UK to scrap landing cards for international passengers

All landing cards for international passengers arriving in the UK will be scrapped from Monday. Landing cards are currently filled in by passengers arriving by air or sea from outside the European Economic Area.

BBC reports that Border Force director general Paul Lincoln, in a letter to staff, said it would “help meet the challenge of growing passenger numbers”. But unions warned it risked weakening immigration controls.

Around 16 million landing cards are issued every year and they are used to record what is said to border staff on arrival, as well as the reasons for travel and conditions of entry.

The Home Office had agreed to scrap them for seven countries, including the US and Australia, from June, but has now decided to go further.

via BBC