Before you leave for the UK

Check what documents you’ll need to enter the UK. You’re from an EEA country or Switzerland You can enter the UK with either a valid passport or national identity card issued by an EEA country . You’re not from an EEA country 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. Check if you need a visa to enter 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. Applying for a visa You must apply for your visa before you arrive in the UK. 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’ (for example airline or transport provider) 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. You’ll have to pay a £10 fee.

Your passport or identity card will be checked. You must: have your passport or identity card ready - remove it from a holder or wallet if you use one remove your sunglasses if you’re wearing them move through passport control together if you’re in a family Arriving by bus or coach You have to leave the bus when you arrive at border control. Make sure you: are ready to get off the bus when you arrive have your travel documents ready Read the guidance for school parties and groups coming to the UK by coach . If you’re from an EEA country or Switzerland You can use the EU/ EEA channel to get your passport or identity card checked - this is usually faster than the other channels. The EEA includes the EU countries and also Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. You can use automatic ePassport gates at some airports if your passport has a ‘chip’ on it and you’re 12 or over. If you’re between 12 and 17, you must be accompanied by an adult. These gates use facial recognition technology to check your identity against the photo in your passport. If you’re from a non- EEA country You no longer have to fill in a landing card. 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 may be able to use the automatic ePassport gates if you’re from: Australia Canada Japan New Zealand Singapore South Korea United States You must also: be aged 12 or over (if you’re between 12 and 17, you must be accompanied by an adult) have a valid visa or a biometric residence permit have a valid passport for the duration of your stay have a passport with a ‘chip’ on it You should follow the UK/ EEA immigration lanes at border control. When you must see a border control officer You must see a border control officer and get a stamp in your passport if you’re from a non- EEA country and entering the UK: on a short term study visa up to 6 months with a Tier 5 Creative or Sporting certificate of sponsorship for up to 3 months (and you want to enter without a visa) on a permitted paid engagement to accompany or join your EEA family member You cannot get a stamp if you use the ePassport gates. Without a stamp you will not be allowed to carry out the activities you came to the UK to do. Registered Travellers If you’ve joined the Registered Traveller service , you can use the: UK/ EEA channels automatic ePassport gates if your passport has a ‘chip’ Travelling with a UK biometric residence permit You’ll have a biometric residence permit if your fingerprints were taken when you applied. Your fingerprints will be checked at border control - they’ll be checked against the ones stored on your visa document. If you’re joining or travelling with an EEA or Swiss family member You should see a border control officer instead of using the automatic ePassport gates. If you’re refused entry You’ll be told in writing: why you’ve been refused entry to the UK if you can appeal against the decision when you will be removed from the UK You’ll usually have to leave the UK immediately. You may be allowed into the UK temporarily (usually for up to a week) but your passport will be taken from you and you must report to immigration officers at set times.

You must co-operate if you’re stopped and asked about your baggage. If you break the rules your goods and any vehicle you use to transport them may be seized . If your baggage is checked Your baggage is usually checked in front of you. Customs officers keep a record of: all baggage they open and check any damage to your baggage or belongings during a check If your things are damaged You may be offered compensation if your baggage or belongings are damaged during a customs check. Making a complaint You can: ask for the duty manager if you want to complain about a customs check while you’re at the border send your complaint to Border Force if you want to complain later

Layovers and transiting through a UK airport

Passing through a UK airport while on the way to another country is called ‘transiting’. Some travellers call it a ‘layover’. There are 2 types of transiting: ‘airside’ - you do not pass through UK border control before you leave on your connecting journey ‘landside’ - you do pass through UK border control, but come back through it and leave the UK within a short amount of time (usually 24 hours) Find out if you need a UK visa for your layover.

Entering the UK

Overview

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.

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.

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Entering the UK

Overview

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Entering the UK

Overview

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