Visa policy of the United Kingdom

As of right

People who are dual British and other citizens will need a UK passport to enter the UK, even if they permanently reside in the other country of citizenship. If they have children who are also British citizens those will also need a UK passport if they shall join the parents on a trip to the United Kingdom.^[12]

British nationals without right of abode

British nationals who are not British citizens may visit the United Kingdom for up to 6 months:^[13]

Non-visa nationals arriving in the UK from outside the Common Travel Area are assessed by UK immigration officers for "leave to enter." If granted for a regular visit, they receive a passport stamp stating 'Leave to enter for 6 months: employment and recourse to public funds prohibited,' except for nationals who use the ePassport gates, who generally do not receive a stamp.^[18][19] Those who entered using the now-defunct Iris Recognition Immigration System (2004–2013) also did not receive a stamp.

UK Border Force officers can grant leave to enter via fax, email, or orally, including by telephone, for non-visa nationals visiting for up to 6 months. This does not apply when leave has been conferred by another Common Travel Area official.^[20]

In some cases, such as certain general aviation flights, travellers may be 'remotely cleared' without inspection, receiving no passport stamp.^[21]

Travellers arriving directly from the Republic of Ireland are not routinely checked by the UK Border Force. Under the Immigration (Control of Entry through Republic of Ireland) Order 1972, non-visa nationals are automatically granted 'deemed leave' for 6 months, without the right to work, and without receiving a passport stamp.^[22][23]

Similarly, travel between the UK and the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man involves no routine immigration checks, and no passport stamp is issued. Leave to enter from these Crown Dependencies applies equally in the UK.^[24][25] Travellers arriving in the Crown Dependencies directly from the Republic of Ireland are similarly exempt from routine checks and automatically receive deemed leave for 6 months, with no right to work.^[26][27][28]

Since 2 April 2025, all visitors who do not need a visa have needed an Electronic Travel Authorisation to travel to the UK.

Electronic travel authorisation (ETA)

The UK implemented the Electronic Travel Authorisation system, from November 2023.^[29]

Citizens of the following countries may obtain an ETA valid for travel in the UK for up to 6 months.

Electronic travel authorisation (ETA) was also available to the citizens of Jordan until 10 September 2024.^[35]

Since April 2025, all visitors with visa-exempt nationalities have needed an ETA to travel to the UK if they do not possess a valid UK visa or citizenship of the UK or Ireland. Since 27 November 2024, ETA applications have been opened for non-visa nationalities outside the European Union, who needed an ETA for any travel to the UK on or after 8 January 2025. This requirement was extended to EU nationals later with applications starting from 5 March and an ETA being mandatory from 2 April. There is a £16 fee for applying and an application can take up to three business days to be processed, though most should be approved or denied within a few hours. If approved, the ETA is valid for stays up to six months for a duration of two years or, if shorter, the date of the holder's passport expiring.^[36][37]

Since 20 May 2019, citizens from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, and the United States generally do not receive a stamp, whether using ePassport gates or a staffed desk.^[38][39] However, three categories of these nationals must receive a stamp: those entering for a permitted paid engagement,^[40] those with a Tier 5 Certificate of Sponsorship (up to 3 months),^[41] or those otherwise required to visit a staffed desk.

British-Irish Visa Scheme (BIVS)

Citizens of the following countries may travel to the UK without a visa if they hold a valid Irish visa endorsed with BIVS:^[42]

Ukraine scheme

Non-ordinary passports

In addition to all other visa exempt countries, holders of diplomatic, official, service and special passports of the following countries and territories do not require a visa for tourism, business and official purposes for an Indefinite Period Of Stay (unless otherwise stated) under Diplomatic Visa Waiver (DVW) scheme.^[47]

In 2024, it was announced that Diplomatic Visa Arrangement (DVA) visitor visas will be introduced to replace DVWs. DVAs will be required from the following countries’ specified passport holders from 11 March, 2025:^[48][49]

_{D - Diplomatic passports
SPA - Service and public affairs passports, if travelling with a government minister on an official visit.}

Visa exemption and exemption from immigration control applies to (holders of UN Passport when they travel to the UK on an official visit), (holders of Interpol Passport when on duty) and (employees of NATO and EU when travelling for business or official purposes only).^[50]

Visitor visas

• Standard Visitor visa^[164][174]
• Marriage Visitor visa^[175]
• Permitted Paid Engagement visa^[164]
• Parent of a Child Student visa^[176]
• Visa to pass through the UK in transit^[150]
  • Direct Airside Transit visa
  • Visitor in Transit visa

Work visas

As of September 2023^[update]:

