The UK Home Office is introducing new rules for General Aviation aircraft travelling to and from the UK including Northern Ireland. Breaches of the new regulations carry penalties of up to £10,000 per breach. The main changes are that email GAR forms are no longer permitted and forms must be submitted via an approved online platform. This includes the UK Government’s free-to-use sGAR service or other paid subscription services such as SkyDemon.
The new rules also place a responsibility on the Pilot in Command of the aircraft to check the travel documents of all passengers and crew on board. When a GAR is submitted, the user will receive a Response Message. These messages will confirm whether an individual has a valid permission to travel or if you need to conduct a manual check for a visa. Every time you submit data for an individual via sGAR the Home Office will return a response. The response will be displayed on the sGAR service. From January 2024 you will see one of the following responses for each passenger.
| Response Message | Action |
| Valid permission to travel | The Home Office can find a valid permission to travel for the person. Pilots, operators and agents are not required to check visas, but Passport or Travel Document checks still apply. They must check that the passport or travel document presented is genuine and valid, and that the person is the rightful holder. For more information on checking passports and travel documents click here Guidance on examining identity documents (publishing.service.gov.uk) |
| Authority to carry granted | Pilots, operators and agents are required to check visas for Visa Nationals. Passport or Travel Document checks apply for all passengers. They must check that the passport or travel document presented is genuine and valid and that the person is the rightful holder. For more information on checking passports and travel documents click here Guidance on examining identity documents (publishing.service.gov.uk) Follow this link to check visa requirements Check if you need a UK visa – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) |
| Authority to carry refused. DO NOT BOARD. | This response message will not be displayed on the screen. Pilots, operators and agents will be instructed not to board an individual (NO BOARD) via a call and email when Authority to Carry (ATC) has been refused. |
What is being introduced and when?
It is anticipated that on Saturday 6th April 2024, the 2024 regulations will enter into force. A draft version of the regulations is available online: The General Aviation (Persons on Board, Flight Information and Civil Penalties) Regulations 2024.
Which flights do the 2024 regulations apply to?
The 2024 regulations apply to all General Aviation aircraft making international flights who are expecting to arrive in and depart from the UK (including within the Common Travel Area).
What do the regulations mean for pilots, owners and operators?
International GA flights that are arriving in or departing from the UK will be required to submit information online about the flight and persons on board (both passengers and crew), no earlier than 48 hours and no later than 2 hours prior to the expected time of departure.
General Aviation Reports emailed directly to Border Force will not be compliant and will not be accepted.
What are the acceptable online submission methods?
The information is to be provided online using one of the following methods:
- The Government’s free-to-use submit a GAR ‘sGAR’ web service;
- Via an approved existing third-party application; or
- If you are a business operator, established direct connections to Home Office systems can also be used.
Civil Penalties
Border Force will be operating a civil penalty regime that will underpin the 2024 regulations. Failing to comply with the 2024 regulations may result in a civil penalty of up to £10,000 per breach. Complete guidance on the civil penalty regime will be available on gov.uk in due course.
