What you need to know to cross the UK border and visit Britain.

What you need to enter the UK

If you are a EU, EEC, or Swiss citizen

EU, EEC and Swiss citizens can travel to the United Kingdom for holidays or short trips without the need for a visa. You can cross the UK border using a valid passport that should remain valid for as long as you are in the UK.

Citizens with EU or US nationality can continue to use the “ePassport” automatic gates at the airport to cross the border upon arrival in Great Britain.

From 1 October 2021, you will not be able to use an EU, CEE or Swiss identity card to enter the UK, unless you:

has a regular or pre-established status under the EU Settlement Scheme (regulatory framework for EU citizens with family in the UK)
you have applied to the EU Settlement Scheme by 30 June 2021 but have not yet received a decision
is in possession of a family permit from the EU Settlement Scheme
have a cross-border work permit
is an S2 health visitor
is a Swiss citizen holding a Service Provider visa from Switzerland

In these cases, you can continue to use your national ID card to enter the UK until at least December 31, 2025.

British citizens can continue to use the identity card issued by Gibraltar to travel to the United Kingdom.

Irish citizens can continue to use a passport card to travel to the UK.

In short, we can say that you must have the correct documents to show at the UK border in order to enter the country.

Below you will find the only documents accepted for entry into the country. In other cases, find out if it is necessary for you to apply for a visa to enter the UK.

If you are a non-EEC family member of an EU, EEC or Swiss citizen

You will need a valid national passport and one of the following:

a family permit under the EU regulation regime
an EEC family permit issued by the United Kingdom
a biometric residence card issued in the UK

An Article 10 or Article 20 residence card issued by an EEC Member State may not be used.

If you come from a non-EEC country

Your passport (and visa if you have one) will be checked at the border post. You will usually be asked about the reason for your trip to the UK. You can use UK/EEC immigration lanes and automatic e-passport control gates if you are coming from:

Australia
Canada
Japan
New Zealand
Songapore
South Korea
United States

Will travelers have to apply for an electronic travel authorization? If it is required, do I have to pay anything for the UK eTA?

In the general framework of post-Brexit immigration reorganization, which is expected to go on until 2024, the introduction of an electronic and totally computerized system of entrances is planned.

Like the USA, whose counterpart is the ESTA, the United Kingdom will introduce the eTA.

This will be a prior authorization to travel but will not guarantee access to the country, but only the right to travel to.

EU and US are among the countries eligible for the UK eta and they will have to apply for one before traveling to Great Britain.

The introduction of the same electronic travel authorization is planned for 2025.

Travelers on a business trip to the United Kingdom

For citizens of EU and US traveling to the United Kingdom for a short business trip, it may not be necessary to apply for a visa.

With the new points-based UK immigration system, you can continue to visit the UK without applying for a visa. In most cases, you can stay for up to 6 months.

You can participate in a wide range of activities, including business activities such as meetings, events, and conferences. You can enter the UK multiple times during that time, but you cannot live in the Kingdom.

As a business visitor, you may not:

carry out paid or unpaid work for a UK company, even if as a self-employed person
do an internship or internship
sell directly to the public or provide goods and services

Work in the UK or send employees to work

If you need to hire a EU, EEC or Swiss citizens to work in the UK for more than 6 months, they must apply for a visa.

If you hire or intend to hire an EU, EEC or Swiss citizen commuting to the UK, please consult the guidelines for cross-border workers.

Do you have anything to declare? Commercial goods in your baggage

Whether you enter by air or by land, you are required to inform customs, to declare whether you are carrying commercial goods with you. Commercial goods are things to sell. If you are bringing commercial goods corresponding to the characteristics listed below, you will need to make a complete customs declaration:

above the total value of £1,500 if you enter Britain
above the total value of £873 if you enter Northern Ireland
excise duty, restricted or controlled goods
Goods weighing more than 1,000 kg.

Check the rules on cargo in your baggage.

Exemptions from COVID-19 rules for Eu and US on business trips

You may not need to self-isolate or complete the Passenger Locator Form even if you have recently traveled through or from a country or territory not on the Travel Corridor List. Check to see if your job qualifies you for this exemption.

(Aerospace Engineers,
Pilots and crew members of aircraft,
BBC broadcasting network and services,
Homeland Security Officers,
Airport security officers,
Drivers
Directors of companies with many employees,
Channel Tunnel Workers,
Infrastructure Data Engineers,
etc) .

COVID-19 procedures for international arrivals: you need to get tested

If you are not eligible for a business travel waiver, you will be able to pay for a COVID-19 test. If the test is negative, you can reduce your self-isolation period, which is still due when you arrive from Italy.

