By April 2008 all visa applicants over 5 years old will be required to supply biometric data before they are issued with visas to travel to the UK. Roll out has already been taking place on a country-by-country basis.

Biometric data consists of 10 digit finger scans, and a ‘digital photograph’ and is a key part of the government’s Strategy for Asylum and Immigration (‘Controlling our borders: making migration work for Britain’), which was published in February 2005. Biometric collection is intended to reduce identity theft, visa fraud and the associated problems of organised crime and terrorism by checking the information received against UK records.

What does this mean for me?

  • If you are over 5 years old and required to apply for a visa you will have to provide biometric data. If you refuse to undergo biometric tests, your application will not be accepted.
  • All visa applicants must now attend in person at the relevant (often outsourced) location overseas while applying for a visa. This will usually involve making an appointment and despite assurances that biometric testing will not delay visa applications, a lack of available appointment times (resulting in severe delays) have been noted.
  • Applications made entirely by post or by courier will no longer be possible; all will now be required to attend a testing centre in person.
  • At the moment biometric testing is used in more than 111 countries, including:
Albania, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burma, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Democratic Republic of Congo, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, The Gambia, Georgia, Greece, Guyana, Hungary, Iran, Iceland, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, The Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Syria, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam and Zambia.
Roll out in Australia is planned by 4 December 2007 and in the USA by the end of 2007.
  • Longer term, it is hoped that biometric data will be used to facilitate fast passage through automatic gates of entry at UK ports and airports.

Extension of biometric data collection

The UK plans to introduce ID cards for all non EEA nationals. Initial roll out (in 2008) will relate to those already in the UK and who apply for an extension or change to their status.

From 2009 all British citizens will have to provide biometric data when they apply for a first adult passport or renew an existing passport.

This article was written for Law-Now, CMS Cameron McKenna's free online information service. To register for Law-Now, please go to www.law-now.com/law-now/mondaq

Law-Now information is for general purposes and guidance only. The information and opinions expressed in all Law-Now articles are not necessarily comprehensive and do not purport to give professional or legal advice. All Law-Now information relates to circumstances prevailing at the date of its original publication and may not have been updated to reflect subsequent developments.

The original publication date for this article was 21/11/2007.