We live in a constantly changing world.  More travellers, greater mobility, new security threats, indentity theft - a growing problem globally which helps terriorism, organised crime and undermines national economies - mean we must find new ways of working which keep us all secure but which also benefit customers.  

To protect the integrity of the visa system and to protect our customers, we require every UK Border Agency visa applicant around the world to enrol their fingerprints, and to have a digital photograph taken when they make a visa application.

What are the benefits to visa applicants?

• It helps protect applicants and their family from identity theft.
  
• It helps keep visa applicants and their family safe from crime and terrorism through ensuring that we can make travelling to, and being in the UK more secure.
  
• Visa applicants won't be accidentally mistaken for another person with the same or similar name.
  
• In the longer term, applicants’ biometric data will be used to facilitate fast passage through automatic gates of entry at UK ports and airports.

Check our frequently asked questions section for answers to common questions about biometric data collection for visa applicants.

Fingerprint checks at the border

From 30 November 2009, the UK Border Agency is introducing fingerprint checks at the border for passengers who have provided their biometrics during the application process (as mentioned above).

The purpose of this check is to verify that the individual entering the UK is the same person who applied for their visa and using fingerprints enables us to do this with greater certainty.

Check our frequently asked questions page for answers to common questions about fingerprint checks for passengers on arrival in the UK.