Visa policy of the United Kingdom
The visa policy of the United Kingdom is the policy by which Her Majesty's Government determines visa requirements for visitors to the United Kingdom, and the Crown dependencies of Guernsey, Jersey, and the Isle of Man. Visitors must obtain a visa unless they are exempt.
The UK is no longer a member of the European Union, but is in a transition period until at least 31 December 2020 implementing EU law, including the right to freedom of movement. It operates its own visa policy and maintains the Common Travel Area with the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
British Overseas Territories generally apply their own similar but legally distinct visa policies.
Visa policy map
The following individuals can enter the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man without a visa:As of right
- British nationals:
- *British citizens
- *British Overseas Territories citizens deriving their statuses from Gibraltar
- *British subjects with the right of abode in the United Kingdom
- Citizens of Commonwealth countries who have the right of abode in the United Kingdom under the Immigration Act 1971
- Irish citizens under the Common Travel Area arrangements
- All European Union citizens
- Citizens of EFTA member states
Non-visa nationals
| Rules for non-visa nationals |
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Non-visa nationals arriving in the UK from outside the Common Travel Area receive a passport stamp in their travel document at the UK Border Force entry checkpoint with the observation 'Leave to enter for six months: employment and recourse to public funds prohibited'. However, non-visa nationals who use the ePassport gates do not receive a passport stamp.
Similarly, non-visa nationals who entered the UK using the previous Iris Recognition Immigration System did not receive a passport stamp.
Instead of endorsing a passport stamp, UK Border Force officers are permitted by law to grant leave to enter by fax or e-mail, and may also grant leave to enter orally if a non-visa national arriving in the UK from outside the Common Travel Area seeks to stay as a visitor for up to 6 months.
Starting from 20 May 2019, Australian, Canadian, Japanese, New Zealand, Singaporean, South Korean and United States citizens who enter the UK as a visitor and are granted leave to enter for 6 months do not receive a passport stamp, regardless of whether they use an ePassport gate or a staffed counter. However, citizens of the these countries who enter the UK without a visa as a short-term student, on a permitted paid engagement, with a Tier 5 Certificate of Sponsorship, or to accompany or join an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen family member are not eligible to use the ePassport gates and must use a staffed counter, where they will receive a passport stamp.
In the case of general aviation flights arriving in the UK from outside the Common Travel Area, travellers may not be inspected by the UK Border Force on arrival and may be 'remotely cleared' instead. In this case, although leave to enter is granted to a non-visa national, no passport stamp is received.
All travellers arriving in the UK directly from the Republic of Ireland are not subject to routine checks by the UK Border Force on arrival in the UK. By virtue of the Immigration Order 1972, non-visa nationals are automatically deemed to receive leave to remain in the UK for 3 months and are not permitted to engage in gainful employment during this period. In this situation, no passport stamp is received upon entry to the UK.
Similarly, all persons travelling between the UK and the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are not subject to routine immigration checks and no passport stamps are endorsed. By virtue of Schedule 4 to the Immigration Act 1971, any leave to enter that is granted by the Crown Dependencies has effect as if the leave to enter had been given by the UK under the same conditions and for the same period of time.
All travellers arriving in the Crown Dependencies directly from the Republic of Ireland are not subject to routine immigration checks and do not receive a passport stamp on arrival. Non-visa nationals are automatically deemed to receive leave to enter for 3 months and are not permitted to engage in gainful employment during this period.
