To enable animals arriving from third countries to be accompanied
directly to the BIP by their handlers for examination, the Immigration
Service has agreed to provisional concessionary arrangements.
Under normal circumstances animal attendants will not be required to
present themselves in the Passenger Terminal for Immigration clearance. This
may be undertaken by the airline/handling agent on the attendant’s behalf
in the following manner:
- Pre-advice of the handler’s arrival must by faxed to HM Immigration
on fax number 01279 680145 marked for the immediate attention of the
Chief Immigration Officer. The required format is shown in Fax Form
(this
is the same format for Customs and Stansted Airport Security).
- Passports should be presented to the Duty Immigration Officer in the
Business Terminal next to the Metro hangar on the north side of the
airport. The Business Terminal is manned by Immigration from 0730 to
2200. Outside these hours passports will have to be taken to the Arrival
Terminal (airside) in the main Passenger Terminal on the south side of
the airport. It is advisable to take a copy of the prior notification
fax when presenting the passports. The animal attendant will not
normally be required to attend but the passport should be presented to
immigration as soon as possible after the flight arrival, at the latest
within three hours of the flight’s arrival and before the attendant
leaves the airport.
- For no European Union / European Economic Area passport holders, the
following information is required:
-
how long
the person is staying in the UK and the method of departure (flight
details if known)
-
the
reason for visit
-
the
address at which the attendant will stay or the name and address of
the company or person who is accepting responsibility for him or the
animals
- a completed Landing Card giving the details required at © above.
Assuming the attendant(s) are acceptable under UK Immigration Rules,
the passport will be endorsed and returned to the presenting
airline/handling agent.
- For EU / EEA passport holders which includes British Citizens (full
citizens, not holders of travel documents for stateless persons):
- the passport only.
Airlines should ensure that all attendants hold valid passports or
travel documents, and when required valid UK visas. Failure to do so may
render the carrier liable to a charge of £2000.
Airlines are reminded that these procedures are concessionary and will
be subject to review. HM Immigration will maintain the right under the
Immigration Act to require any attendant to present him/herself in the
Passenger Terminal. Spot checks may also be made and any failure to comply
with the agreed procedure may result in the termination of the agreement
in respect of that person or any organisation or individual for whom he is
acting.
Regular failure to comply may result in the cancellation of the whole
agreement with attendants having to present themselves for examination in
person in the Passenger Terminal.
