How we can help you to reduce your charges

This page explains how we can help careful carriers reduce the number of charges they incur for inadequately documented passengers, through the Approved Gate Check (AGC) status programme. It gives the criteria for attaining (and retaining) AGC status, and a step-by-step guide to applying for it.

The Approved Gate Check (AGC) status programme is available to carriers that meet specific criteria. If granted to a carrier, AGC allows certain types of charges to be waived, reducing the number of charges a carrier is liable to pay.

We will consider applications from all carriers including sea carriers, charter airlines and carriers who operate certain routes on a seasonal basis.

Where a carrier has AGC status at the port of embarkation, we will normally waive charges for people arriving without documents or in certain cases where documents are mutilated. AGC status is granted in return for:

• an audited high standard of document checking and security procedures at a port of embarkation;
• a good level of co-operation from the carrier; and
• a satisfactory record in respect of its responsibilities under Section 40 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

See Applying for approved gate check status for a step-by-step guide to applying.