Source: GOV.UK
22.09.2020
Entering the UK
Contents
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) and entering or returning to the UK
- What else happens when you arrive
- Before you leave for the UK
- At border control
- Baggage checks
- Layovers and transiting through a UK airport
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and entering or returning to the UK
If you’re a resident or visitor travelling to the UK from any country, you must provide your journey and contact details. If you do not do this before you arrive it might take you longer to enter the UK.
You’ll also need to self-isolate in the place you’re staying for the first 14 days after you arrive, unless you’re travelling from certain countries or territories.
You may be fined up to £100 if you refuse to provide your contact details. You may be fined more if you break this rule more than once. You may also be fined up to £1,000 if you refuse to self-isolate, or you could face further action.
There are different self-isolation rules and penalties depending on whether you are travelling to:
When you do not need to self-isolate
You may not need to self-isolate for 14 days if you’re travelling from some countries or territories.
You still have to provide your journey and contact details.
These countries or territories are different depending on whether you’re travelling to:
You’ll still need to self-isolate if you’ve visited or made a ‘transit stop’ in the previous 14 days in any country that is not on the list. A ‘transit stop’ is a stop where passengers can get on or off a coach, ferry, train or plane. Your ticket should say if a stop is a transit stop.
The 14 days begin from the date you left that country.
When you do not need to provide your details or self-isolate in the UK
You do not need to complete the form or self-isolate if you’re travelling from one of the following places, and you were there for 14 days or more:
- Ireland
- the Channel Islands
- the Isle of Man
There are other reasons why you might not need to complete the form or self-isolate. Read the list of who does not need to complete the form or self-isolate.
What else happens when you arrive
Your passport or identity card will be checked when you arrive at a UK port or airport to make sure you’re allowed to come into the country. It should be valid for the whole of your stay.
You may also need a visa to come into or travel through the UK, depending on your nationality.
What you can bring with you depends on where you’re travelling from. You must declare to customs:
- anything over your duty-free allowance
- banned or restricted goods in the UK
- goods that you plan to sell
- more than €10,000 (or its equivalent) in cash, if you’re coming from outside the EU
You and your baggage may be checked for anything you must declare.
Before you leave for the UK
Check what documents you’ll need to enter the UK.
You’re from an EEA country or Switzerland
You can enter the UK with either a valid passport or national identity card issued by an EEA country.
You’re not from an EEA country
You must have a valid passport to enter the UK. It should be valid for the whole of your stay.
You may also need a visa, depending on which country you’re from.
Check if you need a visa to enter the UK.
You may also need a visa if you’re ‘transiting’ or travelling through the UK, for example you’re changing flights at a UK airport.
Applying for a visa
You must apply for your visa before you arrive in the UK.
Travelling with children
You may be asked at the border to prove the relationship between yourself and any children travelling with you, if you do not seem to be the parent, for example if you have a different surname.
You can prove this with:
- a birth or adoption certificate showing your relationship with the child
- divorce or marriage certificates if you’re the parent but have a different surname from the child
- a letter from the child’s parent giving permission for the child to travel with you and providing contact details, if you’re not the parent
Before you board
Your ‘carrier’ (for example airline or transport provider) will check your passport and other travel documents. They’ll send this information electronically to Border Force.
You can ask to see the information about you that’s been sent by carriers. You’ll have to pay a £10 fee.
At border control
Your passport or identity card will be checked.
You must:
- have your passport or identity card ready - remove it from a holder or wallet if you use one
- remove your sunglasses if you’re wearing them
- move through passport control together if you’re in a family
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’re from an EEA country or Switzerland
You can use the EU/EEA channel to get your passport or identity card checked - this is usually faster than the other channels.
The EEA includes the EU countries and also Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
You can use automatic ePassport gates at some airports if your passport has a ‘chip’ on it and you’re 12 or over. If you’re between 12 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’re from a non-EEA country
You no longer have to fill in a landing card. Your passport (and visa if you have one) will be checked at border control. You’ll usually be asked why you’re coming to the UK.
Because of coronavirus (COVID-19) there are changes at border control. You cannot currently use the automatic ePassport gates if you’re from any non-EEA country.
You should see a border control officer and follow the UK/EEA immigration lanes if you’re from:
- Australia
- Canada
- Japan
- New Zealand
- Singapore
- South Korea
- United States
When else you must see a border control officer
You must see a border control officer and get a stamp in your passport if you’re from a non-EEA country and entering the UK:
- on a short term study visa up to 6 months
- with a Tier 5 Creative or Sporting certificate of sponsorship for up to 3 months (and you want to enter without a visa)
- on a permitted paid engagement
- to accompany or join your EEA family member
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 should see a border control officer and use the UK/EEA channels.
Because of coronavirus (COVID-19) there are changes at border control. You cannot currently use the automatic ePassport gates.
Travelling with a UK biometric residence permit
You’ll have a biometric residence permit if your fingerprints were taken when you applied.
