Passport for the UK: what are the travel requirements?

To travel to the United Kingdom, the document you need depends on your nationality. Citizens of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein normally need to present a valid passport for a tourist visit.

National identity cards are no longer generally accepted for these travellers, although some exceptions remain. Depending on your nationality, status and the purpose of your stay, you may also need an ETA or a visa in addition to your passport.

Do you need a passport to travel to the UK?

Citizens of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein normally need a valid passport to enter the United Kingdom as a visitor.

Some exceptions still allow certain travellers to use a national identity card. These apply to specific circumstances and do not change the general rule for tourist visits.

For travellers of other nationalities, the documents required depend on the passport being used and the traveller's status. A visa may be required before travelling.

Your passport is only one part of the UK entry requirements. Many visa-exempt travellers must also obtain a UK ETA before travelling.

How long must your passport be valid for the UK?

For a visit to the United Kingdom, your passport must be valid for the entire duration of your stay.

For citizens of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, the UK authorities do not impose a general rule requiring the passport to remain valid for another 3 or 6 months after the end of the stay.

This rule should not be confused with the entry requirements of other countries, which may require several months of remaining passport validity after your planned departure date.

My passport expires soon: can I travel to the UK?

Yes, if your nationality is covered by this rule and your passport remains valid for the entire duration of your planned stay. A passport that expires, for example, one month after you return home is therefore not a problem in itself.

However, a passport that expires during your stay does not meet the validity requirement.

Can you travel to the UK with a national identity card?

Citizens of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein can generally no longer use only their national identity card to enter the United Kingdom.

A national identity card issued by one of these countries is still accepted in certain situations specified by the UK authorities, including if you:

• have settled status or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or an equivalent scheme in Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man;
• have an EU Settlement Scheme family permit or an equivalent document;
• have a Frontier Worker permit;
• are an S2 Healthcare Visitor;
• are eligible under certain provisions applying to pending EU Settlement Scheme applications;
• are an eligible pupil travelling under the official scheme for certain school trips from France.

Can you travel to the UK with an expired passport?

As a general rule, no. The document used to enter the United Kingdom must meet the validity requirements that apply to the traveller throughout their stay.

Specific provisions may exist depending on the traveller's nationality or status. They should not be treated as a general permission to travel with an expired passport.

Can you use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen?

No. A passport that has been reported lost or stolen should no longer be used for travel, even if it is later found.

Reporting a passport lost or stolen will normally result in the document being invalidated in databases used for border checks. If you later find your passport, check with the relevant authorities in your country before travelling again.

What passport does a child need to travel to the UK?

A child must have their own travel document that meets the requirements applicable to their nationality. For a child who is a citizen of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein making a standard visit, this will normally be their own valid passport.

Depending on the circumstances of the trip, additional documents may be required or recommended, particularly when a child is travelling alone, with only one parent or with an adult who has a different surname.

The different situations are explained in our article about travelling to the United Kingdom with children.

Is there an exception for school trips from France?

Yes. The United Kingdom and France have a special scheme for certain school trips organised from France using the France-UK School Trip Travel Information Form.

Under this scheme, pupils who are citizens of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein can use a passport or national identity card when they meet the relevant requirements.

The UK authorities nevertheless recommend that pupils who have a passport travel with it, as using a passport can make crossing the border easier.

Children correctly included on the form also benefit from specific rules regarding visas and the ETA. This exception is reserved for eligible school trips and does not apply to ordinary family holidays.

Can you use a national identity card with settled or pre-settled status?

Yes, subject to the conditions of the EU Settlement Scheme. People with settled status or pre-settled status are among the travellers who can continue to use an eligible national identity card to enter the United Kingdom.

The passport or national identity card used for travel must be correctly linked to your UKVI account when this is required under the rules applying to your status.

It is therefore important to check the information recorded in your account before travelling, particularly after renewing your passport or changing your travel document.

Do you need a passport for London, England, Scotland or Wales?

The entry requirements do not change depending on which part of the United Kingdom you are visiting. The same passport requirements therefore apply when travelling to:

• London or elsewhere in England;
• Edinburgh, Glasgow or elsewhere in Scotland;
• Cardiff or elsewhere in Wales;
• Belfast or elsewhere in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom. Travel between the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom nevertheless has certain specific rules linked to the Common Travel Area, particularly depending on the traveller's nationality and status.

Do you need a passport to travel by Eurostar, plane or ferry?

UK entry requirements do not depend on your means of transport. If your nationality requires a passport, you must therefore have this document whether you arrive:

• by Eurostar;
• by plane;
• by ferry;
• by car or coach through the Channel Tunnel.

Travel documents may be checked before boarding as well as during border formalities.

What happens at passport control?

At the border, your travel document allows the authorities to verify your identity and your right to enter the United Kingdom.

Depending on your nationality, passport and point of entry, your document may be checked by a Border Force officer or, when you meet the relevant requirements, at an eGate.

Border authorities may also ask for information or supporting documents relating to your stay. If you are travelling with a child and your relationship to them is not obvious, documents showing this relationship or permission for the child to travel may also be useful.

What is the difference between a passport, ETA and visa?

A passport, ETA and visa do not serve the same purpose. Depending on your circumstances, you may need more than one of them for the same trip.

An ETA therefore never replaces the passport to which it is linked. If you need an ETA, you must travel with the passport used to obtain that authorisation.

If your circumstances do not allow you to travel with an ETA, the UK visa rules will help determine which authorisation may be required.

FAQ about passports for the UK

Can you travel to London with a European national identity card?

As a general rule, no. For a standard visit, citizens of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein normally need to present a passport. Some exceptions still allow the use of a national identity card.

Do you need 6 months left on your passport to travel to the UK?

No, for European visitors covered by the rules described in this article. Your passport must be valid for the entire duration of your stay. There is no general requirement for another 6 months of validity after your trip.

Do you need 3 months left on your passport after your return date?

No for these travellers. The United Kingdom does not apply a general requirement for an additional 3 months of validity of the kind found for some other destinations.

My passport expires one month after I return: can I travel?

Yes, normally, as long as your passport remains valid throughout your stay and you meet the other entry requirements that apply to your circumstances.

Can a child travel to the UK with a national identity card?

For an ordinary visit, a European child will normally need their own passport. Exceptions exist in particular for certain residence statuses and for pupils eligible for certain school trips organised from France.

Do you need a passport to travel to London by Eurostar?

Yes, if the rules applying to your nationality require a passport. Travelling by Eurostar rather than by plane or ferry does not exempt you from the UK's entry requirements.

Do you need a passport to travel to Scotland?

The same rules apply in Scotland as in the rest of the United Kingdom. There is no separate travel document for entering England, Scotland or Wales.

Does an ETA replace a passport?

No. An ETA is an electronic authorisation linked to a passport. If you need an ETA, you must also travel with the passport used for your application.

Do you need a biometric passport to travel to the UK?

The exact requirements depend on your nationality and the travel document you use. A compatible biometric passport may allow you to use the eGates when you meet the relevant requirements, but eligibility to use the eGates does not in itself determine whether a passport is valid for entry to the United Kingdom.

Summary

For a visit to the United Kingdom, citizens of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein normally need to travel with a passport that is valid for the entire duration of their stay. There is no general requirement for an additional 3 or 6 months of validity after the end of the trip.

National identity cards are no longer generally accepted, although some exceptions remain, particularly for certain beneficiaries of the EU Settlement Scheme and certain school trips from France.

Finally, a passport does not replace an ETA or a visa when one is required. Before travelling, check separately the requirements for your travel document and the permission required to enter the United Kingdom according to your nationality and circumstances.