More than 9,000 European airline workers are being trained to verify UK visa documents at departure gates as part of what the Foreign Secretary described as a digital upgrade to Britain’s border controls.

David Lammy said the measures represent progress towards “more secure, more digital and more effective” borders, though the initiative may prompt questions about human rights safeguards.

Staff at carriers including Wizz Air, Jet2 and Lufthansa have completed training to check UK visa documentation at departure gates across 39 countries, including major transit routes for irregular migration such as Greece, Malta, Italy and Albania.

The Foreign Office-delivered scheme effectively deputises airline workers as frontline immigration officers, preventing passengers from attempting travel without correct documentation. The training forms part of the broader Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) and eVisa system rollout, requiring travellers including many EU citizens to pre-register before entering the UK.

“Tackling irregular migration demands cooperation across borders and industries to disrupt the pathways used by those attempting to enter the UK illegally,” Lammy said. “We’re sending a clear message – air travel simply isn’t an option without proper authorisation and registration”.

The initiative represents a significant overhaul of UK border controls and features prominently in Labour’s immigration enforcement strategy. The move comes as the party seeks to address public concerns about uncontrolled immigration whilst maintaining a firm rhetorical stance on border security.

The eVisa system replaces physical identification with digital status checks, enabling real-time tracking and updating of individuals’ immigration status. Ministers argue this facilitates enforcement action against overstayers whilst helping landlords, employers and service providers verify people’s UK rights more easily.

Civil liberties groups may scrutinise the policy over concerns about legitimate travellers, particularly asylum seekers, and the outsourcing of critical immigration decisions to private airline staff. Questions about accountability arise particularly in cases where boarding is incorrectly denied.

British Airways confirmed the training had proved beneficial for staff, making them feel “more confident and prepared” to implement the system. “As a carrier, this kind of insight is extremely useful and absolutely critical for us as it will guide us in how to process our customer whilst complying with the UK laws,” a spokesperson said.

Official statistics show 30,000 people have been returned under current policies, with enforced returns rising 23% and deportations of foreign offenders increasing 14% since the 2024 general election.

Diplomats have been instructed to promote the ETA scheme directly to European governments, whilst a public information campaign alerts EU citizens about the new travel requirements. (Philenews)