Your fingerprints will be checked at border control - they’ll be checked against the ones stored on your visa document.
If you’re joining or travelling with an EEA or Swiss family member
You should see a border control officer instead of using the automatic ePassport gates.
If you’re refused entry
You’ll be told in writing:
- why you’ve been refused entry to the UK
- if you can appeal against the decision
- when you will be removed from the UK
You’ll 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.
Baggage checks
You must co-operate if you’re stopped and asked about your baggage.
If you break the rules your goods and any vehicle you use to transport them may be seized.
If your baggage is checked
Your baggage is usually checked in front of you.
Customs officers keep a record of:
- all baggage they open and check
- any damage to your baggage or belongings during a check
If your things are damaged
You may be offered compensation if your baggage or belongings are damaged during a customs check.
Making a complaint
You can:
- ask for the duty manager if you want to complain about a customs check while you’re at the border
- send your complaint to Border Force if you want to complain later
Layovers and transiting through a UK airport
Passing through a UK airport while on the way to another country is called ‘transiting’. Some travellers call it a ‘layover’.
There are 2 types of transiting:
- ‘airside’ - you do not pass through UK border control before you leave on your connecting journey
- ‘landside’ - you do pass through UK border control, but come back through it and leave the UK within a short amount of time (usually 24 hours)
Find out if you need a UK visa for your layover.
Announcements
- What has changed – 22 September
Published 22 September 2020
- North East England local restrictions
Published 17 September 2020
- Prime Minister announces new coronavirus (COVID-19) safety rules
Published 9 September 2020
Freight, bus and road transport businesses
- Coronavirus: dangerous goods vehicle (ADR) annual inspections
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): Advice for Heavy Goods (HGV) and Public Service Vehicle (PSV) Operators
- Traffic commissioners: contingency and emergency planning, coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for the freight transport industry
- Packaging and transport requirements for patient samples – UN3373
Source: https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control/print
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
Source: WCO/Her Majesty Revenue and Customs
23.04.2020
The Covid-19 outbreak is the biggest public health emergency in a generation. The United
Kingdom (UK) is doing everything it can to tackle the pandemic and mitigate its impact.
The UK has already taken several steps. These include reducing dwell times for shipments
to allow for quicker permission to progress, assessing the need for personnel to be on site if
such functions can be discharged remotely and changes to site opening hours to allow for
greater facilitation.
We have also introduced the use of email in lieu of postal applications for authorisations to
reduce cross contamination and viral spread and we are allowing the use of estimated
figures for the completion of supplementary declarations.
We are advising traders, their agents and relevant government agencies to exchange
documents electronically. This can be by email, fax or digital photograph. Traders may also
apply for their existing authorisations to apply to additional locations. We will also be
publishing online an exhaustive list of government agencies at the border and their email
addresses and contact details.
We have also taken a number of measures in relation to transit movements. These include
goods moving under transit procedures being taken directly to any approved Temporary
Storage Facility even if the facility is not located with a Transit Office of Departure.
Providing relief from import duties (customs and import VAT) for medical equipment to assist
in the fight against Covid-19 has been a key part of the UK response. We have also
activated our disaster relief clearance route to allow for faster clearance through the ports of
goods to combat Covid-19.
The Chancellor has announced an unprecedented package of support for businesses. This
includes enhanced Time to Pay arrangements, £330 billion worth of government-backed and
guaranteed loans and a workers’ support package. VAT registered businesses can also
defer their domestic VAT payments due with their VAT returns between now and the end of
June and will have until the end of the financial year to pay the VAT due.
These changes have been published on the Gov.uk site and we have interacted with trade
bodies to maximise the distribution to businesses across the country. Please follow these
links to the relevant guidance:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-goods-through-customs-during-the-coronavirus-covid19
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/customs-authorisations-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19
https://www.gov.uk/difficulties-paying-hmrc
Source: European Commission
08.04.2020
Information about travel restrictions and impact on transport
The UK Department for Transport has sent a letter outlining COVID-19 response actions that are being taken in relation to road transport:
https://ec.europa.eu/transport/sites/transport/files/uk-actions-road-tra...
Further information:
https://ec.europa.eu/transport/sites/transport/files/uk_covi...
________________________________________________________________
16.03.2020
Temporary and limited relaxation of the enforcement of driving and rest times for the drivers of vehicles transporting essential goods
The UK has notified to a temporary and limited relaxation of the enforcement of driving and rest times for the drivers of vehicles transporting essential goods. This relaxation is granted pursuant to Article 14(2) of Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 and the purpose of this document is to notify the Commission accordingly. It will apply to those drivers involved in the delivery of food, non-food (personal care and household paper and cleaning) and over the counter pharmaceuticals when undertaking certain journeys in England, Scotland and Wales.
Start date: 18.03.2020
End date: 16.04.2020
Further information: https://ec.europa.eu/transport/sites/transport/files/temporary-relaxatio...
Source: https://ec.europa.eu/transport/coronavirus-response_en