Guidance

If you're not from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland

Updated 6 February 2026

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

You must enter the UK with your passport or travel document. Your passport should be registered on your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. Sign into your UKVI account to check that your eVisa (your pre-settled or settled status) is linked to your current passport or travel document to avoid being delayed when your documents are checked while travelling. You’ll still need to carry your current passport or travel document with you.

You should also:

• get a share code to prove your immigration status to your carrier (such as an airline or ferry operator) before you travel - a share code is valid for 90 days
• carry any valid physical immigration document to prove to your carrier that you have permission to travel to the UK, for example a UK-issued biometric residence card, an EU Settlement Scheme family permit or EU Settlement Scheme travel permit

Expired biometric residence cards (BRCs) can no longer be used to travel to the UK. You need an eVisa to demonstrate your permission to travel to the UK.

You do not need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA).

If you have applied to the EU Settlement Scheme but are waiting for a decision

If you were living in UK by 31 December 2020

You must enter the UK with your passport or travel document.

If you are a national of a country that can get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), you do not need an ETA to travel to the UK.

Your passport should be linked to your UKVI account. This means your carrier (such as an airline or ferry operator) can confirm you have permission to travel and allow you to board.

If you are unable to update your UKVI account, you should get a share code and provide this to your carrier.

You may be asked by a Border Force officer to show evidence that you qualify for status under the EU Settlement Scheme, including evidence that you were continuously resident in the UK by 31 December 2020 and have remained so since. Without such evidence, entry to the UK may be refused.

In addition, you may be asked for evidence of the family relationship on which you rely in your EU Settlement Scheme application (for example, an in-date or expired UK-issued biometric residence card, or EEA or EU Settlement Scheme family permit, showing you have previously been accepted as the family member of the relevant EU, other EEA or Swiss citizen who was living in the UK by 31 December 2020, or other credible evidence of that family relationship). Without such evidence, entry to the UK may be refused.

If you are a national of a country requiring UK entry clearance, you must have one of these to travel to the UK:

• a visa
• a visa exemption document - for example, a valid biometric residence card issued by the UK, or a valid EU Settlement Scheme family permit

A certificate of application to the EU Settlement Scheme is not evidence of a visa or visa exemption document.

If you were not living in the UK by 31 December 2020 and have applied to the EU Settlement Scheme as a joining family member

You must enter the UK with your passport or travel document. Your passport should be registered on your UKVI account.

If you are a national of a country that can get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), you do not need one to travel to the UK.

Your passport should be registered on your UKVI account. This means your carrier (such as an airline or ferry operator) will be able to confirm that you have permission to travel.

If you are unable to update your UKVI account, you should get a share code and provide this to your carrier.

You may be asked by a Border Force officer to show that you hold an in-date EU Settlement Scheme family permit involving the same sponsor. If that family permit has expired, you can still rely on it for this purpose where you are awaiting a Home Office decision on your EU Settlement Scheme application (but not where that application has been refused and you are awaiting the outcome of an administrative review or appeal). Otherwise, without such evidence, entry to the UK may be refused.

If you are a national of a country requiring UK entry clearance, you must have one of these to travel to the UK:

• a visa
• a visa exemption document - for example, a valid biometric residence card issued by the UK, or a valid EU Settlement Scheme family permit

A certificate of application to the EU Settlement Scheme is not evidence of a visa or visa exemption document.

If you have applied to the EU Settlement Scheme while in the UK as a visitor and you leave the UK, you may not be permitted to re-enter the UK pending the outcome of your application, including any appeal.

If you have an EU Settlement Scheme family permit

You must enter the UK with your passport or travel document.

You may be delayed when your documents are checked if your passport is not linked to your UKVI account. You should  carry any valid physical immigration document, if available, to prove to your carrier that you have permission to travel to the UK, for example a valid EU Settlement Scheme family permit.

If you intend to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme or for an EU Settlement Scheme family permit but have not yet done so

You should apply to the EU Settlement Scheme or for an EU Settlement Scheme family permit from outside the UK if you’re eligible.

Otherwise, you should check if you need a visa.

If you have a document issued under the EEA Regulations 2016, such as a registration certificate or a document certifying permanent residence, these documents are no longer valid. You should apply even if your document has not expired.

The deadline for most people to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme was 30 June 2021. You can still apply after the deadline if you can show ‘reasonable grounds’ for your delay in applying, and provide supporting evidence.