If you’ve joined the Registered Traveller service, you can use the: UK/EEA channels; automatic ePassport gates if your passport has a ‘chip’ You will not need a landing card at some UK airports.

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Expanded use of eGates - seven countries added

Formulation of bcs class 2 drugs dissolution. The UK Government has expanded the use of eGates at Heathrow to nationals of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the United States of America. the majority of nationals from these seven countries will be eligible to use eGates and won't need to complete a landing card. Find out more about eGates.

Unless you are catching a connecting flight, your first stop after arrival will be passport control. Please note if you are arriving In Terminal 5B and Terminal 5C, you will need to take the transit train.

What to do at the border

There are two queues at passport control – one for British, European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA), Swiss, American, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea nationals and a second for all other nationalities.

At the passport desk a Border Force officer will ask to see your passport or travel document and any supporting documentation necessary for your visit. Your passport must be valid for the whole of your stay.

For information about entry requirements into the United Kingdom, visit the Border Force website.

With tougher checks now in place at the border, you may have to wait a little longer to get into the United Kingdom, especially at peak times.

eGates – arrivals made easy

Automated eGates offer an alternative to conventional passport checks.

Simply scan your e-passport at the barrier. The system runs a face-recognition check against the chip in your passport, then if you're eligible to enter the UK the gate opens automatically – all in a matter of seconds.

You need to be over 12 and have an e-passport (look for the 'chip' logo on the front) issued by a country in the European Economic Area* and the following additional countries: Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland and the United States of America.;

Border Force's Registered Traveller service

Registered Traveller is a membership service which offers faster and more convenient entry at passport control for frequent travellers to Heathrow. At passport control, you’ll be able to use the eGates (if you have a biometric passport) and the UK/EU channel.

Up to 40 countries have signed up to the scheme and the latest list of eligible passports is available at gov.uk.

Stopovers in Britain

There is nowhere to sleep in the airport. If your booking includes a stopover in a local hotel, follow Arrivals and leave the airport via passport control, baggage reclaim and Customs, then check in as normal when it's time to continue your journey. Your travel documents must allow you entry into the UK.

You can apply for a 24-hour visa on arrival. These are granted at the discretion of the Immigration Officer, who must be satisfied that you have a confirmed booking of onward travel within 24 hours.

* The European Union and European Economic Area

EU countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Irish Republic, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom.

Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Norway are not members of the European Union (EU) but citizens of these countries have the same rights to enter, live in and work in the United Kingdom as EU citizens.

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Airport hotels

Compare popular hotels around Heathrow and book hotel-plus-parking packages.

The EEA Family Permit allows family members, including extended family members, of European Economic Area nationals to join them in the UK, or travel to the UK with them at a later date.

The UK Residence Card has similar eligibility conditions, but your family meber must already be in the UK to apply. The UK Residence Card lasts for up to 5 years, and is significantly harder to obtain than an EEA Family Permit: applications are considered at the UK Home Office's discretion, and there is no guarantee of being granted a visa even if you meet the conditions.

Length of stay

The EEA Family Permit is valid for 6 months. The Uk Residence Card lasts for 5 years.

Family member conditions

You must be related to the family member who you are applying to join in the UK as their:

• Spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner, OR:

Related to them, or their spouse or civil partner as a:

• Dependent child or grandchild
  

• Dependent parent or grandparent
  

• Dependent extended family member

The family member must also either already be in the UK, or planning to travel with you to the UK within 6 months of your EEA Family Permit application. If your family member has been in the UK for 3 months or more, or yu are applyinf got a UK Residence Card, they must either:

• Have Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK, or
  

• Be a 'qualified person', which means they must be in work, study*, self employment, be self sufficient due to savings or other income, or be actively looking for work in the UK

If the family member is a student you can only qualify as a family member if you are their spouse or civil partner, or their/their spouse or civil partner's dependent child. Otherwise you must apply as an extended family member.

Uk Global Entry Card

Further information, help, and advice

The laws on UK immigration and nationality are highly complex for obtaining a UK family visa, with different family visa types for different family members, and different conditions depending on your status in the UK.

Workpermit.com's team of specialists has over 25 years of experience in immigration services, and have helped thousands of people to bring their family members to the UK. We work with OISC registered advisers who can submit your UK visa application to the Home Office to be dealt with on the same day.

For more information on UK immigration law and UK visa applications please contact us on 0344 991 9222 or at london@workpermit.com