Hon Kris Faafoi
Minister of Customs
20 May 2019
PĀNUI PĀPĀHO
MEDIA STATEMENT
Minister of Customs Hon Kris Faafoi was able to trial using the ePassport gates on his arrival into Heathrow airport
last week, and from today all eligible New Zealanders can use ePassport gates to enter the United Kingdom more quickly.
New Zealanders aged 18 and over, who are travelling using a biometric or ‘chipped’ passport, are now able to use the
automated eGates, as are visitors aged 12 to 17 who are accompanied by an adult.
“Hundreds of thousands of Kiwis travel to the UK each year and being able to use an eGate should make the journey
through the border quicker. At the end of a long flight that will be welcomed by Kiwi travellers.”
Previously, New Zealanders had to sign-up to the UK's Registered Traveller programme to use eGates – this will no longer
be required. The UK Government has also announced that it is removing the need for New Zealanders, and travellers from
all other non-European Economic Area countries, to complete landing cards upon arrival in the UK.
In 2017, New Zealand citizens entered the UK on 359,000 occasions.
New Zealand offers reciprocal eGate arrangements to UK citizens. In April 2019, 70% of all UK citizens entering New
Zealand used e-Gates.
ends