Turning up at UK Border with no passport
Discussion
Theoretically speaking, say somebody had lost their passport in between destinations or perhaps arrived from a domestic flight and gotten mixed up with international arrivals (apparently this used to happen at Heathrow often), and they found themselves arriving at the border without a passport, what would happen?
I'd imagine if you have ID such as a driving licence it would be a bit easier to prove residence, but if you have no other identification or do not reside in the UK what would the immigration officer likely do?
I'd imagine if you have ID such as a driving licence it would be a bit easier to prove residence, but if you have no other identification or do not reside in the UK what would the immigration officer likely do?
Had a rucksack containing both mine and my wife’s passport stolen while in France about 10 years ago. We did have a letter from the French police (basically a crime reference to help with insurance) and we we’re allowed to board the plane in France without issue.
At UK immigration we were made to wait for about 10-15 minutes while the guy disappeared into a back office - Had a bit of a lecture on his return about how we had to report the loss to the passport office as soon as we got home but we were then waved through… (Obviously, this was pre-Brexit)
At UK immigration we were made to wait for about 10-15 minutes while the guy disappeared into a back office - Had a bit of a lecture on his return about how we had to report the loss to the passport office as soon as we got home but we were then waved through… (Obviously, this was pre-Brexit)
deckster said:
At a guess, detain you until they can entirely ascertain who you are and why you don't have your passport.
And I can clarify that there is zero chance of domestic arrivals mixing with international at Heathrow.
I have just read a (now 10 year old) thread on Flyertalk of people arriving from LBA who were attempting to reach a connecting flight to EDI by following the Flight Connections route and being greeted by the border, obviously without a passport. No doubt it is impossible to do anymore as will have been fixed, but it's what prompted me to ask the question in the first place.And I can clarify that there is zero chance of domestic arrivals mixing with international at Heathrow.
They will have access to the passport offices systems to look you up and can see your pic, plus flight records to show that you left the country, had a return booked and went through check-in.
As long as you haven’t changed your appearance or forgotten all your details, you’ll be questioned then let through. Your passport will be flagged as lost.
As long as you haven’t changed your appearance or forgotten all your details, you’ll be questioned then let through. Your passport will be flagged as lost.
WelshRich said:
Had a rucksack containing both mine and my wife’s passport stolen while in France about 10 years ago. We did have a letter from the French police (basically a crime reference to help with insurance) and we we’re allowed to board the plane in France without issue.
At UK immigration we were made to wait for about 10-15 minutes while the guy disappeared into a back office - Had a bit of a lecture on his return about how we had to report the loss to the passport office as soon as we got home but we were then waved through… (Obviously, this was pre-Brexit)
I can imagine this would be far more difficult French side now with a lack of a stamped passport.At UK immigration we were made to wait for about 10-15 minutes while the guy disappeared into a back office - Had a bit of a lecture on his return about how we had to report the loss to the passport office as soon as we got home but we were then waved through… (Obviously, this was pre-Brexit)
Was there much of an interrogation UK side?
aturnick54 said:
I can imagine this would be far more difficult French side now with a lack of a stamped passport.
Was there much of an interrogation UK side?
It’s a while ago but I don’t remember it feeling like a third degree - Some basic questions about how we had lost the passports and who we were/where we lived was about it. I don’t even think they asked to see any alternative ID/credit cards or anythingWas there much of an interrogation UK side?
UK passport - a few questions maybe a light hearted b
king for making immigration do extra checks
EU - with EUSS pretty much as UK passport holder non euss more of an issue but if you can prove who you are you will likely be allowed to proceed you could be refused entry though.
Others - prove who you are somehow this will be easier if you have a visa but you will potentially be refused entry for not having a valid ID document.
Immigration is a pain in the arse and just about every rule has an exception to it.
king for making immigration do extra checks EU - with EUSS pretty much as UK passport holder non euss more of an issue but if you can prove who you are you will likely be allowed to proceed you could be refused entry though.
Others - prove who you are somehow this will be easier if you have a visa but you will potentially be refused entry for not having a valid ID document.
Immigration is a pain in the arse and just about every rule has an exception to it.
Edited by dabofoppo on Saturday 11th February 05:24
I had this happen with a boss from the USA about 20 years ago. He smartly had a photo on his iPaq of his passport and he was granted entry to allow him to go to the embassy within 24 hours and get an emergency passport &/or letter of attestation.
Moral, we keep a copy of ours in a synchronised offline copy Dropbox folder encrypted with PGP so if it ever happens we’ve got backup.
Moral, we keep a copy of ours in a synchronised offline copy Dropbox folder encrypted with PGP so if it ever happens we’ve got backup.
I'd expect every border post to have online access to the Passport Office. You may not be clutching a paper document in your hand but they'd still have everything available on screen. I wouldn't be surprised if there's reciprocal access to similar records of many foreign countries - particularly EU, North America etc.
When you apply for an ESTA to enter the US it must be likely their system is driven off access to UK passport information plus the US own entry/exit records. One imagines that's the minimum requirement for any country to join the ESTA program and avoid visa hassle. Whether they're able to check stuff like UK criminal records I don't know.
