Immigration and passports

Arriving at Heathrow

We want to ensure your arrival is as seamless as possible, so ensure you’ve got your passport and supporting documents (e.g. visas and landing cards) ready.

To help things go smoothly at passport control, here are a few useful tips:

• Take your passport out of its cover and flip to the photo page.
• Remove any hats, headphones, or sunglasses.
• Put away your mobile phones or tablets when it's time to see an officer.
• And lastly, stick together with your family as you travel through the arrival process.

Use passport e-Gates when possible

Use passport e-gates if you can. They are automated gates that use facial recognition to check your identity and allow you to enter the country without talking to a Border Force officer.

To use them in the UK, you must have an eligible passport and meet specific requirements.

You can normally use eGates if you:

• have a biometric symbol on the cover of your passport
• are aged 10+ (10 to 17 year olds must be accompanied by an adult)
• are either:
  • a British citizen
  • a national of an EU country, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland or the USA
  • a member of the Registered Traveller Service

Travelling with children

If you're travelling with your family, it's best to go through passport control together.

If you're travelling with a child who may not have the same last name as you or who isn't your own, you may be asked some questions to confirm your relationship. To help make the process smoother and faster, it's a good idea to bring along documents that show your relationship with the child and the reason for your trip. This can include birth or adoption, marriage or divorce certificates, or even a letter from the child's parent(s) giving you permission to travel and providing their contact information.

Bringing goods into the UK

Passengers should be aware that certain goods may be prohibited or restricted on entry to the UK. For full information, check out the UK government’s advice.

Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for visitors to the UK

An Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is a new requirement for visitors to the UK who don't currently need a visa. An ETA gives you permission to travel to the UK for up to six months, and is electronically linked to your passport.

Who does this apply to?

The following visitors to the UK will need an ETA (including children):

• Visitors from countries outside of Europe, including America, Australia and Canada, will need an ETA from 2 April 2025. You can apply in advance now via gov.uk.
• Visitors from Europe will need an ETA from 2 April 2025. You can apply for your ETA from 5 March 2025 via gov.uk.
• Visitors from Gulf Corporation Council countries already need an ETA to travel to the UK.

If you're a British or Irish national, you don't need an ETA.

You'll need an ETA if you're visiting for tourism, business, studying or to visit family/friends. They're also required for transit, even if you don't go through British customs.

How do I apply?

ETAs cost £10 and are valid for two years, allowing multiple entries to the UK.

Apply for your ETA or find more information on gov.uk.

Online immigration status (eVisa)

The UK is moving from physical immigration documents to eVisas. If you currently use a physical document to prove your immigration status you'll need to switch to an eVisa instead. Physical immigration documents include a biometric residence permit (BRP), biometric residence card (BRC), visa vignette or ink stamp in your passport.

What do I need to do:

• If you currently hold a UK visa you'll need to create a UK Visas and Immigration account at gov.uk/eVisa to access your eVisa.
• If you already have an eVisa, make sure the passport you use for travel is linked to your account. Visit gov.uk to check and let the UK Government know if it's not linked.