UNITED KINGDOM VISA AND IMMIGRATION

VISA and Immigration

Passports: 

To enter the United Kingdom, a passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay is required by all nationals referred to in the chart above, except (1) EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.

EU nationals are only required to produce evidence of their EU nationality and identity in order to be admitted to any EU member state. This evidence can take the form of a valid national passport or national identity card. Either is acceptable. Possession of a return ticket, any length of validity on their document, or sufficient funds for the length of their proposed visit should not be imposed.

A passport is not required for travel between Great Britain and Ireland (an official form of identification, such as a driver's license, is required), Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

Passengers transiting the UK destined for the Republic of Ireland are advised to hold return tickets to avoid delay and interrogation.

Visas: 

Visas for the United Kingdom are not required by nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to six months.

Visa note: 

Nationals not requiring visas are advised to be in possession of either a return ticket or, if arriving on a one-way ticket, proof of sufficient funds to accommodate and support themselves for the duration of stay.

Nationals not referred to in the chart are advised to contact the embassy/high commission to check visa requirements for the United Kingdom.

Types and cost: 

General visitor visa: £83; long-term visit visa: £300 (up to two years); £544 (up to five years); £737 (up to 10 years).

Validity: 

General visitor visa: six months; long-term visit visa: one, two, five or 10 years, with a maximum stay of six months per visit.

Transit: 

Some nationals (but not those listed above) require a transit visa. The Direct Airside Transit visa costs £40 and allows you to change flights in the UK, but you must not pass through immigration control and must leave within 24 hours. The Visitor in Transit visa costs £54 and allows you to go through border control, but you must leave the UK within 48 hours. For both visas, you must prove you are in transit to another country. Long-term transit visas are available to frequent travelers.

Application to: 

Consulate (or consular section at embassy/high commission). In some countries, you can apply online. See the UK government website for details www.gov.uk/visas-immigration.

Schengen visas: 

The United Kingdom is not part of the Schengen area.

Working days: 

The length of time taken to process visa applications depends on the nationality of the applicant and the country where you're applying. Generally, you can expect a decision within three weeks.

Sufficient funds: 

If you do require a visa to visit the United Kingdom, you may be asked to provide information about your finances. 

Extension of stay: 

If you are initially given permission to enter for three months, you may apply to UK Visas and Immigration to extend your stay to six months from your original date of entry. The fee to extend your visa is £601 is you apply by post (decision made in eight weeks) or £1,001 if you apply in person (decision usually made on the same day).

The maximum total time you can stay in the United Kingdom is six months.

Entry with pets: 

If bringing a pet from another EU or 'listed' country, your animal must have a microchip, pet passport or official third country veterinary certificate, rabies vaccination administered at least 21 days before travel, and tapeworm treatment (dogs only).

If bringing a pet from an unlisted country, your animal must have a microchip, official third country veterinary certificate, rabies vaccination, blood test taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination and at least three months before travel, and tapeworm treatment (dogs only).

For full details, see www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad.

Embassies and tourist offices

UK Visas

Telephone: (020) 7008 8438.Website: http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk Opening times: Mon-Fri 0930-1330.

Money & duty free for United Kingdom

Currency & Money

Currency information: 

Pound (GBP; symbol £) = 100 pence. Notes are in denominations of £50, £20, £10 and £5. Additional bank notes issued by Scottish banks (including £1 notes) are accepted in all parts of the UK, although some smaller shops outside Scotland may prefer English banknotes. Coins are in denominations of £2 and £1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 pence.

Credit cards: 

American Express, MasterCard and Visa are all widely accepted. Cash can be obtained from a multitude of ATMs available across the country.

ATM: 

Cash can be obtained from a multitude of ATMs available across the country.

Traveler’s cheques: 

Widely accepted. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveler’s cheques in Pounds Sterling.

Banking hours: 

Mon-Fri 0930-1630 (there may be some variations in closing times). Some banks are open Saturday morning; some all day Saturday.

Currency restriction: 

There are no restrictions on the import or export of local or foreign currency. However, amounts exceeding €10,000 or equivalent must be declared if travelling from or to a country outside the European Union.

Currency exchange: 

Money can be exchanged in banks, exchange bureau, some post offices and many hotels. The exchange bureau are often open outside banking hours but charge higher commission rates. All major currencies can be exchanged.

United Kingdom duty free

Goods obtained duty and tax paid in the EU are unlimited, as long as tax was paid in the country and they are for your own use. If you bring in more than the following, customs officials are more likely to ask the reason for holding the goods:

• 800 cigarettes or 400 cigarillos or 200 cigars or 1kg of tobacco.
• 90L of still wine.
• 110L of beer.
• 10L of alcoholic beverages stronger than 22% or 20L of fortified or sparkling wine or other liqueurs up to 22%.

If you are arriving from a non-EU country, the following goods may be imported into the UK by persons over 17 years of age without incurring customs duty:

• 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco. These can be combined provided travelers do not exceed their total tobacco allowance.
• 4L of still wine.
• 1L of alcoholic beverages stronger than 22% or 2L of fortified or sparkling wine or other liqueurs up to 22%. These can be combined provided travelers do not exceed their total alcohol allowance.
• 16L of beer.
• Other goods including souvenirs up to the value of £390 (or £270 if arriving by private plane or boat).

The Channel Islands and Gibraltar are treated as being outside of the EU for duty-free purposes.

Banned imports: 

Prohibited items include illegal drugs, offensive weapons, self-defense sprays, indecent and obscene material, counterfeit and pirated goods, and meat, dairy and other animal products from outside the EEA.

Restricted items include firearms, explosives and ammunition, live animals, endangered species, rough diamonds, and certain radio transmitters.