UK E-Gate Eligibility
May 20, 2023, 11:55 pm
#1
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UK E-Gate Eligibility
The e-gates at major UK airports and Eurostar terminals can be used by citizens of the UK, EU and EEA (Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein) as well as citizens of certain low-risk countries (Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Canada, USA and Singapore). But what about citizens of the European microstates: Andorra, Monaco and San Marino? Why aren't they included?
May 21, 2023, 1:51 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2013
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Also there are no flights directly from any of those places, so any passport-holders from there will be only a small minority of passengers on flights from their nearby airports.
And many if not most of them may well have a French/Italian/Spanish passport anyway.
And many if not most of them may well have a French/Italian/Spanish passport anyway.
May 21, 2023, 2:42 am
#4
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But there are no direct flights to the UK from Liechtenstein either, yet its citizens can use the e-Gates. .
May 21, 2023, 4:06 am
#5
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Point is I think you are searching for a problem that is really not a problem, or is at least not one deserving too much attention.
May 21, 2023, 4:35 am
#6
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Users of passports issued by Andorra, Monaco and the Vatican can still register for UK egate use by meeting the eligibility requirements indicated below:
Who is eligible to become a Registered Traveller?
A passport holder of Andorra, Argentina, Bahamas, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Vatican City State, Honduras, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Israel, Macao Special Administrative Region, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Monaco, Namibia, Nauru, Nicaragua, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Samoa, Seychelles, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Taiwan (passport must have a personal identification number), Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay
18 years of age or over
Hold a valid visa (exclusions are Tier 5 Sporting & Creative Concessions, EEA family permits, discretionary leave and leave outside the rules)
A visitor who has entered the UK from another country using an eligible passport, at least 4 times in the last 24 months in one of these categories:
Business
General
Academic
In Transit
Entertainment or Sports
Parents with a child in a UK school
A member of a diplomatic mission
A medical visitor
An ‘entry’ does not include passing through a UK airport while on the way to another country.
https://www.faster-uk-entry.service.gov.uk/about
San Marino isn’t on that list, but not sure why.
Who is eligible to become a Registered Traveller?
A passport holder of Andorra, Argentina, Bahamas, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Vatican City State, Honduras, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Israel, Macao Special Administrative Region, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Monaco, Namibia, Nauru, Nicaragua, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Samoa, Seychelles, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Taiwan (passport must have a personal identification number), Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay
18 years of age or over
Hold a valid visa (exclusions are Tier 5 Sporting & Creative Concessions, EEA family permits, discretionary leave and leave outside the rules)
A visitor who has entered the UK from another country using an eligible passport, at least 4 times in the last 24 months in one of these categories:
Business
General
Academic
In Transit
Entertainment or Sports
Parents with a child in a UK school
A member of a diplomatic mission
A medical visitor
An ‘entry’ does not include passing through a UK airport while on the way to another country.
San Marino isn’t on that list, but not sure why.
May 21, 2023, 5:32 am
#7
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Although Brexit doesn't directly relate to migration policy (the UK was never part of Schengen and had a separate list of visa-free countries that didn't line up completely with those of Schengen states) part of the ostensible rationale for the break with the EU was to allow the UK to streamline its policies and broaden its approach to the non-EU world. And yet the British government won't even allow citizens from a handful of tiny non-EU states to use the e-Gates at Heathrow!
May 21, 2023, 5:48 am
#8
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Users of passports issued by Andorra, Monaco and the Vatican can still register for UK egate use by meeting the eligibility requirements indicated below:
https://www.faster-uk-entry.service.gov.uk/about
San Marino isn’t on that list, but not sure why.
https://www.faster-uk-entry.service.gov.uk/about
San Marino isn’t on that list, but not sure why.
May 21, 2023, 6:00 am
#9
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,743
Perhaps you should ask 100 random people if they agree. I'd be surprised if you found one that did.
I don't see that it's illogical at all. The current list quite logically includes all EU and EEA countries - a clearly defined grouping - plus a small number of individual countries all of which are notably significant, populous and with whom we have a close relationship and/or large inbound passenger volumes. None of that applies to the countries that you listed.
Yes there could be plenty more countries added to the list, but I hardly think that those micro-states are top priority.
I don't see that it's illogical at all. The current list quite logically includes all EU and EEA countries - a clearly defined grouping - plus a small number of individual countries all of which are notably significant, populous and with whom we have a close relationship and/or large inbound passenger volumes. None of that applies to the countries that you listed.
Yes there could be plenty more countries added to the list, but I hardly think that those micro-states are top priority.
May 21, 2023, 6:44 am
#10
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Can I ask the OP, I imagine you have an Andorran passport? How often do you arrive in the UK (as opposed to connecting which may sometimes allow airside connections with no immigration)?
Have you tried registering as noted in post 6?
I doubt any figures could be found, but I would be interested to see how many Andorran passport holders arrive each day in the UK as a proportion of total arrivals just ti understand how significant an issue it is.
Have you tried registering as noted in post 6?
I doubt any figures could be found, but I would be interested to see how many Andorran passport holders arrive each day in the UK as a proportion of total arrivals just ti understand how significant an issue it is.
May 21, 2023, 7:10 am
#11
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OP if your a UK resident write to your MP and/ or the Home Office
If you are a resident of one of those countries you mention then write to your elected representative and / or go0vernment there.
BTW If I were the UK Gov then I'd be spending my time negotiating for UK passport holders to be able to use the egates on arrival into the EU / EEA / Schengen which would benefit a far larger number of people.
If you are a resident of one of those countries you mention then write to your elected representative and / or go0vernment there.
BTW If I were the UK Gov then I'd be spending my time negotiating for UK passport holders to be able to use the egates on arrival into the EU / EEA / Schengen which would benefit a far larger number of people.
May 21, 2023, 9:16 am
#12
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That would be a waste of time and other resources at this point. It’s already in the EU’s plans to allow most adult UK passport users to use the Schengen ABC/egates upon ETIAS and EES becoming mandatory for most UK passport users’ entries at Schengen airports of entry.
May 21, 2023, 9:47 am
#13
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I am counting down my blank pages waiting for ETIAS/EES. Sadly I think it’s now postponed to 2024 - hopefully that’s the last delay.
