Border Control

[Deleted User]

David Frost admitted that they didn't negotiate this with the EU, they just decided to allow EU citizens to use the e gates due to lack of staff.

In other words any allowances are dependent on the needs of the time. If they ever get enough staff they might stop doing it.

The same may apply in other countries.

onashoestring

e- gates at U.K. airports can be used by:

•a British citizen

•a national of an EU country, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland or the USA

•a member of the Registered Traveller Service

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coming-to-the-uk/faster-travel-through-the-uk-border

eskbanker

mtc95 said:

eskbanker said:

katejo said:
I flew back from Italy on Saturday with a UK passport. I joined the other countries queue at the passport check as I thought I couldn't use the e-gate now but was directed back to the EU e-gate by a staff member. Went through and then got the required stamp immediately after. No queue to do so. My passport still looks like an EU one (maroon with the EU heading) but that probably doesn't make any difference (compared to the new blue/black ones).

Where were you flying into?  I don't associate e-gates with the EU, surely those here in the UK are usable by UK, EU and various other passport holders, so it wouldn't cross my mind that I wouldn't be able to use them!

EU citizens can use e-gates when they arrive to the UK, but I don't think the reverse always applies currently.  The last time I flew to Germany the e-gates were not accessible for UK (or other non-EU) passport holders.

Yes, but the post appeared to relate to a UK passport holder arriving in the UK and expecting not to be able to use "the EU e-gate" on arrival, as if UK e-gates are for EU but not UK passports!

CKhalvashi

eskbanker said:

katejo said:
I flew back from Italy on Saturday with a UK passport. I joined the other countries queue at the passport check as I thought I couldn't use the e-gate now but was directed back to the EU e-gate by a staff member. Went through and then got the required stamp immediately after. No queue to do so. My passport still looks like an EU one (maroon with the EU heading) but that probably doesn't make any difference (compared to the new blue/black ones).

Where were you flying into?  I don't associate e-gates with the EU, surely those here in the UK are usable by UK, EU and various other passport holders, so it wouldn't cross my mind that I wouldn't be able to use them!

I don't either in the UK. For the EU I'll use whichever line is shortest as it's strictly 'EU/EEA' or 'All passports'.

To clarify the OP (although they've probably sorted this now as it was months ago), immigration tend to keep those travelling together, together. I managed to sneak a non-EU citizen (Ukrainian if anyone is really interested) through with me in the EU line at an EU airport a few weeks ago (we were on the same booking), but we both had to speak to an officer as there are no e-gates at that particular airport.

Equally, she managed to get me through a packed Luton into the 'all other passports' line, jumping queues going back to the gate, so this works both ways. At no point were we asked if we are anything more than travelling together (I'm sure OH wouldn't be happy if there's more anyway) and at no point was this expressly implied.