Sep 24, 2013, 7:39 am
Last edit by: BotB
The Registered Traveller Scheme is intended to allow easier entry for regular visitors to the UK.
The scheme is available for regular travelers to the UK who have a passport issued by
Africa
Botswana, Namibia, Seychelles.
Asia
Brunei, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region passports only), Japan, Macao Special Administrative Region, Malaysia, Maldives, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan (if your passport has a personal ID number on the photo page)
Europe
Andorra, Monaco, Vatican City State.
Middle East
Israel.
North America
Bahamas, Canada, Mexico, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, USA.
Oceania
Australia, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga.
South and Central America
Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay.
* Visited the UK 4 times in the previous 24 months as a Business visitor, General visitor, Member of a diplomatic mission, Academic visitor, Entertainment or sports visitor, In transit - passing through the UK, Parent of a child in a UK school or Medical visitor. This generally includes tourists.
* Hold a valid visa in the categories Tiers 1, 2, 4 or 5 (excluding Creative/Sporting concession), Indefinite Leave to Remain, Naturalisation, UK Ancestry, Family member or spouse/partner. Note that EEA family permits, discretionary leave and leave outside the rules are excluded.
The application cost is £70 of which £50 is refunded if the application is rejected. Renewal costs £50 each year and changes of document details cost £20.
Registered Travellers are able to use the faster entry lanes (generally EU lines) when going through the UK Border at Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Gatwick (special registered traveller line), Glasgow, Heathrow, London City, Luton, Manchester, Southend and Stansted airports (or, alternatively, the ePassport gates if they have a biometric passport; while the ePassport gates at LHR T3 & T4 are being renovated the FastTrak lines can be used or the EU lines can be used). You will not have to fill in a landing card. (you do still need to carry your visa or BRP (biometric residence permit))
In addition, Registered Travellers are able to go through the UK Border at the Brussels, Lille and Paris Eurostar terminals without having to fill in a landing card.
Registered Travellers who hold a UK visa will not have their fingerprints checked at the UK Border.
Registration link: https://www.gov.uk/registered-traveller
The scheme is available for regular travelers to the UK who have a passport issued by
Africa
Botswana, Namibia, Seychelles.
Asia
Brunei, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region passports only), Japan, Macao Special Administrative Region, Malaysia, Maldives, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan (if your passport has a personal ID number on the photo page)
Europe
Andorra, Monaco, Vatican City State.
Middle East
Israel.
North America
Bahamas, Canada, Mexico, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, USA.
Oceania
Australia, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga.
South and Central America
Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay.
* Visited the UK 4 times in the previous 24 months as a Business visitor, General visitor, Member of a diplomatic mission, Academic visitor, Entertainment or sports visitor, In transit - passing through the UK, Parent of a child in a UK school or Medical visitor. This generally includes tourists.
* Hold a valid visa in the categories Tiers 1, 2, 4 or 5 (excluding Creative/Sporting concession), Indefinite Leave to Remain, Naturalisation, UK Ancestry, Family member or spouse/partner. Note that EEA family permits, discretionary leave and leave outside the rules are excluded.
The application cost is £70 of which £50 is refunded if the application is rejected. Renewal costs £50 each year and changes of document details cost £20.
Registered Travellers are able to use the faster entry lanes (generally EU lines) when going through the UK Border at Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Gatwick (special registered traveller line), Glasgow, Heathrow, London City, Luton, Manchester, Southend and Stansted airports (or, alternatively, the ePassport gates if they have a biometric passport; while the ePassport gates at LHR T3 & T4 are being renovated the FastTrak lines can be used or the EU lines can be used). You will not have to fill in a landing card. (you do still need to carry your visa or BRP (biometric residence permit))
In addition, Registered Travellers are able to go through the UK Border at the Brussels, Lille and Paris Eurostar terminals without having to fill in a landing card.
Registered Travellers who hold a UK visa will not have their fingerprints checked at the UK Border.
Registration link: https://www.gov.uk/registered-traveller
Some extra information from Gatwick Airport is here.
Older terms and conditions of the initial trial are recorded in post 78.
