Chapter 4 Annex 5 - Collective Passports

As with national passports, these travel documents are issued by governments.

They may be used for travel to the UK provided:

• All those included in it are to engage in a common enterprise, and full arrangements are made for the visit before arrival.
• The visit is of a temporary nature and will not exceed six months.
• The party enter, remain and leave the UK together.

The number of people included on one collective passport must not be less than five or more than fifty.

Requirements for the document
Each collective passport must:

• be issued by an authority competent to issue passports;
• be in a form recognised by the Home Office. (Chapter 3 gives details on recognition procedures);
• give the date and place of issue and the name of the issuing authority;
• certify that all persons included in it are nationals of the country in which it is issued, excepting Italian collective passports (which are not certified in this manner because they never include persons not of Italian nationality) or certain stateless persons (see section below);
• describe the party (e.g. a sports team, a school class);
• state the country or countries of destination;
• give the surnames (in alphabetical order), first names, date and place of birth and place of residence for each member of the party;
• have adequate space for the Immigration Officer’s stamps.

Any amendments or additions to a collective passport may be made only by the authority which issued it. Immigration Officers will accept the validity of documents upon which deletions have been made provided each alteration is separately authenticated by an ECO.

Additional requirements
Each member of the party who is aged 16 years or over must be in possession of an official identity document bearing a photograph (e.g. an identity card, driving licence, certificate of nationality for travel purposes or a passport which has expired not more than three years previously). Alternatively, a certified photograph of each such member may be affixed to the collective passport opposite his or her name. The photographs may be certified by the organising body, or by the leader of the party and, after they have been affixed to the passport, must each be stamped by the entry clearance officer in such a way that the photograph cannot be removed and replaced by another.

It is helpful if young persons under the age of 16 years carry with them some kind of official identity document, but this is not essential and should not be insisted upon.

Requirements for the leader of the party
The leader of the party travelling with a collective passport must:

• Be at least 21 years of age and remain in company with the party.
• Be responsible for complying with the immigration requirements.
• Ensure that the members of the party remain together.
• Possess an individual passport.

Authentication by ECOs
In addition to being endorsed with entry clearances, when necessary, collective passports must be authenticated by an ECO or Consular Officer.

No authentication is required for collective passports issued by the following countries:-

Austria Belgium Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece

Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Liechtenstein Luxembourg Malta Monaco

Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal San Marino Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey

Stateless persons
Stateless persons under the age of 21 whose residence in the countries listed above is authorised by the national authorities concerned, may be included on collective passports issued by those national authorities provided:

• The names of stateless persons must be listed separately from nationals, and their status clearly shown.
• The collective passport must bear a clear indication at the top that the party includes stateless persons.
• Each stateless person aged 16 or over carries an identity card bearing a photograph.

The inclusion of stateless young persons on a collective passport commits the issuing government to their readmission without time limit to its own territory even when the stateless person does not return with the party.

Advice if a person must unavoidably remain longer in the United Kingdom
Any member of the party who is unable for some unavoidable reason, e.g. illness or accident, to leave the UK with the main party must obtain an individual passport from his/her Consul in the UK. The passport must be sent with a letter giving the reason for prolonging the stay to the Home Office, Public Caller Unit, UK Border Agency, Lunar House, 40 Wellesley Road, Croydon, CR9 2BY. In addition, when the party leaves the country, the leader should inform the Immigration Officer if any members of the party have been left behind.

Entry clearance fees
Unless entry clearance is to be gratis issue, each person travelling should be charged a single fee.

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