Frequent travellers from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan are set to benefit from fast track service into the UK.
The Registered Traveller Service, which has been running as a pilot, is now being extended, Immigration Minister James Brokenshire has confirmed.
It means that those eligible to enrol will benefit from a speedier transit through Heathrow and Gatwick airports, including being able to use ePassport gates if they have a biometric passport, or join the queue designated for EU/EEA nationals.
The scheme will initially be limited to a maximum of 5,000 highly valued travellers. To meet the criteria, people will need to have visited the UK at least four times within the last 12 months and will be subject to extensive checks before being approved.
‘We want to attract business to Britain. The Registered Traveller scheme will make it easier for business people and investors to come to the UK and contribute to the economy, while always maintaining the security of our border,’ said Brokenshire.
He also confirmed that there are plans to extend it even further to other points of entry in the New Year.
You can apply to join the Registered Traveller Service if you’re a national of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand or the USA who regularly flies in to Heathrow or Gatwick airports.
At Heathrow and Gatwick passport control, you’ll be able to use the ePassport gates if you have a biometric passport, use the UK/EU channel at Heathrow or the Registered Traveller lane at Gatwick and you won’t need to fill in a landing card.
It costs £50 to apply and is non-refundable, even if your application is unsuccessful. Those approved for the scheme can use it for 12 months and renew after that.
But you can only join if you have an invitation code, which are being issued by airlines and UK Border Force officers.
The Registered Traveller Service, which has been running as a pilot, is now being extended, Immigration Minister James Brokenshire has confirmed.
It means that those eligible to enrol will benefit from a speedier transit through Heathrow and Gatwick airports, including being able to use ePassport gates if they have a biometric passport, or join the queue designated for EU/EEA nationals.
The scheme will initially be limited to a maximum of 5,000 highly valued travellers. To meet the criteria, people will need to have visited the UK at least four times within the last 12 months and will be subject to extensive checks before being approved.
‘We want to attract business to Britain. The Registered Traveller scheme will make it easier for business people and investors to come to the UK and contribute to the economy, while always maintaining the security of our border,’ said Brokenshire.
He also confirmed that there are plans to extend it even further to other points of entry in the New Year.
You can apply to join the Registered Traveller Service if you’re a national of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand or the USA who regularly flies in to Heathrow or Gatwick airports.
At Heathrow and Gatwick passport control, you’ll be able to use the ePassport gates if you have a biometric passport, use the UK/EU channel at Heathrow or the Registered Traveller lane at Gatwick and you won’t need to fill in a landing card.
It costs £50 to apply and is non-refundable, even if your application is unsuccessful. Those approved for the scheme can use it for 12 months and renew after that.
But you can only join if you have an invitation code, which are being issued by airlines and UK Border Force officers.