The coalition government committed in 2010 to reintroducing exit checks. From 8 April 2015, we will collect information on passengers leaving the UK as we do for those entering. Exit checks will provide us with vital information that confirms a person's exit from the UK.

The UK Home Office primarily tracks departures through the Advanced Passenger Information (API) system. When you check in for a flight, ferry, or international train (like the Eurostar), the transport provider is legally required to share your passport or national identity card details with the government. This creates a digital record of your departure that is matched against your entry record. While the UK does not typically have physical "exit booths" where a guard stamps your passport, the electronic data sharing serves the same purpose. Additionally, for those traveling via the Common Travel Area (CTA) to Ireland, there are data-sharing agreements in place, though it is slightly less direct. The system allows the Home Office to identify overstayers by flagging individuals whose entry records do not have a corresponding API departure notification within the allowed timeframe of their visa or leave to remain.