation.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/state-immunity-act-1978/section-22",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/III"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/23",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "23",
      "heading": "Short title, repeals, commencement and extent.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/state-immunity-act-1978/section-23",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/III"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1978/33",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T10:22:51.440596+00:00",
    "licence": "OGL-UK-3.0",
    "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
    "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
  }
}