{"id":"https://www.gov.uk/api/uk-border-control.json","content_id":"435fb04f-2b9f-4f44-8b41-2a962e8c46a8","web_url":"https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control","title":"Entering the UK","format":"guide","owning_app":"publisher","in_beta":false,"updated_at":"2016-07-20T13:42:34+01:00","details":{"need_ids":["102820"],"description":"UK border control - passport checks, visas for entering, customs, transiting and layovers","language":"en","video_summary":"","video_url":"","parts":[{"web_url":"https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control/overview","slug":"overview","order":1,"title":"Overview","body":"\u003cp\u003eYour \u003ca href=\"/uk-border-control/before-you-leave-for-the-uk\"\u003epassport or identity card\u003c/a\u003e will be checked when you arrive at a UK port or airport to make sure you\u0026rsquo;re allowed to come into the country. It must be valid for the whole of your stay.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou may also \u003ca href=\"/uk-border-control/before-you-leave-for-the-uk\"\u003eneed a visa\u003c/a\u003e to come into or \u003ca href=\"/uk-border-control/layovers-and-transiting\"\u003etravel through the UK\u003c/a\u003e, depending on your nationality.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv role=\"note\" aria-label=\"Information\" class=\"application-notice info-notice\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere has been no change to the \u003ca href=\"/government/news/statement-the-status-of-eu-nationals-in-the-uk\"\u003erights and status of EU nationals in the UK, and UK nationals in the EU\u003c/a\u003e, as a result of the referendum.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"/duty-free-goods\"\u003eWhat you can bring with you\u003c/a\u003e depends on where you\u0026rsquo;re travelling from. You must declare to customs:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eanything over your \u003ca href=\"/duty-free-goods\"\u003eduty-free allowance\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"/duty-free-goods/banned-and-restricted-goods\"\u003ebanned or restricted goods\u003c/a\u003e in the UK, eg meat and dairy products from most non-EU countries\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003egoods that you plan to sell\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"/bringing-cash-into-uk\"\u003emore than €10,000\u003c/a\u003e (or its equivalent) in cash, if you\u0026rsquo;re coming from outside the EU\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou and \u003ca href=\"/uk-border-control/baggage-checks\"\u003eyour baggage may be checked\u003c/a\u003e for anything you must declare.\u003c/p\u003e\n"},{"web_url":"https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control/before-you-leave-for-the-uk","slug":"before-you-leave-for-the-uk","order":2,"title":"Before you leave for the UK","body":"\u003cp\u003eCheck what documents you\u0026rsquo;ll need to enter the UK.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eYou\u0026rsquo;re from an \u003cabbr title=\"European Economic Area\"\u003eEEA\u003c/abbr\u003e country or Switzerland\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou can enter the UK with either a valid passport or a national identity card issued by a \u003ca href=\"/eu-eea\"\u003e\u003cabbr title=\"European Economic Area\"\u003eEEA\u003c/abbr\u003e country\u003c/a\u003e. It must be valid for the whole of your stay.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eYou\u0026rsquo;re not from an \u003cabbr title=\"European Economic Area\"\u003eEEA\u003c/abbr\u003e country\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou must have a valid passport to enter the UK. It must be valid for the whole of your stay.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou may also need a visa, depending on which country you\u0026rsquo;re from.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCheck if you \u003ca href=\"/check-uk-visa\"\u003eneed a visa to enter the UK\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv role=\"note\" aria-label=\"Help\" class=\"application-notice help-notice\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou may also need a visa if you’re \u003ca href=\"/uk-border-control/transiting-at-a-uk-airport\"\u003e\u0026lsquo;transiting\u0026rsquo; or travelling through the UK\u003c/a\u003e, eg you\u0026rsquo;re changing flights at a UK airport.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eApplying for a visa\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou must \u003ca href=\"/apply-uk-visa\"\u003eapply for your visa\u003c/a\u003e before you arrive in the UK.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eTravelling with children\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou may be asked at the border to prove the relationship between yourself and any children travelling with you, if you don\u0026rsquo;t seem to be the parent, eg if you have a different surname.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou can prove this with:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003ea birth or adoption certificate showing your relationship with the child\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003edivorce or marriage certificates if you\u0026rsquo;re the parent but have a different surname from the child\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003ea letter from the child’s parent giving permission for the child to travel with you and providing contact details, if you\u0026rsquo;re not the parent\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eBefore you board\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYour \u0026lsquo;carrier\u0026rsquo; (eg airline or transport provider) will check your passport and other travel documents. They\u0026rsquo;ll send this information electronically to \u003ca href=\"/government/organisations/border-force\"\u003eBorder Force\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou can \u003ca href=\"/government/publications/ips-privacy-policy\"\u003eask to see the information about you\u003c/a\u003e that\u0026rsquo;s been sent by carriers. You\u0026rsquo;ll have to pay a £10 fee.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n"},{"web_url":"https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control/at-border-control","slug":"at-border-control","order":3,"title":"At border control","body":"\u003cp\u003eYour passport or identity card will be checked.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou must:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003ehave your passport or identity card ready - remove it from a holder or wallet if you use one\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eremove your sunglasses if you\u0026rsquo;re wearing them\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003emove through passport control together if you\u0026rsquo;re in a family\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eArriving by bus or coach\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou have to leave the bus when you arrive at border control.