What
U.S. and Canadian citizens can now use the U.K.’s ePassport gates that were previously reserved for nationals from the U.K. and the EU only. The expansion also applies to citizens from Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and Australia.
Why It Matters
Opening the automatic ePassport gates to travelers from the U.S., Canada and more is expected to reduce lines and thus improve passenger flow and the U.K. border experience. In order to use an e-gate, eligible passengers must have a passport with a chip. Additionally, filling out a landing card is no longer required.
What They Are Saying
"We aim to provide a world-class experience for the millions of American and Canadian visitors who travel to the UK every year, and we are thrilled this new process will allow travelers even more time to explore on the ground,” said Gavin Landry, director of the Americas for VisitBritain. “The new eGate access for eligible travelers boosts our competitive tourism offer and our message of welcome, building on the growth we have seen and inspiring even more visitors from Canada and the US to book a trip to the UK right now. With more direct airline routes and more daily flights from the US on offer, and with the UK offering great value and a fantastic summer of events lined up, it really is a great time to book a trip.”
The Details
VisitBritain
www.visitbritain.com