Registered Traveller Scheme - easier entry for regular visitors to the UK
Dec 2, 2015, 6:37 pm
#481
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: TLV
Programs: UA Platinum, Avis Chairman, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, GA Pilot
Posts: 3,225
Sort of works
I got this earlier this year and have been to the UK 6 times since receiving it. The passport reading machines have never once actually accepted my passport and every time I have to go to the service desk. Still faster than the non EU line by a lot but not how it is supposed to work. Every time they blame a computer issue.
Dec 3, 2015, 1:33 am
#482
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London
Posts: 6,265
They've added new signage for the egates in T5 LHR advising it's also for Registered travellers from various countries. However, I think it's confusing. Saw at least one foreign citizen from a RT country trying to use the egates and failing. I suspect she saw her passport country listed and just went into the queue.
Dec 3, 2015, 1:35 am
#483
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London
Posts: 6,265
I didn't see it last time I was in Gatwick (and used the 'foreigners' queue instead, which was empty instead of the manual/egate EU queues as they were horrendous and probably a 10-15 min wait), but the lovely Border Agent pointed it out for next time. Will be great to use.
Dec 12, 2015, 8:34 am
#484
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: MSY; 2-time FT Fantasy Football Champ, now in recovery.
Programs: AA lifetime GLD; UA Silver; Marriott LTTE; IHG Plat,
Posts: 14,518
Apologies if this is answered up-thread.
My mother is a US passport holder, UK resident. Would she be eligible for this program? As a resident she doesn't seem to meet the visitor categories.
My mother is a US passport holder, UK resident. Would she be eligible for this program? As a resident she doesn't seem to meet the visitor categories.
Dec 13, 2015, 8:45 am
#486
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
Dec 13, 2015, 11:02 am
#487
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LHR
Programs: DL DM 2MM, BA Bronze, Various Hotels
Posts: 10,187
Dec 15, 2015, 6:14 pm
#488
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: SW WA
Posts: 3,887
Does anyone know how they determine "transit - passing through the UK" for purposes of calculating the number of visits?
I have an upcoming trip where I'm transiting through LHR on my way to VIE and back. Theoretically, that's two more "visits" and if so, I could qualify for Registered Traveller. I'm wondering, however, how this actually works in practice. My husband just transited through LHR a couple of days ago and didn't go through Border Force, so how would they know that you had a "visit?" Do you have to exit fully and then go through immigration as though you were actually going to enter the UK?
Thanks!
I have an upcoming trip where I'm transiting through LHR on my way to VIE and back. Theoretically, that's two more "visits" and if so, I could qualify for Registered Traveller. I'm wondering, however, how this actually works in practice. My husband just transited through LHR a couple of days ago and didn't go through Border Force, so how would they know that you had a "visit?" Do you have to exit fully and then go through immigration as though you were actually going to enter the UK?
Thanks!
Dec 15, 2015, 6:48 pm
#489
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
A transit is not a visit. You'd have to actually pass through immigration, walk street side, go upstairs to check in and through security again if you wanted it to count as a visit.
Last edited by stimpy; Dec 16, 2015 at 7:31 am
Dec 16, 2015, 4:46 am
#490
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Bristol, UK
Programs: HH D, Rad VIP, Marriott G
Posts: 5,359
Yes, she would be eligible. I am in the same situation, although Canadian passport.
Hope this helps.
Dec 16, 2015, 11:24 am
#491
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
Updates
Registered Traveller is now available at Luton as well as at Birmingham, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow, London City, Manchester, Stansted airports and at the international rail terminals at Paris, Brussels and Lille.
From 14 December 2015 the service will also be available at East Midlands airport.
Heathrow improvements
To improve passenger experience at Heathrow we are undertaking significant investment to expand the number of ePassport gates available. Members travelling through Heathrow Terminal 5 may already have noticed there are 15 new ePassport gates.
We are also investing in new ePassport gates at Heathrow Terminals 3 and 4. The work to install 25 new gates will start in the New Year and be complete by the summer. During this time Registered Travellers will not be able to use the ePassport gates but can still choose to use the UK/EU lanes.
