Regulations relating to the issue of Escorted Passes changed at all UK airports on the 1st October 2019.
Visitor Passes
– for one off or infrequent visitors (such as, but not limited to, engineering, maintenance, work experience, performers, school parties, absence cover or training visits).
The maximum number of days any person can use a visitor pass is 14 days in a rolling calendar year. The maximum time any single visitor pass will be valid is 7 days and there must be a break of 3 calendar days between passes. Please remember these passes are person-specific.
Employment passes
- for those providing training or services over a number of weeks (including contractors and regional managers), seasonal employees or those waiting for a permanent airside pass
Part 1: If an Applicant has evidence that a UK Criminal Record Check (CRC) has been applied for when they make their escorted employment pass application, they may be granted an employment pass for up to 14 consecutive days. The proof must be no more than 21 days old.
Part 2: If during the 14-day period, the Applicant receives their CRC Certificate they may apply for a new employment pass that will be valid for up to 60 consecutive days (the Part 1 period being included). The certificate must have been issued within 10 weeks of the first date from which the employment pass will be valid from.
If an applicant has a CRC Certificate at the beginning of the application process a pass for up to 60 consecutive days can be issued.
Anyone applying for an employment pass will need to provide evidence that a UK CRC has been applied for irrespective of the length of residency in the UK, this must be:
Online application - email receipt of application
Paper Applications – copy of application and proof of postage.
Part 1 days and Part 2 days added together must not exceed 60 days, with Part 1 days not exceeding 14 days. The days within the two parts must be consecutive, although there can be break between the two parts (to allow for delivery of the CRC). There is no minimum limit between the two parts. The 14-day and subsequent 60-day periods referred to are consecutive days and should not be broken down into single or multiple days. ID Gateway will be updated in time for the new process starting on 1 October 2019.
A person can only be issued with an escorted pass for a maximum of 60 days in a rolling calendar year (e.g. if a person has already exhausted their 60 days’ allowance they cannot apply for another pass until the rolling year is complete)
Escorting Ratios will be regulated. The ratios are:
1 escort for 6 people on a visitor pass
1 escort for 3 people on an employment pass
Visitor Passes and Employment Passes will be visibly different.
Escort Training
This is required for any person who needs to carry out escorting duties, they must have received an additional briefing that meets the DfT requirements. These briefings must be delivered by a person deemed competent by the airport to cover the required elements – this will include Authorised Signatories, Staff with an Aviation Security Qualification and DfT Certified Instructors. Each organisation must record that the training has taken place.
We have produced a short video to cover the briefing content, video below:
All the ID pass scheme's rules are contained in one convenient document, the ID Pass Application Standard. This tells you what's needed to apply for, and obtain, each type of pass.
Most of the regulations that set out the ways that we can authorise and verify access to the security restricted or airside areas of our airports are contained in the European Regulation 1998/2015 (published October 2015).
