Exit Checks

From today, 8 April 2015, the government will now be conducting “exit checks” for all passengers leaving the UK in line with the new rules introduced in the Immigration Act 2014. 

Passengers will have their details checked when exiting the country as they would do upon entry to the UK. All ports of entry will be covered, including commercial air travel, sea travel and rail transport. The government has stated that for the first month – April 2015 to May 2015, all passports will be scanned but only 25% of them will have their details verified to ensure that they are genuine. After one month, it will be 50% and by the middle of June 100% of all passports will be verified. 

It is said that these “exit checks” have been introduced in a bid to tackle movements of known or suspected criminals and terrorist, but also to tighten the immigration routs and visa categories that are most vulnerable to abuse by passengers.