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMake sure you:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eare ready to get off the bus when you arrive\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003ehave your travel documents ready\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRead the \u003ca href=\"/government/publications/school-parties-visiting-the-uk-by-coach\"\u003eguidance for school parties and groups coming to the UK by coach\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eYou\u0026rsquo;re from an \u003cabbr title=\"European Economic Area\"\u003eEEA\u003c/abbr\u003e country and Switzerland\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou can use the \u003ca href=\"/eu-eea\"\u003eEU/\u003cabbr title=\"European Economic Area\"\u003eEEA\u003c/abbr\u003e\u003c/a\u003e channel to get your passport or identity card checked - this is usually faster than the other channels.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou can use automatic ePassport gates at some airports if your passport has a \u0026lsquo;chip\u0026rsquo; on it and you\u0026rsquo;re over 18.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThese gates use facial recognition technology to check your identity against the photo in your passport.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eYou\u0026rsquo;re from a non-\u003cabbr title=\"European Economic Area\"\u003eEEA\u003c/abbr\u003e country\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYour carrier will give you a landing card - fill this in before you arrive at border control.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYour passport, landing card (and visa if you have one) will be checked.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou\u0026rsquo;ll usually be asked why you\u0026rsquo;re coming to the UK.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eKeep documents that show the reason for your visit in your hand luggage, so you can show them if asked, eg your travel itinerary, work permit or university letter.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eRegistered travellers\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you\u0026rsquo;ve joined the \u003ca href=\"/registered-traveller\"\u003eRegistered Traveller Service\u003c/a\u003e, you can use the:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eUK/\u003cabbr title=\"European Economic Area\"\u003eEEA\u003c/abbr\u003e channels\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eautomatic ePassport gates if your passport has a \u0026lsquo;chip\u0026rsquo;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou won\u0026rsquo;t need a landing card at some UK airports.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eTravelling with a UK biometric visa\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou\u0026rsquo;ll have a biometric visa if your fingerprints were taken when you applied.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYour fingerprints will be checked at border control - they’ll be checked against the ones stored on your visa document.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eIf you’re refused entry\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou\u0026rsquo;ll be told in writing:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003ewhy you\u0026rsquo;ve been refused entry to the UK\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eif you can appeal against the decision\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003ewhen you will be removed from the UK\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou\u0026rsquo;ll usually have to leave the UK immediately.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou 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.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n"},{"web_url":"https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control/baggage-checks","slug":"baggage-checks","order":4,"title":"Baggage checks","body":"\u003cp\u003eYou must co-operate if you\u0026rsquo;re stopped and asked about your baggage.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv role=\"note\" aria-label=\"Help\" class=\"application-notice help-notice\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you break \u003ca href=\"/duty-free-goods\"\u003ethe rules\u003c/a\u003e your goods and any vehicle you use to transport them may be \u003ca href=\"/customs-seizures\"\u003eseized\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eIf your baggage is checked\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYour baggage is usually checked in front of you.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCustoms officers keep a record of:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eall baggage they open and check\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eany damage to your baggage or belongings during a check\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIf your things are damaged\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou may be offered compensation if your baggage or belongings are damaged during a customs check.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eMaking a complaint\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou can:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eask for the duty manager if you want to complain about a customs check while you\u0026rsquo;re at the border\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"/government/organisations/border-force/about/complaints-procedure\"\u003esend your complaint to Border Force\u003c/a\u003e if you want to complain later\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n"},{"web_url":"https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control/layovers-and-transiting","slug":"layovers-and-transiting","order":5,"title":"Layovers and transiting through a UK airport","body":"\u003cp\u003ePassing through a UK airport while on the way to another country is called \u0026lsquo;transiting\u0026rsquo;. Some travellers call it a \u0026lsquo;layover\u0026rsquo;.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThere are 2 types of transiting:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u0026lsquo;airside\u0026rsquo; - you don\u0026rsquo;t pass through UK border control before you leave on your connecting journey\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u0026lsquo;landside\u0026rsquo; - 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)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFind out \u003ca href=\"/check-uk-visa\"\u003eif you need a UK visa\u003c/a\u003e for your layover.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n"}]},"_response_info":{"status":"ok"}}