;Electronic visa waiver
Citizens of the following countries can obtain an electronic visa waiver online:
;School pupils resident in the European Economic Area and Switzerland
| Rules for the school pupils resident in the European Economic Area and Switzerland |
School pupils who fulfil all of the following conditions can enter the UK without a visa:
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| Additional exemptions for Gibraltar |
Visa nationals who fulfill one of the following criteria can enter Gibraltar without a visa:
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Citizens of the following countries can travel to the UK without a visa if they hold a valid Irish visa endorsed with BIVS:
| Rules for Irish visa holders |
| To be eligible for visa-free travel, applicants for Irish visas must apply at a UK/Irish visa application centre in India or China, and first clear immigration in Ireland before arriving in the UK. Holders of BIVS visas issued by Ireland are only allowed to travel directly from Ireland to the UK and not from other countries, unless transiting in the UK on their ways to Ireland. The length of stay in the UK is no longer than the remaining period of validity of the person’s current permission to remain in Ireland. A UK transit visa is not required if the person is transiting through the UK to Ireland by air and arrives in Ireland no later than 23:59 on the day after his or her arrival in the UK. The scheme might be expanded for all visa requiring nationals in the future. |
;Non-ordinary passport holders
Holders of diplomatic or service category passports of the following countries do not require a visa:
D — diplomatic passports
Sp — special passports
S — service passports
S* — service passports and a printed Electronic Visa Waiver
PA — public affairs passports
1 – only for accompanying a Minister or above for the purpose of an official visit
Visa waiver also applies to holders of United Nations laissez-passer when they travel to the United Kingdom on official business.
| Date of visa changes |
;Visa exemption: Unknown: Andorra, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania and Vatican Antigua and Barbuda, Australian, Bahamian, Barbadian, Belizean, Botswana, Bruneian, Canadian, Cypriot, Dominica, East Timorese, Grenadian, Irish, Kiribati, Malaysian, Maltese, Marshallese, Micronesian, Namibian, New Zealand, Nauruan, Palauan, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucian, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoan, Seychellois, Singaporean, Solomon Islands, Tongan, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvaluan and Vanuatuan citizens have never needed a visa to gain access to the United Kingdom
21 May 1938: Germany
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Transit
There are two types of transit through the United Kingdom under the United Kingdom Transit Rules — airside transit and landside transit. The Transit Without Visa facility for visa requiring nationals was abolished, effective 1 December 2014, and replaced with United Kingdom Transit Rules. Notwithstanding the lists below, in general, even persons from 'Direct Airside transit visa-exempt nationalities' require a transit visa if transiting though the UK to other parts of the Common Travel Area including Ireland.;Airside transit
- available only at London Heathrow Airport, Gatwick Airport and Manchester Airport.
- available only to those passengers arriving and departing by air to an international destination other than Ireland on the same day.
- available only to those passengers not leaving the airside zone of the airport and not passing through immigration control.
- concerns those passengers that would normally require a visitor visa to enter the United Kingdom but who either hold a Direct Airside Transit visa, a passport of a transit visa exempt country or who hold direct airside transit visa exemption documents.
- available only to those passengers arriving and departing by air by 23:59 the next day who require passing through immigration control and leaving the airport building only for transit purposes.
- concerns those passengers that would normally require a visitor visa to enter the United Kingdom but who hold a Visitor in Transit visa or landside visa exemption documents.
