Iris Recognition Immigration System
Encyclopedia
Iris Recognition Immigration System (IRIS) is an initiative to provide automated clearance through UK immigration
for certain frequent travellers. IRIS relies on biometric technology to authenticate identity and is part of the e-borders initiative of the UK Government.
camera. These barriers are located in certain Immigration Arrival Halls and form part of Immigration and Passport Control.
As of June 2010, IRIS is available at
Note: IRIS barrier has been removed at Gatwick South Terminal, and IRIS registration office is closed at Heathrow terminal 3, Gatwick South terminal, Manchester terminals 1 and 2 and Birmingham.
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
for certain frequent travellers. IRIS relies on biometric technology to authenticate identity and is part of the e-borders initiative of the UK Government.
Procedure
Enrolled passengers can enter the UK through a special automated immigration control barrier incorporating an iris recognitionIris recognition
Iris recognition is an automated method of biometric identification that uses mathematical pattern-recognition techniques on video images of the irides of an individual's eyes, whose complex random patterns are unique and can be seen from some distance....
camera. These barriers are located in certain Immigration Arrival Halls and form part of Immigration and Passport Control.
Availability
Enrolment for the scheme is currently free and voluntary. Enrolment takes place in the airport departure lounge where an Immigration Officer assesses eligibility and enrols qualifying persons. Those who qualify to participate in the scheme have both their eyes photographed in order to capture their iris patterns. This data is then stored securely alongside their personal details.As of June 2010, IRIS is available at
- BirminghamBirmingham International Airport (UK)Birmingham Airport , formerly Birmingham International Airport is an airport located east southeast of Birmingham city centre, at Bickenhill in the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull within the West Midlands, England...
Terminal 1 - GatwickLondon Gatwick AirportGatwick Airport is located 3.1 miles north of the centre of Crawley, West Sussex, and south of Central London. Previously known as London Gatwick,In 2010, the name changed from London Gatwick Airport to Gatwick Airport...
Terminals North and South - Manchester Terminals 1 and 2
- HeathrowLondon Heathrow AirportLondon Heathrow Airport or Heathrow , in the London Borough of Hillingdon, is the busiest airport in the United Kingdom and the third busiest airport in the world in terms of total passenger traffic, handling more international passengers than any other airport around the globe...
Terminals 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Note: IRIS barrier has been removed at Gatwick South Terminal, and IRIS registration office is closed at Heathrow terminal 3, Gatwick South terminal, Manchester terminals 1 and 2 and Birmingham.
Eligibility
Currently the following travellers are eligible to enroll:- Persons over 18 years of age
- British citizen or people with a right of abode in the UK, or a national of an EEAEuropean Economic AreaThe European Economic Area was established on 1 January 1994 following an agreement between the member states of the European Free Trade Association and the European Community, later the European Union . Specifically, it allows Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to participate in the EU's Internal...
State, or a Swiss national - Permanent residents of the United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(e.g. Indefinite Leave to Remain) - Valid entry clearance holders (VisaVisa (document)A visa is a document showing that a person is authorized to enter the territory for which it was issued, subject to permission of an immigration official at the time of actual entry. The authorization may be a document, but more commonly it is a stamp endorsed in the applicant's passport...
holders) with at least 2 months of validity left on the entry clearance - Short term visitor entering the United Kingdom (not needing visas) who were granted entry as a visitor on at least two occasions in the last six months, or four occasions in the last 12 months
- Exempt from UK Immigration controls or permitted to enter or remain in the UK for more than six months and have more than two months left of that permission
- Family of EEA state or Swiss Nationals based in the UK or exempt from immigration controls and based in the UK