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-   -   Using BNO passport in the EU? (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/practical-travel-safety-security-issues/1581165-using-bno-passport-eu.html)

BA Humbug May 29, 2014 2:12 pm
Using BNO passport in the EU?
 
Not sure where to post this, but here goes....

Can I get into the (usually much shorter) "Line for EU nationals" in EU airports with my BNO, or am I still technically required to use the "All other passports" line? I couldn't find anything on a cursory search.

Thanks!

mkt May 29, 2014 2:14 pm
From wikipedia (not the most reliable, I know)

On arrival of most major British ports, BN(O) Passport holders go through the border under the channel All Other Nationalities, since they are subject to (very minimal) immigration procedures - the usual passport check and fingerprints lodging, as they would do upon entering Hong Kong, and additionally presenting a landing card. Due to cost issues, the government of the United Kingdom is unable to further streamline a 'British' channel as dedicated to British Citizens and the 5 other types of British nationals.
On arrival of most major European ports among countries of the Schengen Area or Schengen Zone, or upon crossing inter-Schengen border on land (by means of driving or cross-border trains), BN(O) Passport holders go through the European Union channels for their passports to be briefly inspected. On direct cross-border trains, which run through borders of multiple countries within the Schengen Area, occasional on-train document checks might be conducted by the respective country's police officers.

BA Humbug May 29, 2014 3:59 pm
haha I read that too, but I was afraid of having to do the "walk of shame" when I tried it next month!

GUWonder May 30, 2014 8:24 am
Originally Posted by mattking2000 (Post 22945965)
Not sure where to post this, but here goes....

Can I get into the (usually much shorter) "Line for EU nationals" in EU airports with my BNO, or am I still technically required to use the "All other passports" line? I couldn't find anything on a cursory search.

Thanks!
At least for the Schengen Zone, the BNO passport is not considered as facilitating the same mobility allowances or rights as that which comes by way of most EU and/or Schengen Zone country's passport for citizens of the EU and/or Schengen countries. Technically at Schengen airports at least they could say you are in the wrong line if using a BNO passport when doing as you mention above.

Sometimes -- more at some airports than at airports -- they don't care; but at other times and/or places, they may make an issue about it in some small way or another.

AA_EXP09 May 30, 2014 8:32 am
Originally Posted by mattking2000 (Post 22945965)
Not sure where to post this, but here goes....

Can I get into the (usually much shorter) "Line for EU nationals" in EU airports with my BNO, or am I still technically required to use the "All other passports" line? I couldn't find anything on a cursory search.

Thanks!
The UK will know for sure you are not entitled to use UK citizens queue.
The rest of the EU (so far Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Austria, Netherlands, Belgium) and Switzerland have not been able to tell the difference and I was admitted within the EU queues.
Similarly in the UK and the rest of the EU the BNO will not work at epassport gates (even though mine is an epassport.)
It is only really useful for Chile (and even then I have ABTC endorsed valid to Chile.)

GUWonder May 30, 2014 9:17 am
Originally Posted by AA_EXP09 (Post 22949921)
The UK will know for sure you are not entitled to use UK citizens queue.
The rest of the EU (so far Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Austria, Netherlands, Belgium) and Switzerland have not been able to tell the difference and I was admitted within the EU queues.
Similarly in the UK and the rest of the EU the BNO will not work at epassport gates (even though mine is an epassport.)
It is only really useful for Chile (and even then I have ABTC endorsed valid to Chile.)
I've used my US passport in the EU citizens line for all of the EU and/or Schengen countries mentioned in this thread. Mostly they make little or no issue over it, but sometimes they can and do make an issue of it. Much the same goes for the BNO passport users. The main exception is indeed the UK CTA ports of entry, whether attempting to use a BNO passport or a US passport -- that's where failed attempts are more time-consuming (even if not considered embarrassing).

kaka Dec 17, 2015 9:15 pm
1) I've failed using BNO as epassport in FRA
2) I've only made to use the nonEU desk once in EU (out of 6 passages (2013-2015)). TBH that time i went off JL F so was first to immigrations. never had problems when approaching the EU desks at FRA (3 times) and CDG (2 times). never other ports.
3) I've used BNO at LCY using the UK lane. got told off but neednt requeue.

based on 1); I'd say we couldnt have used the EU line within EU (I dont think a german system would be miscoded - the BNO one might, i should have tried in france too). However, 99% of the time they dont give a crap

AA_EXP09 Dec 18, 2015 5:03 pm
Originally Posted by kaka (Post 25882388)
1) I've failed using BNO as epassport in FRA
2) I've only made to use the nonEU desk once in EU (out of 6 passages (2013-2015)). TBH that time i went off JL F so was first to immigrations. never had problems when approaching the EU desks at FRA (3 times) and CDG (2 times). never other ports.
3) I've used BNO at LCY using the UK lane. got told off but neednt requeue.

based on 1); I'd say we couldnt have used the EU line within EU (I dont think a german system would be miscoded - the BNO one might, i should have tried in france too). However, 99% of the time they dont give a crap
For FRA, you can just enroll the HK passport in easypass, and use the epassport queue legitimately

kaka Jun 1, 2017 10:25 pm
Originally Posted by AA_EXP09 (Post 25886284)
For FRA, you can just enroll the HK passport in easypass, and use the epassport queue legitimately
but i dont prefer to use the HKSAR passport unless i dont have a real advantage to use the BNO (like, in singapore... but maybe not anymore)

kaka Jul 10, 2017 5:57 am
Went to spain germany and uk laat week; and france and uk in june.
Uk- uk/eu/eec lane. Looked at the passport and thru.
France-eu manned counter (BC had to do the same)
Spain -EU manned counter. Looked at the passport and thru.
Germany (since from madrid we took the 5th freedom latam flight)-they stamped us in like non-eu, but we took the eu lane.. no walk of shame. The lane dragon pointed us to eu anyways

kaka Jul 10, 2017 6:00 am
Originally Posted by AA_EXP09 (Post 22949921)
The UK will know for sure you are not entitled to use UK citizens queue.
The rest of the EU (so far Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Austria, Netherlands, Belgium) and Switzerland have not been able to tell the difference and I was admitted within the EU queues.
Similarly in the UK and the rest of the EU the BNO will not work at epassport gates (even though mine is an epassport.)
It is only really useful for Chile (and even then I have ABTC endorsed valid to Chile.)
Case quoted no longer true in UK- at least it wasnt in LHR


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