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sGAR: Expired BRPs and expired EUSS BRCs no longer acceptable for evidencing permission to travel to the UK. |
If a passenger has an eVisa, they may no longer have a physical visa or other permission document to inspect. The sGAR web user service will return a ‘Valid Permission to Travel’ message when the Home Office is able to automatically confirm a valid digital permission (whether an eVisa or an ETA) for the passenger. Pilots, operators, and agents should rely on this message as satisfactory evidence that a passenger has a valid UK immigration permission, and no further visa checks are necessary to establish the passenger’s permission to travel. However, pilots, operators, and agents should continue to check that all passengers are in possession of a valid passport, and that all documents are genuine and held by the rightful holder.
Some passengers may still only have a physical document proving their visa or permission to travel. In these cases, the sGAR web user service will return a ‘Authority to Carry Granted’ message from the Home Office. However, presenting a valid, genuine, physical proof of permission also remains satisfactory evidence of a passenger’s permission to travel to the UK.
Where a Valid Permission to Travel Found’ message is not received, the passenger may still have a valid immigration status and carriers will need to perform alternative checks to satisfy themselves that the individual has a permission to travel to the UK.
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· If a passenger holds a valid visa or other physical document evidencing a permission to travel, these can still be used to evidence their permission to travel when boarding UK-bound services. This includes a vignette or wet ink endorsement in a previous passport that confers Indefinite Leave to Enter or Remain (when presented alongside a valid passport). · If the passenger has a newly issued passport, they may not have linked it to their UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) account. The passenger may be able to self-resolve and update their new passport details in their UKVI account using the ‘Update Your Details’ service. If their biographic details, such as name or nationality have changed, they may be able to use the service, if they have a biometric passport. · If a passenger has no physical document evidencing a permission to travel, they can use the online View and Prove immigration status service, by issuing a Share Code to the carrier who can then check their permission via the online ’Check someone's immigration status' service. · Passengers travelling with a valid Home Office issued travel document on its own is currently acceptable. These are UK Home Office issued Refugee Travel Documents, UK Home Office issued Stateless Persons Travel Documents and UK Home Office issued Certificates of Travel. Carriers must continue to satisfy themselves that the document is genuine and that the individual is the rightful holder. This advice does not apply to Refugee, Stateless or other travel documents issued by other countries. |
For further advice on a passenger’s permission to travel, the UK Border Force Carrier Support Hub is available 24/7 if further advice is required on 0 300 369 0610 or +44 204 619 6020.
Additional resources including the Information Pack can be found here.
Acronyms:
BRP: Biometric Resident Permit
BRC: Biometric Resident Card
EUSS: EU Settlement Scheme