UK 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 get 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: