Following the UK’s exit from the EU, most EU, EEA, Swiss national Identity Cards will no longer be valid for travel to the United Kingdom. You will be required to use a passport.
This will not apply to those EU, EEA and Swiss nationals whose rights are protected by the Withdrawal Agreement, including those eligible for European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status, frontier workers and joining EUSS family members. These individuals will continue to be able to use a national Identity Card for travel until at least 31 December 2025 and thereafter if the cards are compliant with International Civil Aviation Organisation standards.
For more information, please check the UK Government’s page.
eVisas
The Home Office is replacing physical immigration documents with a digital immigration system. If you need a visa to live in or travel to the UK, please visit GOV.UK for more information.
ePassport gates
ePassport gates are available to use at most UK airports and are able to be used by British and EU nationals, as well as non-EU passengers arriving from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the United States.
Children aged 10 and over can now enter the UK using the ePassport gates, too.
Before you use the gates, make sure your passport has the machine readable chip. If you’re unsure or need more information take a look at the Border Force website.
UK Border Force trial
The UK Border Force will be trialling new Contactless eGates at selected UK airports. These gates will initially be available to use by UK nationals arriving into Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow, Luton, Manchester, Newcastle and Stansted airports. The trial will aim to reduce queue times at airports and will use facial recognition to match passengers to their passport details, so you will not need to show your passport at these eGates. However, please make sure you have your passport with you at all times in case you are required to present it.
UK Electronic Travel Authorisation
You may now require an ETA for travel to the UK
The UK government has introduced an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme, a digital permission to travel similar to an American ESTA. If you’re not a UK or Irish national, you may need one to enter the UK.
What you need to know
If you need an ETA, you must apply for it online yourself. Please visit the official government website below and ensure you have the correct documents before you travel.
Register for an ETA
Customers with an ETA still need a passport to travel and to check in. However, you must use the same passport number you used for your ETA application. An ID card number will not be accepted.
An ETA will permit multiple journeys and will be valid for two years or until the holder’s passport expires, whichever is sooner. To apply for an ETA, you need to complete this process online yourself. Please visit GOV.UK and make sure you have the correct documents before you travel. Please allow at least three days for your ETA to be processed and issued, since you arrive at the airport without the ETA and correct documents, you might not be able to fly.