To minimise any inconvenience while the works take place Registered Travellers will be able to use the Fast Track lanes at Terminal 3 and 4. You will just need to show evidence that you are a member.
Changes at Gatwick from 4 Jan 2016
The dedicated Registered Traveller lanes will no longer be in operation from Monday 4 January 2016. Members can use the UK/EU lanes at Gatwick North and South and if you have a biometric passport you can also use the ePassport gates at both terminals.
Border Force and Gatwick Airport are investing to install new ePassport gates at Gatwick North, building on the 15 new gates available at Gatwick South.
From 14 December 2015 the service will also be available at East Midlands airport.
Heathrow improvements
To improve passenger experience at Heathrow we are undertaking significant investment to expand the number of ePassport gates available. Members travelling through Heathrow Terminal 5 may already have noticed there are 15 new ePassport gates.
We are also investing in new ePassport gates at Heathrow Terminals 3 and 4. The work to install 25 new gates will start in the New Year and be complete by the summer. During this time Registered Travellers will not be able to use the ePassport gates but can still choose to use the UK/EU lanes.
To minimise any inconvenience while the works take place Registered Travellers will be able to use the Fast Track lanes at Terminal 3 and 4. You will just need to show evidence that you are a member.
Changes at Gatwick from 4 Jan 2016
The dedicated Registered Traveller lanes will no longer be in operation from Monday 4 January 2016. Members can use the UK/EU lanes at Gatwick North and South and if you have a biometric passport you can also use the ePassport gates at both terminals.
Border Force and Gatwick Airport are investing to install new ePassport gates at Gatwick North, building on the 15 new gates available at Gatwick South.
Dec 17, 2015, 1:19 am
#492
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Bristol, UK
Programs: HH D, Rad VIP, Marriott G
Posts: 5,359
Received the same email as stimpy yesterday, good to see the additions coming, however, disappointed that the LGW dedicated lane is going as I don't have a biometric passport yet! 
Also, interesting to note the following comment on the bottom of the email about need to carry proof with you:
Avoid any delays: always carry evidence of your immigration status
When using the UK/EU lanes you may be asked to show your entry clearance, visa, biometric residence permit, or permission conferred in an old passport. Carrying evidence will ensure that you avoid any unnecessary delays at the border.
Also, interesting to note the following comment on the bottom of the email about need to carry proof with you:
Avoid any delays: always carry evidence of your immigration status
When using the UK/EU lanes you may be asked to show your entry clearance, visa, biometric residence permit, or permission conferred in an old passport. Carrying evidence will ensure that you avoid any unnecessary delays at the border.
Dec 17, 2015, 2:06 am
#493
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LHR
Programs: DL DM 2MM, BA Bronze, Various Hotels
Posts: 10,187
Avoid any delays: always carry evidence of your immigration status
When using the UK/EU lanes you may be asked to show your entry clearance, visa, biometric residence permit, or permission conferred in an old passport. Carrying evidence will ensure that you avoid any unnecessary delays at the border.
When using the UK/EU lanes you may be asked to show your entry clearance, visa, biometric residence permit, or permission conferred in an old passport. Carrying evidence will ensure that you avoid any unnecessary delays at the border.
Dec 17, 2015, 4:25 am
#494
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Bristol, UK
Programs: HH D, Rad VIP, Marriott G
Posts: 5,359
I have no alternative but to see border force agent and in the past it was always a bit hit and miss regarding the need for showing my ILR in a previous passport so I was wondering if it was required or not...(same as landing cards)...it seems that as the system gets more use and people are more familiar with it, the landing card issue has resolved (not needed) but the visa or ILR in previous passport was still an unknown...at least this bit of info (to me at least) lets me know I do indeed need to bring my old passport with me to show it (if needed).Hope that clarifies things, a great system IMO and getting better (more ports, more channels to use) all the time. ^
Dec 19, 2015, 10:00 am
#495
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: London
Programs: AA Plat, SPG Gold
Posts: 204
Extra Pages Issue
Anyone else have an experience with the e-passport machine rejecting a passport (US in my case) post-adding additional pages? I have 3 X supplemental pages in my passport, so it's more like a novel at this point - and sometimes have issues getting the machine to read it correctly.