These rules are voluntary and only apply to England.

Check what documents you need to enter the UK

In the 48 hours before you arrive in the UK from overseas, you must complete a Passenger Locator Form to announce your trip and contact details. This is part of the UK’s response to COVID-19.

In general, border controls are much more stringent.

Students arriving in Great Britain

School-age children visiting the UK

The “List of Travellers”: can I use it?

From 1 October 2021 the rules related to the List of Travellers’ scheme will no longer be in force.

As we have seen, there are a number of measures in place when travelling to the UK to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.

The steps that students will have to take for travel and arrival depend on the country from which they are traveling to the UK and if they have been in any other country in the 10 days before arrival.

The UK has classified countries into three groups using a system of traffic lights: red, amber and green, with different requirements for each.

You will need to check how the country you are travelling from is classified on the government website. The requirements will depend on where you have been in the 10 days prior to arriving in the UK.

Requirements are subject to change, so it’s important to check the most up-to-date information closer to when you’re travelling to the UK.

What identity document is needed for children and children on a study holiday in the United Kingdom?

From 1 October 2021, children travelling to Great Britain for language courses or other study classes will also have to use their passport.

What you can bring to the UK

Can I travel with my puppy to and from Great Britain?

Are EU and EU citizens allowed to bring in their family pet when travelling to the UK?

The answer is yes, however you can travel with your cat, fido, or other in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

For this to be possible, the animal must have one of the following certificatesat the time of entry into the country:

An EU veterinary passport that was issued in Italy or Great Britain before 1 January 2021.
An Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued in the UK. This can be used for four months from the date of creation.
If you are travelling from a country that does not issue pet passports, a British pet health certificate will suffice. If you are entering from one of the following locations, your pet will not need any documents to enter the UK:

Channel Islands
Isle of Man
Northern Ireland

Entry with your pet, once allowed, will follow one of the “approved routes”. It is advisable to check these routes before starting your journey.

Please note that the above-mentioned documents as well as your pet’s microchip will be verified upon entry into the country.

Those who require the assistance of dogs and who enter from Italy or another EU country, will not need to travel on the aforementioned approved routes.

However, they will have to mention their situation at the point of entry to ensure that the checks are carried out correctly.

Consult your veterinarian to understand what you need to do before you leave.

Bringing goods to the UK

The amount of goods you can take with you is commonly known as “personal allowances.” Personal allowance rules apply to any goods purchased abroad and brought into the UK.

These rules apply to goods regardless of where you purchased them. For example:

a duty-free or tax-free shop
on the main street of the town you visited

You must declare all commercial goods. There are no personal allowances for goods you bring to sell or use in your business.

The amount of goods you can bring without paying taxes or duties depends on:

Where are you from
if you are arriving in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland)
if you are arriving in Northern Ireland

Cash checks

Individuals travelling from Italy to the UK with £10,000 or more in cash will need to make a declaration.

Healthcare in the UK, what you need to do:

If you’re visiting the UK from Italy, the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland, you should:

have travel or health insurance that covers the duration of the trip
Bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with you if you are eligible to continue using it in the UK
bring your S1 form with you if you are eligible to continue using it in the UK
Bring your S2 form with you if you are eligible for one
check if you need to apply for an S2 health visa

However, it is possible to use the EHIC card if it is valid and issued by your country health authorities. This card allows you to access healthcare.

Please note that the EHIC is not a substitute for travel insurance. This is in fact desirable, both in the form of travel and health insurance. Make sure it is valid for the duration of your stay in Great Britain.

Driving in the UKiaggio che sanitaria. Accertati che sia valida per tutto il periodo del tuo soggiorno in Gran Bretagna.

If you have a non-UK license

Visitors with a non-UK driving license are allowed to drive in the UK. You don’t need an International Driving Permit (IDP).

If your vehicle is not insured in the UK

If you have vehicle insurance issued in the EU, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Serbia or Switzerland, you will need to carry an insurance green card or other valid proof of insurance.

In fact, to be valid, a second proof of insurance is required such as a document issued by the vehicle insurer that includes:

Name of the insurer
license plate or other vehicle identification data
Insurance coverage period

Contact your insurance before you travel.

If your vehicle is insured in a country outside the EU, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Serbia, or Switzerland, what you need to do will depend on whether or not your country adheres to the green card system.

If your country is a member, you will need to carry such a green card with you.

If your country is not a member, your vehicle will need insurance to be taken out in the UK.

Using your mobile phone in the UK

How much you pay for calls, texts, and mobile data in the UK will depend on your carrier. Our advice is to check before your trip.