;Direct Airside transit visa required
;Direct Airside Transit visa exemption documents
The exemption applies where travellers:
- arrive and depart by air, and
- the onward flight must be confirmed, and must depart the same day, and
- have proper documentation for their destination, and
- fulfil any one of the below conditions:
- have a valid visa for Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the US, whether or not travelling to or from those countries, or
- have a valid Australian or New Zealand residence visa; or
- have a valid Canadian permanent resident card issued on or after 28 June 2002; or
- have a valid uniform format residence permit issued by an EEA state under Council Regulation number 1030/2002; or
- have a valid Irish biometric visa endorsed BC or BC BIVS; or
- have a valid uniform format category D visa for entry to a state in the European Economic Area ; or
- have a valid US I-551 permanent resident card issued on or after 21 April 1998; or
- have an expired I-551 permanent resident card issued on or after 21 April 1998, accompanied by an I-797 extension letter; or
- have a standalone US Immigration Form 155A/155B attached to an envelope; or
- have a valid Schengen Approved destination Scheme group tourism visa where the holder is travelling to the country that issued it or holds a valid airline ticket from the Schengen area, provided the holder can demonstrate they entered there no more than 30 days previously on the basis of a valid Schengen ADS visa;
;Visitor in Transit visa exemption documents
The exemption applies where travellers:
- arrive and depart by air, and
- the onward flight must be confirmed, and must depart by 23:59 the following day, and
- have proper documentation for their destination, and
- fulfil any one of the below conditions:
- have a valid entry visa for Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the US, and a valid airline ticket for travel via the UK, as part of a reasonable journey to or from one of those countries, or
- have a valid airline ticket for travel via the UK as part of a reasonable journey from Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the US, if they are transiting the UK no more than 6 months after the date when they last entered Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the US with a valid entry visa for that country; or
- have a valid Australian or New Zealand residence visa; or
- have a valid Canadian permanent resident card issued on or after 28 June 2002; or
- have a valid uniform format residence permit issued by an EEA state under Council Regulation number 1030/2002; or
- have a valid Irish biometric visa endorsed BC or BC BIVS; or
- have a valid uniform format category D visa for entry to a state in the European Economic Area ; or
- have a valid US I-551 permanent resident card issued on or after 21 April 1998; or
- have an expired I-551 permanent resident card issued on or after 21 April 1998, accompanied by an I-797 extension letter; or
- have a standalone US Immigration Form 155A/155B attached to an envelope;
Obtaining an entry visa
Visitors entering the UK, the Channel Islands and/or the Isle of Man who do not qualify for one of the visa exemptions listed above have to apply for a visa in advance through the UK Visas and Immigration at a visa application centre.All visitors must apply by registering an online account, fill in the application form, pay the fee and attend an appointment at a visa application centre.
A visitor's visa for a single stay or multiple stays of up to 6 months costs £95. A multiple-entry visitor's visa valid for 2 years costs £361, 5 years £655, and 10 years £822. Special provisions are made for Chinese citizens as they are eligible for a 2-year, multiple-entry visitor's visa at a cost of £95.
Family members of EU, EEA and Swiss citizens who are not covered by one of the visa exemptions above can apply for an EEA Family Permit free of charge.
Visitors applying for most types of UK visas are required to submit biometric identifiers as part of the visa application process. However, diplomats, foreign government ministers and officials and members of Commonwealth Forces are exempt from the requirement to submit biometric identifiers. Applicants who have obtained a new passport and are merely requesting a transfer of their visa vignette from their old passport to their new passport are not required to re-submit biometric identifiers. In addition, applicants who are travelling directly to the Channel Islands or Gibraltar without passing through the UK or the Isle of Man are exempt from providing biometric information. Children must be accompanied by an adult when their biometric identifiers are taken. Biometric identifiers may be shared with foreign governments. Biometric identifiers are destroyed 10 years after the last date a person's fingerprints and digital facial image were captured.
Most visa applications are decided within 3 weeks.
Applicants resident in the following countries and territories who wish to enter the UK for 6 months or more are required to be tested for tuberculosis as part of the visa application process:
After a person has successfully obtained a UK visa, if they subsequently obtain a new passport, but the UK visa in their old passport still has remaining validity, they are not required to have the UK visa vignette affixed in the old passport transferred to the new passport, but must be able to present both the new and old passports at passport control when entering the UK.
If a person who has successfully obtained a UK visa subsequently loses the passport in which the visa vignette is affixed, they have to pay the original visa fee in full again and may be required to show that their circumstances have not changed when applying for a replacement visa. However, a new 'confirmation of acceptance for studies' /'certificate of sponsorship' is not required when applying for a replacement Tier 4/Tier 2 visa.
