Iris recognition immigration system (IRIS)

The iris recognition immigration system (IRIS) will close at London Heathrow airport at Terminal 3 on 15 September 2013 and on 16 September at Terminal 5.

Our IRIS email service will remain open for 6 months until 21 March 2014 to allow IRIS passengers who need a record of their travel history to make a subject access request.

Once our email service is closed, all information on the IRIS database will be destroyed as required by IRIS.

Alternatives to IRIS

Alternatives are available to IRIS users who:

• possess an EEA or UK biometric passport, via self service e-passport gates located at all terminals where IRIS was used;
• are non EU Travellers and eligible to use the registered traveller scheme.

Registered traveller scheme

The registered traveller scheme launches 24 September 2013 and will improve the way regular visitors can pass through the UK border. It will initially be available at Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

Passengers can apply for the scheme if they:

• previously registered to use IRIS;
• are from the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia or New Zealand;
• have completed at least 4 trips to the UK in the last 52 weeks; or
• are a short term visitor to the UK aged over 18.

Eligible travellers will be able to apply and register online. More information will be available from 24 September on this webpage.