Faster entry at UK border now available to Israelis

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Visitors from Israel to benefit from faster entry to the UK as Registered Traveller Service is expanded.

Regular visitors to the UK from Israel will be eligible to apply to join the UK’s Registered Traveller Service from Monday 21 November.

The Service provides approved members, who have undergone advanced security checks an expedited clearance through the UK border.

• Israelis can register to the service starting tomorrow
• Service available in 10 UK airports, plus Eurostar terminals
• Registered travelers will enter UK border through e-Passport gates or the UK/EU passport lane, and do not need to fill in a landing card
• British Ambassador to Israel: “A further boost to UK-Israel trade. The UK is open for business, and open for Israelis.”
• The service costs and best serves business-people and Israelis who travel to the UK frequently

UK Immigration Minister Robert Goodwill said: “The UK is open for business and I am excited we are going to be able to share in the benefits of Registered Traveller with Israel. We know there are tens of thousands of passengers welcomed in the UK from Israel each year and the Registered Traveller Service offers them faster entry when they arrive at our border. The scheme is already available to a number of countries across the world and I am very pleased to welcome Israel to the Registered Traveller community.”

British Ambassador to Israel, David Quarrey, added: “This is great news for UK-Israel relations, and in particular for Israelis doing business in the UK. The new service will be a further boost to UK/Israel trade, which is already at record levels. Israelis who travel often to all main British airports will now have the option of quicker, smoother entry to the UK. The UK is open for business, and the UK is open for Israelis.”

Registered Traveller allows approved members, who have undergone advanced security checks, faster entry at the UK border through access to the ePassport gates (if they hold an ePassport) or the UK/EU passport lane and do not need to fill in a landing card.

Registered Travellers with ePassports can use the ePassport Gates and can enter via the UK/EU passport controls at Heathrow and other participating ports (Gatwick, London City, Stansted, Birmingham, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Luton, Manchester and at Eurostar terminals at Paris, Brussels and Lille). The Registered Traveller Service will be rolled out to Bristol and Cardiff in the coming months.

To be eligible to apply, passengers must hold an eligible passport, have a visa/entry clearance or have visited the UK at least four times in the past two years.

Individuals who meet the eligibility criteria may apply to join the Registered Traveller Service online by providing personal details and passport details. Once background checks have been carried out, if the application is successful, the individual will be sent a provisional acceptance letter.

To validate and confirm their membership, the individual must present themselves on their next arrival in the UK to a Border Force officer where the membership process will be completed with an interview to determine the applicant’s suitability for the service and identity checks are carried out.