Visa types
These are correct as of April 2015.Visitor visas
- Standard Visitor visa
- Marriage Visitor visa
- Permitted Paid Engagement visa
- Parent of a Tier 4 child visa
- Visa to pass through the UK in transit
- *Direct Airside Transit visa
- *Visitor in Transit visa
Work visas
- Tier 1 visa
- *Entrepreneur
- *Exceptional Talent
- *General
- *Graduate Entrepreneur
- *Investor
- Tier 2 visa
- *General
- *Intra-company Transfer
- *Minister of Religion
- *Sportsperson
- Tier 5 visa
- *Charity Worker
- *Creative and sporting
- *Government Authorised Exchange
- *International Agreement
- *Religious Worker
- *Youth Mobility Scheme
- Domestic Workers in a Private Household visa
- Representative of an Overseas Business visa
- Turkish Businessperson visa
- Turkish Worker visa
- UK Ancestry visa
- Croatian national registration certificates
Student visas
- Short-term study visa
- Tier 4 visa
- *General
- *Child
Review of visa exemptions
In March 2007, the Home Office announced that it would carry out its first Visa Waiver Test to review the list of countries and territories outside the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland whose nationals are exempt from holding a visa for the UK.
After carrying out the review, in July 2008, Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, and David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, announced to Parliament that the results of the test showed a 'strong case' for introducing visa regimes for 11 countries having taken into account the following factors :
- Passport security and integrity
- The degree of co-operation over deportation or removal of the countries' nationals from the UK
- Levels of illegal working in the UK and other immigration abuse
- Levels of crime and terrorism risk posed to the UK
the dialogue period'.
On 9 January 2009, the new visa rules announced required citizens of Bolivia, Lesotho, South Africa and Swaziland to obtain a visa, and only Venezuelan nationals travelling on biometric passports with an electronic chip issued since 2007 could continue to enter the UK without a visa. The existing visa-free status for citizens of Botswana, Brazil, Malaysia, Mauritius, Namibia and Trinidad and Tobago was maintained.
Starting from 3 March 2009, a transitional regime was put in place until 30 June 2009 for South African citizens - those who held a valid South African passport and had previously entered the UK lawfully using that passport could continue to enter the UK without a visa, whilst all other South African citizens were required to apply for a visa. On the same day, Taiwan citizens were able to enter the UK without a visa. On 18 May 2009, Bolivian citizens were no longer able to enter the UK without a visa and Venezuelan citizens were required to present a biometric passport to enter the UK without a visa. On 1 July 2009, all South African citizens were required to apply for a visa to enter the UK. On the same day, citizens of Lesotho and Swaziland were required to apply for a visa to enter the UK.
On 30 March 2010, Alan Johnson, the Home Secretary, and David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, announced to Parliament that, having carried out a review of visa regimes in relation to Eastern Caribbean countries, 5 countries would have their visa-free status maintained. At the same time, the UK Government would enter a six-month period of 'detailed dialogue' with the governments of 2 countries, who would have to 'demonstrate a genuine commitment to put into effect credible and realistic plans, with clear timetables, to reduce the risks to the UK, and begin implementing these plans by the end of the dialogue period' to maintain their visa-free status. On 2 March 2011, Theresa May, the Home Secretary, and William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, announced to Parliament that the governments of Dominica and St Lucia 'have made concrete improvements to the immigration, border control and identity systems which would not have happened without the test', and so the visa-free status for the 2 countries would be maintained.
On 13 June 2011, new Immigration Rules were laid before Parliament that came into force on 4 July 2011 introducing a new streamlined application procedure for some non-visa nationals from 'low-risk countries' who wish to study in the UK for more than 6 months and apply for Tier 4 entry clearance. The following 15 countries and territories were categorised as 'low-risk' and included in 'Appendix H' of the Immigration Rules: Argentina, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago and the United States. Although the announcement did not relate to a Visa Waiver Test per se, it showed that the UK Border Agency considers some countries and territories in the list of visa-free nationalities to be lower risk than others. In particular, Trinidad and Tobago, which was considered to be a high-risk country from a visa regime perspective in 2008 when the Visa Waiver Test was carried out, was now viewed by the UK Border Agency as a low-risk country. On 5 September 2012, two more countries were added to the list of 'low-risk' nationalities for the purpose of Tier 4 entry clearance applications, i.e. 'Appendix H',, whilst on 6 September 2013, Barbados was also added to 'Appendix H'. Again, although the announcement did not relate to a Visa Waiver Test per se, it showed that Botswana, Malaysia and Barbados were now viewed by the UK Border Agency as low-risk countries.