• Charity Worker visa (Temporary Work)^[177]
• Creative Worker visa (Temporary Work)^[178]
• Exempt vignette^[179]
• Frontier Worker permit^[180]
• Global Talent visa^[181]
• Government Authorised Exchange visa (Temporary Work)^[182]
• Graduate Trainee visa (Global Business Mobility)^[183]
• Graduate visa^[184]
• Health and Care Worker visa^[185]
• High Potential Individual (HPI) visa^[186]
• Innovator Founder visa (formerly Innovator visa)^[187][188]
• International Agreement visa (Temporary Work)^[189]
• International Sportsperson visa^[190]
• Minister of Religion visa (T2)^[191]
• Overseas Domestic Worker visa^[192]
• Religious Worker visa (Temporary Work)^[193]
• Representative of an Overseas Business visa^[194]
• Scale-up Worker visa^[195]
• Seasonal Worker visa (Temporary Work)^[196]
• Secondment Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)^[197]
• Senior or Specialist Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)^[198]
• Service providers from Switzerland visa^[199]
• Service Supplier visa (Global Business Mobility)^[200]
• Skilled Worker visa^[201]
• UK Ancestry visa^[202]
• UK Expansion Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)^[203]
• Youth Mobility Scheme visa^[204]

Closed for new applications:

• Entrepreneur visa (Tier 1)^[205]
• Investor visa (Tier 1)^[206]
• Start-up visa^[207]
• Turkish Businessperson visa^[208]
• Turkish Worker visa^[209]

Student visas

Since October 2020, Tier 4 Visa route has been replace by Student Visa route.^[210]

• Short-term study visa
• Student visa
• Child Student visa

Humanitarian scheme visas

• Ukraine Permission Extension scheme^[211]
• British National (Overseas) visa^[212]

Post-World War II

Members of the British Empire had been considered British subjects before the war and did not generally need visas; this did not apply to mandated territories such as South West Africa or Western Samoa, whose residents did need visas but were eligible to stay indefinitely.^[217] As dominions became more independent and adopted their own nationality laws, however, visa restrictions started to be applied.

The abolition of visa requirements was increased in post-war era as part of a policy to make travel freer and easier; by 1949 visa requirements had been abolished in 20 countries.^[218]

Although waiving visas or visa charges for United States citizens was discussed as early as 1930,^[219] such visas would remain until 1948, when the UK abolished such visas and the US waived visa fees and doubled visa lengths for UK citizens, albeit stopping short at full visa abolition due to domestic considerations; MP Phil Piratin was denied a visa.^[220][221]

Modern history

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 (Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Lesotho, Malaysia, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela) having taken into account the following factors (including the extent to which they were being addressed by the countries' authorities):^{[222][223][224]}

• 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 (such as fraudulent asylum claims)
• Levels of crime and terrorism risk posed to the UK

Following the July 2008 announcement, the UK Government entered into a 6-month period of 'detailed dialogue' with the governments of the 11 countries 'to examine how risks can be reduced in a way that obviates the need for a visa regime to be introduced'. In order to maintain visa-free access to the UK, the 11 countries had 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 real implementation of these plans by the end of the dialogue period'.^[222]

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.^[225] The existing visa-free status for citizens of Botswana, Brazil, Malaysia, Mauritius, Namibia and Trinidad and Tobago was maintained.^[226]

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.^[227] 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.^[228] 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 (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis and St Vincent and the Grenadines) 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 (Dominica and St Lucia), 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.^[229] 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.^[230]

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 (waiving the normal requirements to provide documentary evidence of maintenance and qualifications at the time of application) 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.^[231][232] 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 (Botswana and Malaysia) were added to the list of 'low-risk' nationalities for the purpose of Tier 4 entry clearance applications, i.e. 'Appendix H', (taking effect on 1 October 2012),^[233] whilst on 6 September 2013, Barbados was also added to 'Appendix H' (taking effect on 1 October 2013).^[234] Again, although the announcement did not relate to a Visa Waiver Test per se, it showed that Botswana, Malaysia and Barbados (countries which were considered to be a high-risk countries from a visa regime perspective when the Visa Waiver Test was carried out in 2008 in the case of Botswana and Malaysia, and in 2010 in the case of Barbados) were now viewed by the UK Border Agency as low-risk countries.^[233][231]

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.^[235]

On 1 January 2014, an electronic visa waiver (EVW) 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;^[236] with Kuwait added to the EVW scheme during February 2016.^[237]

After 'assessing countries against a list of risk and compliance criteria', the UK Government added Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the UAE to 'Appendix H' (the list of 'low-risk' nationalities for the purpose of Tier 4 student visa applications) at various periods between 2014 and 2018 but according to the Cambridge Education Group, Oman was to be removed from this Appendix.^[238] However, it doesn't seem like this may have occurred.

These 2 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 (enabling them to visit and/or study in the UK without a visa for up to 6 months without having to obtain an EVW authorisation online every time they wish to enter the UK).

On 13 March 2014, the UK Government announced that, with effect from 5 May 2014, Venezuelan citizens (including those with biometric passports) would require a visa to enter the UK.^[239][240]

In January 2020, British ambassador to Ukraine announced that there would be no visa-free arrangements for Ukrainian citizens.^[241]

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.^[242][243] 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.^[244]

In February 2021, the UK's new visa scheme stated that Hong Kong residents with a British National (Overseas) passport can stay in the UK for five years and get full citizenship.^[245]

In May 2022, a new visa scheme was offered to graduates from the world's top 50 universities, giving them a two year long work visa with the opportunity to prolong it if they meet certain requirements.^[246]

From 4 August 2022, police registration is no longer required.^[247]