Travel to the UK
If we go on holiday, will we face any problems when coming back to the UK? I am outside the UK – will I be allowed to enter the UK?
Information on this page shows details of the right to enter the UK for those with EUSS status, waiting for status, joining family members and more.
See this Gov.UK website - Entering the UK under the EUSS and EUSS family permit which gives some helpful information, split into information for EEA/Swiss citizens. and non-EEA/Swiss.
See also this Gov.UK website - Visiting the UK as an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen which includes a section for those waiting for a decision on an EUSS application.
The rules around the right to enter the UK are very complex and depend on many different pieces of legislation. Factors such as your nationality, whether you were living in the UK before 31st December 2020, whether you put in an application to the EU Settlement Scheme before the 30th June 2021 deadline or not, all play a part.
Note: Even if you are allowed to enter the UK, you may have problems trying to board a flight, train or boat. This is because carriers can be fined or held responsible for returning passengers who are denied entry into the UK. Carriers therefore sometimes appear to make a commercial decision to deny someone boarding even if they would be able to enter the UK. Please see our two sections below on proving status when boarding.
In our guidance document we attempt to capture the different situations people are in, and whether they are allowed to enter the UK.
With thanks to Jonathan Kingham, head of LexisPSL Immigration, for his input.
Download rights to enter general guidance
Together with Seraphus we also created a document for advisors which has relevant information.
Questioned at the UK Border?
It is important to read the guidance documents above to determine whether you should travel to the UK (or leave the UK, planning to return), especially for joining family members (i.e. people eligible for status under the EU Settlement Scheme but who were not resident in the UK before 31 December 2020).
The Independent Monitoring Authority have created some videos to explain the processes at the UK Border if you are questioned and/or detained by Border Force officers:
- EEA/Swiss citizens with EUSS status or a valid pending application, travelling with a passport - if you encounter an issue at the eGates, you may be referred to a Border Force Officer. The video will tell you what to expect if this happens.
- EEA/Swiss citizens with EUSS status or a valid pending application, travelling with a national ID card - you will need to queue for the Border Force desk if you are travelling with a national ID card. The video will tell you what to expect.
- EEA/Swiss citizens with an EUSS family permit - you will be referred to a Border Force Officer if you are a citizen with an EUSS family permit. The video will tell you what to expect.
- Non EEA/Swiss citizens (joining family members) with EUSS status, a valid pending EUSS application or an EUSS family permit - Nationals of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and USA are able to use the eGates to enter the UK. However, if this does not apply to you or you’ve encountered an issue, you may be referred to a Border Force Officer. The video will tell you what to expect.
Proving status when boarding - EEA/Swiss citizens
'Partner pack' from the UK Government to carriers says that:
“Carriers are not currently required to check an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen’s immigration status, or their entitlement to travel on a national identity card, when deciding whether to bring them to the UK. They only need to check that they have a valid passport or national identity card”.
However, we have heard of lots of cases where people are asked for proof - so you might like to generate a share code before you travel, print out a screenshot of your online status, and print out your EUSS decision letter.
Proving status when boarding - non-EEA/Swiss citizens
There are different rules in place for those with are on the visa national list and those who aren't. If your nationality is not on the visa national list, then your passport should be sufficient to allow you to travel to the UK. However, visa nationals are required to have proof of their immigration status in order to board a carrier to the UK.
Guidance from the UK Government to carriers on document checks says in their section "Visa nationals and the EU Settlement Scheme":
“Visa national passengers who have been granted settled or pre-settled status must show a valid visa or visa exemption document. [...] Where a visa national passenger does not have a valid visa or visa exemption document, you may accept evidence of pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme where this is provided by the passenger via the online ‘View and Prove’ service.
Visa nationals who have a valid pending application to the EU Settlement Scheme are
advised not to travel to the UK until their application is granted unless they hold a valid
visa or visa exemption document. A Certificate of Application or Acknowledgement of
Application is not satisfactory evidence of status."
National identity cards
EEA/Swiss citizens with (pre-)settled status are entitled to enter the UK with their national identity card, however some EU countries including Sweden are insisting people need a passport to depart from their country to the UK. See this FAQ for more details. See this FAQ if you’ve applied for EUSS status but are still waiting for a decision.
Dual British/EU citizens
If you are a dual British/EU citizen, you are advised to apply for a British passport if you have not already done so, and to carry it with you when you travel to the UK. See this FAQ for more information.
Updating your digital status with your travel document
When you get a new passport or national identity card, you should update your digital status with your new identity document. See this FAQ for information. Also see this FAQ about linking multiple identity documents to your digital status.
Visa nationals with an expired, lost or stolen BRC/BRP
Visa nationals should ensure they have a valid, unexpired EUSS Biometric Residence Card (or a Biometric Residence Permit if they have an immigration status outside the EU Settlement Scheme) when they travel.
See this FAQ on information on what to do if you are abroad without a valid BRC/BRP, and you are denied boarding.