In March 2013, it was revealed that Theresa May, the Home Secretary, was considering removing Brazil from the list of visa-exempt nationalities due to concerns about illegal immigration, since Brazil was fifth in the top 10 of illegal immigrant nationalities in the UK according to Home Office figures for 2011, and was the only country on the list for which short-term visitors do not need a visa. However, the UK Government later decided to retain the visa exemption for Brazilian citizens, a decision which was seen as attempting to develop closer trading links with Brazil.
On 1 January 2014, an electronic visa waiver scheme was introduced, enabling citizens of Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates who have obtained an EVW authorisation online to visit and/or study in the UK for up to 6 months without a visa; with Kuwait added to the EVW scheme during February 2016.
After 'assessing countries against a list of risk and compliance criteria', the UK Government added Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the UAE to 'Appendix H' at various periods between 2014 and 2018 but according to the Cambridge Education Group, Oman was to be removed from this Appendix. However, it doesn't seem like this may have occurred.
These two changes reflect the UK Government's view that Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the UAE should now be regarded as low-risk countries from a visa regime perspective and it is possible that, in future, nationals of these four countries will be classified as non-visa nationals.
On 13 March 2014, the UK Government announced that, with effect from 5 May 2014, Venezuelan citizens would require a visa to enter the UK.
At present, although citizens of Argentina, Brazil, Israel, holders of Hong Kong SAR passports and Macao SAR passports are able to visit and/or study in the UK without a visa for up to 6 months, and although citizens of Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates with an EVW can visit and/or study in the UK without a visa for up to 6 months, if they decide to stay for more than 6 months and have been granted entry clearance permitting them to do so, they are required to register with the police at a cost of £34 within 7 days of arriving in the UK.
In January 2020, British ambassador to Ukraine announced that there would be no visa-free arrangements for Ukrainian citizens.
On April 9, 2020, the Home Office issued a new immigration rule imposing visa restriction on low-skilled people workers with effect from January 2021. The restriction introduced a new point-based immigration system, allotting points for certain skills, salaries, qualification and shortage occupations. Any worker with points falling below the given threshold will be restricted from applying for UK work visa, as per the new immigration rule. Free Movement, a UK-based website updating, commenting, training and advising on immigration and asylum laws, claims that nurses, hospital porters, cleaners, postal workers, etc., are to be worst affected by the new immigration law.
Entry and stay conditions for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens
Directive 2004/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 recognises the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States'defines the right of free movement for citizens of the European Economic Area, which includes the European Union and the three European Free Trade Association members Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. Switzerland, which is a member of EFTA but not of the EEA, is not bound by the Directive but rather has a separate bilateral agreement on the free movement with the EU.
Citizens of all European Economic Area member states and Switzerland holding a valid passport or national identity card enjoy freedom of movement rights in each other's territory and can enter and reside in the each other's territory without a visa.
