Entering the UK
Overview
Your identity document (for example your passport or identity card) will be checked when you arrive at a UK port or airport to make sure you’re allowed to come into the country. It should be valid for the whole of your stay.
You may also need a visa to come into or travel through the UK, depending on your nationality.
Check which documents you’ll need to come to the UK.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) travel rules
You do not need to fill in a passenger locator form to enter the UK. You usually do not need to take any COVID-19 tests. This applies whether you are fully vaccinated or not.
If you’re travelling to England from mainland China
If you’re aged 12 or over, you must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test result to your airline when you leave mainland China. You can take the test up to 2 days before you leave.
You may also need to show proof of your negative test result when you get to border control in England.
You do not need proof of a negative test result if you’re travelling through mainland China without passing through border control. For example, you might not pass through border control if you’re in China on a layover.
Check what proof you’ll need to come to England.
What you can bring with you
What you can bring with you depends on where you’re travelling from. You must declare to customs:
- anything over your duty-free allowance
- banned or restricted goods in the UK
- goods that you plan to sell
- more than €10,000 (or its equivalent) in cash, if you’re coming from outside the EU
You and your baggage may be checked for anything you must declare.