Can you go through the Blue Customs channel if you have come from an EU member state (ie Latvia)?

Question

this question is in relation to the customs exit point in UK airports. Have walked through Blue channel many times before but dont know if you can go this way if you are coming from a new EU member state. Cant believe either how many people still use green in the UK when arriving from europe when its blue???

I dont know where the irst guy flies into but in Manchester and Liverpool we have Red, green and blue channels.

Answer 1

YES YOU CAN.

There are blue channels (which you can pass through if you are arriving from a EU member state) in some airports, but not all.

Latvia is included as a EU member state...So you can pass though the blue lane if you are arriving from Latvia to the UK. However if you have bought more than 200 cigarettes and they are NOT for personal use..You should declare them in the red channel. But this is flexible guideline and only there to deter smugglers. If you have 250 cigarettes for example that is not a problem.

Though personally I don't think there is not much different speedwise between either the blue or green lanes. I have never had any problems, or even a delay of 2 seconds passing them.


Here is the information about the 'blue lane' from the customs website. Most EU ares are included in the blue lane except 'Gibraltar, Canary Islands, and Northern Cyprus.
http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageTravel_InfoGuides&propertyType=document&id=HMCE_PROD_010221

Answer 2

How long is it since you were in a U. K. Airport? and which one?
Arrivals from European Countries simply walk out the one exit, if Customs personnel show an interest, you will be 'asked' to one side and your baggage may be searched.
The Green and Red Channels haven't been with us for years