27C Notification of non-EEA arrivals

1

If a senior officer, or an immigration officer authorised by a senior officer, gives written notice to the owner or agent (“the carrier”) of a ship or aircraft, the carrier must inform a relevant officer of the expected arrival in the United Kingdom of any ship or aircraft—

a

of which he is the owner or agent; and

b

which he expects to carry a person who is not an EEA national.

2

The notice may relate to—

a

a particular ship or particular aircraft of the carrier;

b

particular ships or aircraft (however described) of the carrier; or

c

all of the carrier’s ships or aircraft.

3

The notice—

a

must state the date on which it ceases to have effect; and

b

continues in force until that date, unless withdrawn earlier by written notice given by a senior officer.

4

The date may not be later than six months after the notice is given.

5

The fact that a notice under sub-paragraph (1) has ceased to have effect as a result of sub-paragraph (3) does not prevent the notice from being renewed.

6

The information must be provided—

a

in such form and manner as the notice may require; and

b

before the ship or aircraft concerned departs for the United Kingdom.

7

If a ship or aircraft travelling to the United Kingdom stops at one or more places before arriving in the United Kingdom, it is to be treated as departing for the United Kingdom when it leaves the last of those places.

8

“Senior officer” means an immigration officer not below the rank of chief immigration officer.

9

“Relevant officer” means—

a

the officer who gave the notice under sub-paragraph (1); or

b

any immigration officer at the port at which the ship or aircraft concerned is expected to arrive.

10

“EEA national” means a national of a State which is a Contracting Party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area signed at Oporto on 2nd May 1992 as it has effect for the time being.