Travelling to the UK

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Check what documents you will need to enter the UK.

 

If you are a British citizen

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

 

• a passport

• a Gibraltar identity card

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If you are travelling from Ireland to England, Scotland or Wales

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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

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

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

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You only need to show your documents if you are 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.

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If you are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

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

 

• a passport

• an Irish passport card

• a national identity card issued by an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, if you are eligible to use one

 

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

 

If you are 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:

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• 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.

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Travelling with a national identity card

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You cannot use a national identity card from an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein 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

 

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

 

If you are 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 have applied for settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man’s settlement schemes

• you have been issued with confirmation your application is valid

• you are 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:

 

• an EU Settlement Scheme family permit

• a visa

 

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 are from outside the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

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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 are from.

 

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 are ‘transiting’ or travelling through the UK, for example you are changing flights at a UK airport.

 

 

If you need a visa, you will 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 settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme

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If you would usually need a visa to come to the UK, you will 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.

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