Visiting the UK as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen
What you need to know about crossing the UK border and visiting the UK.
What you need to enter the UK
If you’re an EU, European Economic Area (EEA) or Swiss citizen
Irish citizens can continue to enter and live in the UK.
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can travel to the UK for holidays or short trips without needing a visa. In other cases, find out if you need to apply for a visa to enter the UK.
You can cross the UK border using a valid passport which should be valid for the whole time you are in the UK.
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can continue to use the automatic ePassport gates to pass through the border on arrival.
You cannot use an EU, EEA or Swiss national ID card to enter the UK unless you:
- have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man’s settlement schemes
- have an EU Settlement Scheme family permit, or the equivalent from Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man
- have a frontier worker permit
- are an S2 Healthcare Visitor
- are a Swiss national and have a Service Provider from Switzerland visa
In these cases, you can continue to use your national ID card to enter the UK until at least 31 December 2025.
If you’re waiting for a decision on your application for settled or pre-settled status
You can still use your EEA or Swiss national identity card to enter the UK if all of the following are true:
- you’ve applied for settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man’s settlement schemes
- you’ve been issued with confirmation your application is valid
- you’re not applying as a joining family member
Other types of cards
British citizens can continue to use a Gibraltar identity card to travel to the UK.
Irish citizens can continue to use a passport card to travel to the UK.
You must have the correct documents to show at the UK border if you’re travelling to the UK. You cannot use any documents to enter the UK that are not listed here.
If you’re a non-EEA family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen
You need a valid national passport, and one of the following:
- an EU Settlement Scheme family permit
- a UK-issued EEA family permit
- a UK-issued biometric residence card
You cannot use an Article 10 or Article 20 residence card issued by an EEA member state.
If you’re from a non-EEA country
Your passport (and visa if you have one) will be checked at border control. You’ll usually be asked why you’re coming to the UK. You can use the UK/EEA immigration lanes and the automatic ePassport gates if you’re from:
- Australia
- Canada
- Japan
- New Zealand
- Singapore
- South Korea
- United States
Travelling from within the Common Travel Area (CTA)
The Common Travel Area (CTA) is made up of the UK, Ireland and the Crown Dependencies (Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man).
There are different document requirements if you are travelling to the UK within the CTA.
Business travel to the UK
If you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss Citizen travelling to the UK for a short business trip, you may not need to apply for a visa.
Under the UK’s new points-based immigration system, you can continue to visit the UK without applying for a visa. In most cases you can stay for up to 6 months. You may participate in a wide range of activities including business-related activities such as meetings, events and conferences. You may enter the UK multiple times during that period but you may not live in the UK by means of frequent or successive visits.
As a business visitor, you cannot:
- do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person
- do a work placement or internship
- sell directly to the public or provide goods and services
Read more about visiting the UK on a business trip and check whether you need to apply for a visa to carry out your intended activities.
Check the Visitor Rules and see the full list of business and academic activities you can do as a visitor to the UK.
Read more about what you can do when visiting from Ireland or one of the Crown Dependencies and check whether you need to apply for a visa.
Working in the UK or sending employees to work in the UK
If you require EU, EEA or Swiss citizens to work in the UK for longer than 6 months, they need to apply for a visa. Find out more about working in the UK.
If you employ or intend to employ an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who commutes to the UK, see the guidance for frontier workers.
Trading with the UK
EU business can find out more about trading with the UK.
Commercial goods (merchandise in baggage)
You must tell customs (‘declare’) if you are bringing commercial goods into the UK in your accompanied baggage or small motor vehicle. Commercial goods are things to sell.
You need to make a full customs declaration if you are bringing commercial goods that are any of the following:
- above the total value of £1,500 into Great Britain
- above the total value of £873 into Northern Ireland
- excise, restricted or controlled goods
- weigh above 1,000 kilograms
Check the rules on merchandise in baggage.
Professional qualifications
Find out how to get your EU, EEA or Swiss qualification recognised in the UK.
School travellers entering the UK
Schools in France
You can visit the UK using the France-UK school trip travel information form.
This allows:
- children who are EU, EEA or Swiss citizens to enter with their national identity card instead of a passport
- children who are citizens of other countries to enter without a visa, even if they would normally need one to visit the UK
Schools in other countries
All schoolchildren need a passport to visit the UK.
Children who are citizens of other countries may also need a visa - check if you need a UK visa.
What you can bring into the UK
Read the updated guidance on:
- how you bring horses to and from the UK
- how you bring endangered plants, animals or their products to and from the UK
Bringing your pet to and from the UK
Find out about pet travel to Europe.
Bringing goods into the UK
Some rules have changed when you bring goods for your own use from the EU to the UK. Find out more about bringing goods into the UK.
Controls on cash
Individuals travelling from the EU to the UK with £10,000 or more in cash will need to make a declaration. Find out about taking cash in and out of the UK.
Healthcare in the UK
EEA and Swiss citizens visiting the UK should check the guidance on healthcare for the latest information on access to NHS healthcare.
Driving in the UK
If you have a non-UK licence
Visitors with a non-UK driving licence can drive in the UK. You do not need an international driving permit (IDP).
If your vehicle is not insured in the UK
If you have vehicle insurance issued in the EU, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Serbia or Switzerland, you should carry an insurance green card or other valid proof of insurance.
To be valid, other proof of insurance must be a document issued by the vehicle insurance provider which includes the:
- name of the insurance provider
- number plate or other identifying particulars of the vehicle
- period of insurance cover
Contact your vehicle insurance provider before you travel.
If your vehicle is insured in a country outside the EU, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Serbia or Switzerland, what you’ll need to do will depend on if your country is a member of the green card system.
If your country is a member, you will need to carry a green card.
If your country is not a member, your vehicle will need UK vehicle insurance.
Using your mobile phone in the UK
How much you pay for calls, texts and mobile data in the UK and the EU will depend on your operator. Please check before you travel.
Updates to this page
Last updated 28 December 2023 + show all updates
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Updated the section on school travellers with information on the France-UK school trip travel information form.
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Updated 'School travellers entering the UK' as the List of Travellers scheme is no longer in operation.
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Updated to remove information about travelling to England during coronavirus (COVID-19).
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Updated information on use of ID cards to enter the UK if you're an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen.
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Updated information for Irish citizens travelling to the UK from Ireland or the Crown Dependencies.
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Those with an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen national ID card who have applied to the EU Settlement Scheme will be able to use it to enter the UK whilst they wait for the decision on their application.
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Added information for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens who have applied to the EU Settlement Scheme by 30 June 2021 but not yet received a decision. Added guidance for Gibraltar identity card holders. Added guidance for Irish citizens.
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First published.