Registered Traveller membership expanded to sixteen additional countries
Validated finding · five-country-2010-20260922-v118-evidence-presentation-fix
Policy effect
From November 21, 2016, Registered Traveller membership applications opened to eligible passport holders from Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Brunei, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay and Uruguay. The November19 Home Office announcement required an eligible passport and either a visa/entry clearance or at least four UK visits in the preceding two years. Approved members underwent advance security checks and gained faster border entry through ePassport gates if holding an ePassport, or through UK/EU passport lanes. The change expanded eligibility for expedited clearance; it did not itself confer immigration permission or remove visa requirements. The announcement described service for certain Indian travellers as a future expansion, so India is not counted here. The four jurisdictions added in January remain a separate dated measure.
Conditions and exceptions
Validated condition or limit: From November 21, 2016, Registered Traveller membership applications opened to eligible passport holders from Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Brunei, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay and Uruguay.; The November19 Home Office announcement required an eligible passport and either a visa/entry clearance or at least four UK visits in the preceding two years.; The change expanded eligibility for expedited clearance
Official source excerpt
Quoted verbatim from the official source below. Ellipses indicate omitted text.
From Monday (21 November), frequent travellers to the UK from 16 new countries will be eligible to apply for membership of the scheme, which brings the potential for improved trade and tourism links. Membership will now be open to passengers from Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Brunei, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay and Uruguay.
Review method
Source-based draft with independent Gemini 3.8 Flash verification
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Other United Kingdom changes operative in 2016
- 2016-01-25Registered Traveller membership expanded to Hong Kong SAR, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan
- 2016-02-01Immigration Act 2014
- 2016-04-06Australian and New Zealand nationality exemption from immigration health charge removed
- 2016-04-06Youth Mobility Scheme annual health-charge rate reduced for applicants already liable
- 2016-05-31The Immigration Act 2016 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2016
- 2016-07-12Immigration Act 2016
- 2016-09-12The Immigration (Guidance on Detention of Vulnerable Persons) Regulations 2016
- 2016-11-23Multi-entry leave to enter effect for academic visitors
- 2016-11-23Multi-entry leave to enter effect for private medical treatment visit visas
- 2016-11-23Protection from leave lapse for accompanying family of posted Crown servants and British Council staff
- 2016-11-25EEA Regulations 2016 transitory provisions tightening residence criteria for family members of British citizens
- 2016-11-29The First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) Fees (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2016