Customs & immigration
Passports & visas
Passports
On arrival in the United Kingdom, you must show a valid national passport or other equivalent official document that satisfactorily establishes your identity and nationality.
Visas
You may need to acquire a visa – entry clearance certificate – before you travel to Britain, if you are not a British citizen or a citizen of one the European Economic Area (EEA) countries.
Nationals from some countries will need a visa whatever the reason they are travelling to the UK, while nationals from other countries may only need a visa for a particular reason; for example, to marry and live with a British citizen.
If you have a valid passport and UK visa, you will normally be granted entry to the UK. When you arrive in Britain your visa tells UK immigrations:
- The reason you are travelling to Britain
- How long you are allowed to stay
- The last day you are allowed entry
Entry clearance follows strict rules and procedures. For full details about visa requirements and application procedures, visit UK Visas (www.ukvisas.gov.uk).