When you apply for an ESTA to enter the US it must be likely their system is driven off access to UK passport information plus the US own entry/exit records. One imagines that's the minimum requirement for any country to join the ESTA program and avoid visa hassle. Whether they're able to check stuff like UK criminal records I don't know.
Murray Walker the F1 commentator had this happen to him flying back from one of the GP's, as it was a chartered flight with a lot of the F1 paddock on board word quickly got round. Just before they started the descent the captain came on the tannoy to tell him to report to a different part of passport control.
Being the kind hearted and sympathetic types the rest of the passengers started the piss taking 'don't let him in' 'deport him' etc
Murray Walker duly reported to the special part of immigration where he was asked to provide proof of ID, on doing so he was waved though with a reminder to replace his lost passport.
The rest of the flight were still queuing at immigration as he waved them goodbye with two fingers
Edit stupid predictive text!
Being the kind hearted and sympathetic types the rest of the passengers started the piss taking 'don't let him in' 'deport him' etc
Murray Walker duly reported to the special part of immigration where he was asked to provide proof of ID, on doing so he was waved though with a reminder to replace his lost passport.
The rest of the flight were still queuing at immigration as he waved them goodbye with two fingers
Edit stupid predictive text!
Edited by Tango13 on Saturday 11th February 12:19
deckster said:
At a guess, detain you until they can entirely ascertain who you are and why you don't have your passport.
And I can clarify that there is zero chance of domestic arrivals mixing with international at Heathrow.
When I was a young lad, I was in a trip they involved 2 changes on the way back. And I can clarify that there is zero chance of domestic arrivals mixing with international at Heathrow.
For some reason the first flight put our bags on the luggage collection carousel. Not knowing any different I picked my bag up and accidentally stubbled through the arrivals door, rather than go straight to the next flights gate.
It caused a whole load of pain having to go through departures again. The (ex) girlfriend had a face like a bulldog chewing a wasp.
OT but I used to do a lot of business travel. I'd park in the short term car park, check in, go through passport control, buy Duty Free, exit through Arrivals, put the Duty Free in the car, re-enter the terminal through passport control, fly off to Paris. No heavy bottles to carry!
How things have changed. Departures and Arrivals have been strictly separated for years.
How things have changed. Departures and Arrivals have been strictly separated for years.
About 15'ish years ago, I rode my motorbike to the Alps with some mates, stupidly I had my passport in my waist pack, which in an absolute downpour came off on the motorway.
I realised when I stopped at a service area, went back about 20 miles to look for it, nothing.
Got to UK passport control and explained, they pointed me to the french police office to report it. Then he asked me if I had any ID. I had my police warrant card and he then let me into his control booth, gave me a form to fill in, totally by-passing the need to report it. Let me through and later on submitted the forms for me, few weeks later my replacement passport arrived in the post.
I can't imagine that happening these days mind you.
I realised when I stopped at a service area, went back about 20 miles to look for it, nothing.
Got to UK passport control and explained, they pointed me to the french police office to report it. Then he asked me if I had any ID. I had my police warrant card and he then let me into his control booth, gave me a form to fill in, totally by-passing the need to report it. Let me through and later on submitted the forms for me, few weeks later my replacement passport arrived in the post.
I can't imagine that happening these days mind you.
Worked offshore Angola during the civil war, whole rig crew passports were in Embassy in Luanda having visas processed, Embassy got blown up, all crew were allowed to travel back to the UK via Lisbon or Brussels and a short interview on arrival back in the UK.
One guy covered in Scottish tattoo's and broad jock accent was asked how could they be certain that he wasn't an illegally alien lol.
One guy covered in Scottish tattoo's and broad jock accent was asked how could they be certain that he wasn't an illegally alien lol.
Slightly off topic, but I noticed at LCY last week that EU nationals for some reason, were allowed to go through the automatic gates. Obviously all the information is still being captured, so it’s difficult to understand what the reasons for the post Brexit passport stamping etc. are?
Pete Way,UFO etc knew how to travel
in Waysted days and with his passport confiscated by another spouse, Pete headed off armed only with a copy of the band’s latest LP.
“That’s me,” he would casually tell puzzled border controllers, pointing to his photograph. The disbelieving officials would let him through simply to shut him up.
in Waysted days and with his passport confiscated by another spouse, Pete headed off armed only with a copy of the band’s latest LP.
“That’s me,” he would casually tell puzzled border controllers, pointing to his photograph. The disbelieving officials would let him through simply to shut him up.
Foss62 said:
Slightly off topic, but I noticed at LCY last week that EU nationals for some reason, were allowed to go through the automatic gates. Obviously all the information is still being captured, so it’s difficult to understand what the reasons for the post Brexit passport stamping etc. are?
UK don’t want to have to stamp in EU nationals. It will create a huge amount of queues and they’re desperately trying to use e-gates as much as possible. Hence why tourist visitors from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and the United States can also use e-gates now. EU visitors here on business still need to see an immigration officer but get no stamp unless they need and ask for it for proof/tax purposes.
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