By law EU, EEA and Swiss citizens are entitled to use their valid national identity cards as travel documents to enter the UK, in practice UK Border Force officials have to examine in greater detail identity cards issued by some member states which have cheapest-produced, non-standard, limited security features and hence more susceptible to tampering/forgery. This exceeds counterparts in the Schengen Area, as a matter of policy UKBF officials are required to examine physically all passports and national identity cards presented by EU/EEA/Swiss citizens for signs of forgery and tampering. In addition, unlike Schengen area counterparts who may only perform a 'rapid' and 'straightward' database check and may only check to see if the traveller is on a database containing persons of interest on a strictly 'non-systematic' basis where such a threat is 'genuine', 'present' and 'sufficiently serious'), as a matter of policy UKBF officials are required to check every EU/EEA/Swiss citizen and their passport/national identity card against the Warnings Index database. For this reason, when presented with a non-machine readable identity card, it can take up to four times longer for a UKBF official to process the card as the official has to enter the biographical details of the holder manually into the computer to check against the WI database and, if a large number of possible matches is returned, a different configuration has to be entered to reduce the number of possible matches. For example, at Stansted Airport UKBF officials have been known to take longer to process Italian paper identity cards because they often need to be taken out of plastic wallets, because they are particularly susceptible to forgery/tampering and because, as non-machine readable documents, the holders' biographical details have to be entered manually into the computer.
If EU, EEA and Swiss nationals are unable to present a valid passport or national identity card at the border, they must nonetheless be afforded every reasonable opportunity to obtain the necessary documents or have them brought to them within a reasonable period of time or corroborate or prove by other means that they are covered by the right of free movement. Where, after being given every reasonable opportunity, they are still unable to demonstrate their identity and nationality, they should be either considered for Temporary Admission to
allow further enquiries to be made or refused entry.
However, entry can be refused to an EU/EEA/Swiss national on public policy, public security or public health grounds where the person presents a "genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat affecting one of the fundamental interests of society". If the person has obtained permanent residence in the country where he/she seeks entry, the member state can only expel him/her on serious grounds of public policy or public security. Where the person has resided for 10 years or is a minor, the member state can only expel him/her on imperative grounds of public security. Expulsion on public health grounds must relate to diseases with 'epidemic potential' which have occurred less than 3 months from the person's the date of arrival in the Member State where he/she seeks entry.
Non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizen family members
A family member of an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen who is in possession of a valid residence card indicating their status is exempt from the need to hold a visa when entering outside Schengen member states when they are accompanying their EU/EEA/Swiss family member or are seeking to join them.Such a person is so exempt regardless of the accompanying/joining condition above to enter the Schengen area, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland if that card is issued from one of the European Economic Area states or Switzerland.
As of 6 April 2015, the non-EU family members of an EU national who are in possession of and present their residence card, which is issued to them under article 10 of directive 2004/38, along with proof of nationality are entitled to enter the UK without the need to apply for an EEA Family Permit. Such persons will need to prove their relation to any EU national family member who would be but is not accompanying them, by providing a document such as the marriage or birth certificate, contact details and both parties be able to evidence the relationship. Where the EU national family member is already in the UK, the non-EU family members should be able to prove their relation is living in the UK and their right of residency exists, i.e. current exercise of their Treaty of Rome rights. Therefore such residing in the UK either: less than three months ; or if more than three months, then as a worker, self-employed, self-sufficient or a student or they acquired the status of permanent residency after having resided in the UK for five years.
Reciprocity
Of the 58 countries and territories outside the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland whose citizens are granted 6 months' visa-free access to the UK, the following offer full reciprocal treatment to British citizens: Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Hong Kong, Macao, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Panama, San Marino and Vatican City. However, New Zealand requires British citizens to obtain an Electronic Travel Authority, and additionally pay an International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy, in advance of travel.Other countries and territories only offer partially reciprocal treatment to British citizens. The following countries permit British citizens to stay without a visa for up to 90 days only: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Israel, Malaysia, Namibia, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Trinidad and Tobago, United States and Uruguay. The following countries and territories permit British citizens to stay without a visa for up to 90 days : Botswana, Japan and Taiwan. The following countries also only offer partially reciprocal treatment: Belize, Fiji, Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Kiribati, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Peru,
St Lucia, Samoa, Seychelles, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Venezuela.
;No reciprocity
- Papua New Guinea requires British citizens to obtain a visa on arrival that is valid for up to 60 days and costs PGK100 or PGK500
- Timor-Leste requires British citizens to obtain a visa on arrival valid for up to 30 days at a cost of US$30.
Visitor statistics