Watchdog: Airlines Are Illegally Preventing Some EU Citizens From Travelling to UK

The Independent Monitoring Authority (IMA), a watchdog that monitors the rights of EU and Schengen Area citizens post-Brexit, has sent a letter to all carriers flying travellers from the EU to the UK, urging them to respect the Home Office’s guidance in this regard.

In its letter, the IMA claims that they have received several complaints by EU and Schengen Area citizens protected by the EU Withdrawal Agreement and EEA/EFTA Separation Agreement, that carriers are asking them to provide proof of status in the UK, and prevented them from boarding their flights with only an ID card.

“We have been made aware of instances where carriers are asking citizens to provide proof of their status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) prior to allowing them to travel or denying boarding where a valid national identity card has been provided,” the letter reads.

It further notes that the watchdog has raised the issue with the Home Office, and the latter has provided them with the guidance issued to carriers on the matter. According to the guidance, Europeans that are covered by the agreements mentioned above can enter the UK with either a valid national identity card or a valid passport.

“Carriers are not currently required to check an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen’s immigration status, or their entitlement to travel on a national identity card, when deciding whether to bring them to the UK. They only need to check that they have a valid passport or national identity card,” the guidance states.

Commenting on the issue, IMA Director of Operational Delivery Pam Everett pointed out that the incorrect procedures by some airlines have not only caused unnecessary stress but they have even resulted in families missing their holidays.

“We hope this letter to carriers will remind them to ensure their staff are aware of the guidance from the Home Office in relation to citizens’ entitlement to travel,” Director Evveret said, further noting that IMA will continue to monitor the situation and remain in close contact with the Home Office regarding the issue.

The IMA has also reminded the airlines that it has the power to launch inquiries and bring legal action, if appropriate, against bodies that don’t uphold the rights of EU and EEA EFTA citizens.

Since Brexit and up until March 2022, 6,546,200 applications have been filed by EU citizens residing in the UK who wish to continue living in the country under the Settlement Scheme.

Approximately 5.75 million people had applied to the scheme by the end of December 2021, of which 5.33 million were EEA and Swiss nationals and about 407,400 from non-EEA nationals. 3,201,000, or 51 per cent of them, were lodged until March under the settled status, while 2,576,400 applications were filed under the pre-settled status.