Entering the UK

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At border control

You鈥檒l need to show your identity document, such as your passport or national identity card.

You must:

  • have your identity document ready - remove it from a holder or wallet if you use one
  • remove your face covering or sunglasses, if you鈥檙e wearing them
  • move through passport control together if you鈥檙e in a family

If you鈥檙e travelling from Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you鈥檒l only need to show your documents if you鈥檙e stopped by a Border Force officer. Check which documents you鈥檒l need to come to the UK.

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鈥檙e a British citizen

You can use the UK/EEA channel to get your passport or Gibraltar identity card checked - this is usually faster than the other channels.

You can use automatic ePassport gates at some airports if your passport has a 鈥榗hip鈥� on it and you鈥檙e 10 or over. If you鈥檙e between 10 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鈥檙e from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

You can use the UK/EEA channel to get your passport, Irish passport card or national identity card checked - this is usually faster than the other channels.

Your passport or national identity card should be registered on your UK Visas and Immigration account if either of the following are true:

  • you have settled or pre-settled status
  • you used the 鈥楿K Immigration: ID Check鈥� 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.

You can use automatic ePassport gates at some airports if your passport has a 鈥榗hip鈥� on it and you鈥檙e 10 or over. If you鈥檙e between 10 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鈥檙e from outside the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

Your passport (and visa if you have one) will be checked at border control. You鈥檒l usually be asked why you鈥檙e coming to the UK.

You can use the UK/EEA immigration lanes and the automatic ePassport gates if you鈥檙e from:

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Japan
  • New Zealand
  • Singapore
  • South Korea
  • United States

If you have an eVisa, sign in to your UKVI account to check that it鈥檚 linked to your current passport or travel document before you travel.

When you must not use an ePassport gate

You must see a Border Force officer and get a stamp in your passport if you are entering the UK with a Temporary Work - Creative Worker certificate of sponsorship for up to 3 months (and you want to enter without a visa).

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

You can use the UK/EEA immigration lanes and the automatic ePassport gates.

Travelling with an eVisa or UK biometric residence permit (BRP)

Your fingerprints may be checked at border control. They鈥檒l be checked against the ones on your eVisa or BRP.

If you鈥檙e refused entry

You鈥檒l be told in writing:

  • why you鈥檝e been refused entry to the UK
  • if you can appeal against the decision
  • when you will be removed from the UK

You鈥檒l 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.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Part of Study in the UK on a Student visa

  1. Step 1 Check if this visa is right for you

    You can apply for a Student visa if you鈥檙e 16 or over and want to study on a further or higher education course in the UK.

    1. Check what you can and cannot do on this visa
    2. Check what courses you can study on this visa
    3. Check if you can bring your partner or children ('dependants') with you

    If you're under 18 and you want to study at an independent school in the UK, you may be eligible for a Child Student visa instead.

    1. Check which visas you're eligible for

  2. Step 2 Prepare the evidence you need

    1. Check what documents you can use as evidence
    2. Prove your knowledge of the English language
    3. Check if you need a tuberculosis (TB) test

    If you're doing a masters degree or above, you may need to apply for the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate.

    1. Check if you need to apply for ATAS

  3. Step 3 Apply from outside the UK

    1. Apply from outside the UK 拢490

    You'll need to prove your identity as part of your application.

    You'll usually get a decision within 3 weeks.

    1. Find out if you can pay more to get a faster decision

  4. or Apply from inside the UK

    1. Apply to extend if you're already in the UK on Student visa (or a Tier 4 (General) visa) 拢490
    2. Apply to switch to this visa if you're already in the UK 拢490

    You'll need to prove your identity as part of your application.

    You'll usually get a decision within 8 weeks.

    1. You may be able to pay more to get a faster decision you鈥檒l be told if you can when you apply

  5. Step 4 Get access to your eVisa

    If your application is successful, you'll get an eVisa. This is an online record of your immigration status.

    1. Get access to your eVisa by setting up a UKVI account.

    You鈥檒l need to link your travel document to your UKVI account. This should be the travel document you use to come to the UK.

    1. You may have to prove your immigration status when you travel to the UK

  6. Step 5 Check what you can bring into the UK with you

    1. Check what you can bring in your hand luggage
    2. Check what to do if you're bringing cash with you
    3. Check what goods you can bring with you
    4. Check what food, animals or plants you can bring into the UK

  7. Step 6 Check what you need to show at the UK border

    1. You are currently viewing: Check what you need to show at the UK border

  8. Step 7 After you arrive in the UK

    1. Find out how to get your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) if you were told you鈥檇 get one when you applied

    You might be able to extend your visa to stay longer in the UK.

    1. Check if you can extend your visa

    If you break the conditions of your visa you may not be able to come to the UK again.