Entering the UK

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Before you leave for the UK

Check what documents you’ll need to enter the UK.

You’re a British citizen

You can enter the UK with one of the following identity documents:

  • a valid UK passport
  • a Gibraltar identity card

If you’re travelling from Ireland to Northern Ireland

You do not need any documents to enter.

If you’re travelling from Ireland to England, Scotland or Wales

A Border Force officer may ask to see proof of your identity and nationality. You can use any documents that show your identity or nationality, for example:

  • a passport (current or expired)
  • proof that you’ve been given British citizenship - such as a UK citizenship certificate
  • a Gibraltar identity card (current or expired)
  • a copy of your passport or Gibraltar identity card that clearly shows your identity and nationality

You can use more than one document - for example, a driving licence with a citizenship certificate. If you’re using an expired passport or identity card, it must be recent enough that it’s clear that it’s yours.

You’re from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

You can enter the UK with one of the following identity documents:

  • a passport
  • an Irish passport card

You may also be able to enter the UK with a national identity card issued by an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein. Check before you travel.

Your identity document should be valid for the whole of your stay.

You may also need a visa if you’re planning to stay in the UK - for example, to work or study.

Check if you need a visa to come to the UK.

If you’re travelling with a passport or national identity card, it should be registered on your UK Visas and Immigration account if any of the following are true:

  • you have settled or pre-settled status
  • you used the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document when applying for a visa

You may be delayed at the border if your passport or national identity card is not registered on your UK Visas and Immigration account.

Check if you can travel with a national identity card

You can only use a national identity card from an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein to enter the UK if one or more of the following is true:

If you’re waiting for a decision on your application for settled or pre-settled status

You can 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

You may also need to show evidence that you were living in the UK by 31 December 2020.

If you have not applied for settled or pre-settled status but are planning to

You must enter the UK with either:

Your family permit or visa could be issued by the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man.

Check if you need a visa to come to the UK.

If you’re travelling from Ireland to Northern Ireland

You do not need any documents to enter Northern Ireland.

You may need a visa if you’re planning to stay in the UK - for example, to work or study.

If you’re travelling from Ireland to England, Scotland or Wales

A Border Force officer may ask to see proof of your identity and nationality.

If you’re an Irish citizen, you can use any documents that show your identity or nationality. For example:

  • a passport (current or expired)
  • proof that you’ve been given Irish citizenship - such as a certificate of naturalisation
  • an Irish passport card (current or expired)
  • a copy of your passport or Irish passport card that clearly shows your identity and nationality

You can use more than one document - for example, a driving licence with a certificate of naturalisation. If you’re using an expired passport or Irish passport card, it must be recent enough that it’s clear that it’s yours.

If you’re not an Irish citizen, you’ll need to use either a passport or a national identity card, if you’re eligible.

Find out more about travelling to the UK from Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man.

You’re from outside the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

You must have a valid passport to enter the UK. It should be valid for the whole of your stay.

You may also need a visa, depending on which country you’re from and the reason for your stay.

Check if you need a visa to come to the UK. You must have your visa before you travel to the UK.

You may also need a visa if you’re ‘transiting’ or travelling through the UK, for example you’re changing flights at a UK airport.

If you need a visa, you’ll need to show your airline or transport provider (your ‘carrier’) either:

  • a valid visa
  • a ‘visa exemption document’ such as a UK-issued biometric residence card or EU Settlement Scheme family permit

Before you travel, check that your visa is valid and will not expire before you enter the UK.

If you have an eVisa, sign in to your UKVI account to check that it’s linked to your current passport or travel document.

If you have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme

If you would usually need a visa to come to the UK, you’ll need to show your carrier one of the following visa exemption documents:

  • a UK-issued biometric residence card
  • an EU Settlement Scheme family permit
  • an EU Settlement Scheme travel permit

If you do not have an exemption document, you may be able to prove your immigration status online using the view and prove service. Check if your carrier allows this before you travel.

If you have a pending application to the EU Settlement Scheme you must have a valid visa or visa exemption document to travel to the UK.

If you’re travelling from Ireland

You do not need any documents to travel from Ireland to Northern Ireland. You may need a visa if you’re planning to stay in the UK - for example, to work or study.

If you’re travelling from Ireland to England, Scotland or Wales, a Border Force officer may ask to see your passport. It should be valid for the whole of your stay.

Find out more about travelling to the UK from Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man.

If you’re travelling from Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man

You only need to show your documents if you’re stopped by a Border Force officer. They may ask to see proof of your:

  • identity
  • permission to come to the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, if you need it - for example, a visa, biometric residence permit (BRP) or work permit

You do not have to use a passport, Irish passport card or identity card to prove your identity. You can use other documents instead - for example, a driving licence or armed forces identity card.

Find out more about travelling to the UK from Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man.

Travelling with children

You may be asked at the border to prove the relationship between yourself and any children travelling with you, if you do not seem to be the parent, for example if you have a different surname.

You can prove this with:

  • a birth or adoption certificate showing your relationship with the child
  • divorce or marriage certificates if you’re the parent but have a different surname from the child
  • a letter from the child’s parent giving permission for the child to travel with you and providing contact details, if you’re not the parent

Before you board

Your carrier will check your passport and other travel documents. They’ll send this information electronically to Border Force.

You can ask to see the information about you that’s been sent by carriers.

View a printable version of the whole guide

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