Australians (and certain other nationals) allowed to use UK biometric gates from mid 2019

[Dalescott]

The Budget increased the Passenger Tax, so the gates are a trade off as far as I'm concerned.

 

[QF WP]

Originally you had to be over 18 to use e gates but this report suggests that there’s a trial for 12-17 year olds

Redirect Notice

Bah, one of my children will be over 12 by then, but not the younger (only 9). Thanks for the info though..

 

[Flashback]

Hmm, my family will have an interesting conundrum when we hit Heathrow at Xmas 2019.

We are all dual passport holders - I'm Australian & Irish, my wife and kids are all Australian & British (but I think theirs may have expired). Do we get the kids Irish or renew their British. I read that children can't use the e-gates.

A watching brief.

Irish, more useful than the Brexit passport will be in the longer term. You can all use the UK/EU line anyway (maybe just UK line by then, but I suspect EU passports will still be looped in) on the basis of Mrs QF WP's passport. Who knows, maybe it will be the UK/Ireland line by then in which case you're still fine anyway!

 

[desafinado74]

Fantastic news ! Though i was lucky i did not have to wait too long when i flew in and out of LHR in July this year. (Fast track due to flying SQ J class, and flew SAS from Stockholm to LHR a few weeks later, all inside Terminal 2. Maybe the passport control queue from Intra Europe flights are not too horrendous )

 

[Flashback]

Fantastic news ! Though i was lucky i did not have to wait too long when i flew in and out of LHR in July this year. (Fast track due to flying SQ J class, and flew SAS from Stockholm to LHR a few weeks later, all inside Terminal 2. Maybe the passport control queue from Intra Europe flights are not too horrendous )

Depends on the time of day you arrive (and terminal, too). EU queue always moves pretty quick now due to the e-Gates being around, so those that can't use the gates but can still use EU flies through. I've never found the "fast track" queue to be that great as they only tend to operate on 1 desk!

 

[coles525]

I can't travel without a stamp. Do they still exist for UK entry?

Can Aussies now enter via the UK passport entry line?

 

[kelvedon]

I can't travel without a stamp. Do they still exist for UK entry?

Can Aussies now enter via the UK passport entry line?

No, you’d have to queue in the non EU line to get a stamp as obviously the e gates don’t have that facility. Though I believe you can obtain a summary of your immigration history by applying the UK border force.

Request personal information held in the borders, immigration and citizenship system

 

[Himeno]

I can't travel without a stamp. Do they still exist for UK entry?

Can Aussies now enter via the UK passport entry line?

They did last year. Used the connection buses this year, so didn't enter the UK to use the train.

Singapore used an entry stamp when I entered last year, but didn't have an exit stamp as they directed people to the e-gates (which means I still have the departure card as there was no one willing to take it).
Hong Kong no longer stamps passports, instead printing a separate stamp sized token.
Canada didn't stamp my passport on Monday.

 

[Flashback]

My sister received a stamp on entry earlier this week at LHR so still very much alive and well!

 

[OATEK]

I meant to report back a while ago that we sailed through the eGates at LHR with OZ passports in August. Totally trouble free, and a very welcome "enhancement".

 

[QF WP]

My wife is leaving LHR tomorrow, but she reported it was pain free on the way in using her Australian passport - otherwise she'd have used her English one.

 

[OATEK]

My wife is leaving LHR tomorrow, but she reported it was pain free on the way in using her Australian passport - otherwise she'd have used her English one.

Same as Mrs Oatek - in fact she has decided when her UK one expires, she won't renew.

 

[cambriamarsh]

I meant to report back a while ago that we sailed through the eGates at LHR with OZ passports in August. Totally trouble free, and a very welcome "enhancement".

Recently used them with NZ passport, such an improvement. Unfortunately then had to deal with IAD and US customs. What a *****n joke

 

[Franky]

Agree - we were there last month, and I allowed 2 hours, but we were outside T4 walking to our hotel in 20 minutes. And that's with me using a second passport which wont let me out of my own airport (PER) without being able to be processed on the eGates.

 

[Flashback]

It even works fine with my residence card, another reason for me not to switch over to UK passport. Still waiting to see what happens to the usefulness of the passport with Brexit....... guess I'll find out in 2031

 

[VPS]

It even works fine with my residence card, another reason for me not to switch over to UK passport. Still waiting to see what happens to the usefulness of the passport with Brexit....... guess I'll find out in 2031

A tad optimistic I would have thought

 

[QF WP]

Same as Mrs Oatek - in fact she has decided when her UK one expires, she won't renew.

Our thoughts exactly on my wife's UK passport, as well as our kids. I have Irish and our kids can access that (through my father). Not sure what we're going to do with my wife....