How to Travel to the UK

Travel to the UK after Brexit is now more restrictive than it has been in the past decades. There are now several UK entry requirements that you must fulfill, with some slight differences depending on the purpose of your travel and the duration of your stay in the UK. 

In this article, we cover how you can meet the entry requirements by submitting the correct documentation, getting the right insurance, avoiding restricted items, and more. We then cover how getting help from UK-based immigration lawyers, such as Immigration Advice Service, can make the process of entering the UK easier. 

Documents Needed To Enter the UK From the EU

When you come into the UK, you and your family will need to present a range of documents to the Border Force official. First, and most commonly, a valid passport from your home country is required. This will need to be valid for the whole of your stay in the UK. Eligible individuals can use either an Irish passport card or a national identity card from their home country. The following circumstances will allow you to use a national identity card: 

• You have pre-settled or settled status in the UK from the EU Settlement Scheme. This also applies to the Isle of Man, Guernsey, or Jersey settlement schemes, and to EU Settlement Scheme family permits.
• You have a Frontier Worker permit.
• You are an S2 Healthcare Visitor.

People awaiting a result from their settled or pre-settled status application can also use an EEA or Swiss national identity card, provided they have confirmation of their application and are not joining a family member.

If you and your family are visiting the UK, you will not need a visa. However, if you wish to stay in the UK for six months or longer, or if you will be engaging in activities beyond a simple visit, such as work, you will need to obtain a UK visa.

It may also be a good idea to travel with documents that establish your relationship to any children accompanying you. This can include a birth or adoption certificate, as well as divorce and marriage certificates, particularly if you have a different surname from your child. If you are travelling with a child who is not your son or daughter, you should get a permission letter from the child’s parent. 

Restricted Items When Entering the UK

To protect the safety of people in the UK, there are several items that are prohibited or restricted. There will be consequences if you are caught with the following at the border and have not declared them at customs. You may need to pay additional tax and duty on goods over allowances:

• Goods over the duty-free allowance.
• Goods that you want to sell in the UK.
• 10,000 euros or more in cash.

There are also a number of banned goods that you can never bring into the UK. These include the following:

• Controlled and illegal drugs.
• Rough diamonds.
• Endangered plants and animals.
• Weapons, such as flick knives, and self-defence sprays.
• Books, magazines, films, and DVDs that are considered indecent and obscene. 
• Meat and dairy products from outside the EU.

 

Other items, including ammunition, explosives, and firearms, can only be brought into the UK if you have the correct licences. 

Travel Insurance

As with any trip abroad, it is advisable to obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before arriving in the UK. This is not an entry requirement, but it will stop you from having to foot the bill if something goes wrong.

The UK Government also requires you to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for yourself and any dependants joining you if you are staying in the UK for longer than six months. This charge means that you can access free at the point of use healthcare through the National Health Service. 

COVID-19 Restrictions

The UK lifted all its COVID-19 travel restrictions on 18 March 2022. This means that you don’t need to worry about self-isolation, COVID tests, and more, whether you are vaccinated or unvaccinated. There are also no more quarantine rules to follow.

However, it is still advisable to travel with a mask, particularly if you suffer from underlying health problems or have been experiencing COVID-like symptoms. 

How Can IAS Help?

It is of utmost importance to fulfill all the entry requirements as an EU citizen travelling to the UK. Failure to do so could result in your detention or deportation to your home country. Immigration lawyers like Immigration Advice Service are particularly useful if you are coming to the UK for longer than six months and need a visa.

Our immigration experts can help you understand which visa is most suited to your circumstances. We can then assist you in gathering and validating the necessary documentation and submitting your application. Our close ties with the UK Home Office will then be invaluable in helping you understand the progress of your application. Our support doesn’t end once you have entered the UK. After you have satisfied residency requirements, we can help you to get indefinite leave to remain and, eventually, citizenship.

Visit our website to learn more about the services that we offer. You can then get in touch to be connected with an immigration adviser who can begin the process of fulfilling your dreams of travelling or moving to the UK.