The visa policy of the United Kingdom is the policy by which His Majesty's Government determines visa requirements for visitors to the United Kingdom and those seeking to work, study or reside there. The visa policy of the UK also applies to the Crown dependencies of Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man, which each operate their own immigration enforcement and have separate work permit systems. The visa policy does not apply to any of the British Overseas Territories, who generally apply their own visa policies.
Anyone who does not have right of abode in the United Kingdom (British citizens and some Commonwealth citizens, but not some categories of British national) requires leave (permission) to enter the UK. "Visa nationals" must obtain an e-Visa and "non-visa nationals" may travel as a visitor to the UK without a visa for up to 6 months. Since April 2025, all non-visa nationals must apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
Visas are also required to live, study and work in the UK as a foreign national. Some EU, EEA and Swiss citizens who lived in the UK prior to Brexit are exempt under the EU Settlement Scheme, and long-term foreign residents can apply for indefinite leave to remain, which is approximate to permanent residency in other countries.
The UK maintains the Common Travel Area with the Republic of Ireland and the Crown Dependencies. This means that most citizens of Ireland are exempt from the requirement to hold a visa, residence permit or travel authorisation to enter, study and work in the UK or the Crown Dependencies, and vice versa. The Common Travel Area does not apply to those who are not British or Irish citizens, so other citizens must have the correct permission to enter the UK when crossing the border.
Visa policy map
Visa exemption The following persons may enter the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man without a visa:
As of right British nationals: British citizens British subjects with the right of abode in the United Kingdom Irish citizens Holders of a certificate of entitlement
People who are citizens of the UK or Ireland and a third country will need a UK or Irish 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 or Irish citizens, they will also need a UK or Irish passport if they are joining the parents on a trip to the United Kingdom. Exceptions apply for certain EEA or Swiss citizens, who may use either a British passport, an EEA or Swiss passport, or an EEA or Swiss national identity card.
British nationals without right of abode British nationals who are not British citizens may enter the United Kingdom for up to 6 months:
British nationals: British Nationals (Overseas) British Overseas Territories citizens British Overseas citizens British protected persons British subjects without the right of abode in the United Kingdom
Rules for non-visa nationals they must not work for UK clients or in the UK jobs market during their stay in the UK (although study is permitted as a 'student visitor'), with limited exceptions for authorised Permitted Paid Engagements, supported by a registered Certificate of Sponsorship, of up to one month. Being a digital nomad is explicitly allowed, as long as the clients and/or employer is based outside the UK they must not register a marriage or register a civil partnership during their stay in the UK they can present evidence of sufficient money to fund their stay in the UK (if requested by an Immigration Officer) they intend to leave the UK at the end of their visit and can meet the cost of the return (or journey to another country where they intend to and are assured of a legal right to enter) if under the age of 18, they can demonstrate evidence of suitable care arrangements and parental (or guardian's) consent for their stay in the UK
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. 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.The Immigration (Leave to Enter and Remain) Order 2000, Articles 8 and 8ZA (as amended by )
In some cases, such as certain general aviation flights, travellers may be 'remotely cleared' without inspection, receiving no passport stamp.
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.
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. 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.The Immigration (Entry through Republic of Ireland) (Exclusions and Restrictions) (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Order, 2015, Article 4Immigration (Control of Entry through Republic of Ireland) (Jersey) Order 2018, Article 4Immigration (Control of Entry through Republic of Ireland) Order 2016, Article 6
Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) Since November 2023, the UK has implemented the Electronic Travel Authorisation system.
Citizens of the following countries may obtain an ETA valid for travel in the UK for up to 6 months:
All European Union member states (except Ireland) All European Free Trade Association member states All Gulf Cooperation Council member states
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.
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. However, three categories of these nationals must receive a stamp: those entering for a permitted paid engagement, those with a Tier 5 Certificate of Sponsorship (up to 3 months), 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 (or an ETA) if they hold a valid Irish visa endorsed with BIVS:
Rules for Irish visa holders To be eligible for visa-free travel, applicants for Irish visas must apply at a UK/Irish visa application centre in India or China (including Hong Kong and Macau), and first clear immigration in Ireland before arriving in the UK.
Holders of BIVS visas issued by Ireland are only allowed to travel directly from Ireland to the UK and not from other countries, unless transiting in the UK on their ways to Ireland. The length of stay in the UK is no longer than the remaining period of validity of the person's current permission to remain in Ireland. A UK transit visa is not required if the person is transiting through the UK to Ireland by air and arrives in Ireland no later than 23:59 on the day after his or her arrival in the UK.
The scheme might be expanded for all visa requiring nationals in the future.
Ukraine scheme Citizens of Ukraine (and their family members of any nationality) who have a sponsor in the UK may apply online for permission to enter and remain in the UK under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship 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.
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:
D SPA D DD D
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).
Date of visa changesVisa exemption:
Citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Brunei, Canada, Cyprus, Grenada, Ireland, Kiribati, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, New Zealand, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Tuvalu have never required a visa to enter the United Kingdom. Unknown: Andorra, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania and Vatican City 1 January 1947: France 15 February 1947: Belgium and Luxembourg 1 March 1947: Norway 22 March 1947: Denmark 1 April 1947: Sweden 15 April 1947: Netherlands 24 June 1947: Liechtenstein and Switzerland 1 July 1947: Iceland 1 January 1948: Italy 8 November 1948: Monaco 12 November 1948: United States 1 October 1949: San Marino 16 June 1953: Greece 16 December 1954: Finland 1 January 1955: Portugal 1 January 1960: Mexico 15 June 1960: Spain 1 March 1961: Uruguay 1 June 1961: All other countries of Latin America: Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica,Was applied from 1 June 1961 under unilateral decision of the UK Government; from 19 December 1968 under Visa exemption agreement El Salvador,Was applied from 1 June 1961 under unilateral decision of the UK Government; from 19 September 1962 under Visa exemption agreement Guatemala, Honduras,Was applied from 1 June 1961 under unilateral decision of the UK Government; from 30 May 1962 under Visa exemption agreement PanamaWas applied from 1 June 1961 under unilateral decision of the UK Government; from 6 February 1966 under Visa exemption agreement and ParaguayWas applied from 1 June 1961 under unilateral decision of the UK Government; from 27 November 1966 under Visa exemption agreement 2 December 1962: Japan 15 March 1967: Israel 3 May 1968: Austria (resumed) 18 December 1969: South Korea 8 June 1990: Argentina (resumed) 1 October 1990: Czech Republic (signed as Czechoslovakia) and Hungary 25 June 1991: Slovenia July 1992: Estonia 1 July 1992: Poland 1 July 1997: Hong Kong 17 April 2002: Macau 18 December 2002: Maldives, Mauritius and Papua New Guinea (resumed) 18 December 2003: Slovakia (resumed) 22 March 2006: Croatia (resumed) 1 January 2007: Bulgaria and Romania