Visa policy of the United Kingdom

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 always obtain entry clearance by obtaining a visa in advance of travelling to the UK, and "non-visa nationals" may travel as a visitor to the UK for up to six months without a visa. Since November 2023, some nationals must apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). The UK Government plans to extend this to all non-visa nationals.

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 (CTA) 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 CTA 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

  United Kingdom

  Freedom of movement / Common Travel Area

  Visa not required for 6 months, subject to UK Visitor Rules (no UK jobs market work, no recourse to public funds)

  Electronic travel authorisation

  Visa not required if holding a valid BIVS Irish visa and arriving at the UK from Ireland for the remaining period of time granted by the Irish immigration official; otherwise, visa required for entry, and both landside and airside transit (unless holding exemption documents)

  Visa required for entry, and landside transit (unless holding exemption documents); visa-free airside transit

  Visa required for entry, and both landside and airside transit (unless holding exemption documents)

Visa exemption

The following persons can 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

Non-visa nationals

Citizens of the following countries and territories may enter United Kingdom without a visa for 6 months (or 1 month for permitted paid engagements):

British nationals: British Overseas Territories citizens British Nationals (Overseas) British Overseas citizens British protected persons British subjects without the right of abode in the United Kingdom
European Union member states (except Ireland)
Andorra Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Australia Bahamas Barbados Belize Botswana Brazil Brunei Canada Chile Costa Rica Grenada Guatemala Guyana Hong Kong Iceland Israel	Japan Kiribati Liechtenstein Macao Malaysia Maldives Marshall Islands Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Monaco Nauru New Zealand Nicaragua Norway Palau Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay	Peru Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Seychelles Singapore Solomon Islands South Korea Switzerland Taiwan Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tuvalu United States of America Uruguay Vatican City

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

Passport stamp with 6 months' leave to enter endorsed in a pre-biometric Canadian Passport at the juxtaposed controls at the Port of Calais.

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.

Since 20 May 2019, citizens from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, 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.

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.

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.

By April 2025, all visitors who do not need a visa will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation to travel to the UK.

Electronic travel authorisation (ETA)

The UK implemented the Electronic Travel Authorisation system, from November 2023.

Citizens of the following countries may obtain an ETA.

• Bahrain
• Kuwait
• Oman
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• United Arab Emirates

Electronic travel authorisation was also available to the citizens of Jordan until 10 September 2024.

By April 2025, all visitors with visa-exempt nationalities will need an ETA to travel to the UK if they do not possess a valid UK visa or are not also citizens of the UK or Ireland. Since 27 November 2024, ETA applications have also been opened for non-visa nationalities outside the European Union, who will need an ETA for any travel to the UK on or after 8 January 2025. This requirement will be extended to EU nationals later with applications starting from 5 March and an ETA being mandatory from 2 April. There is a £10 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.

British-Irish Visa Scheme (BIVS)

Citizens of the following countries may travel to the UK without a visa if they hold a valid Irish visa endorsed with BIVS:

• China
• India

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, but not including Taiwan), 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

• Ukraine

Citizens of Ukraine (and their family members of any nationality) who have a family member or sponsor in the UK may apply online for permission to enter and remain in the UK. If approved, they may travel to the UK with such permission letter instead of a visa.

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 a Indefinite Period Of Stay (unless otherwise stated):

BahrainD O S ChinaD SPA IndonesiaD JordanD O S

KuwaitD O S OmanD O S Qatar D O S Saudi ArabiaD O S

South AfricaD TurkeyD United Arab EmiratesD O S VietnamD

_{D - Diplomatic passports
S - Special 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 changes

Visa exemption: Unknown: Andorra, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania and Vatican Citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Canada, Cyprus, Grenada, Ireland, Kiribati, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, New Zealand, Nauru, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago and Tuvalu have never needed a visa to gain access to the United Kingdom 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, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Paraguay 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 3 March 2009: Taiwan 9 November 2022: Colombia, Guyana and Peru (resumed) 15 November 2023: Qatar 22 February 2024: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates Electronic Visa 1 January 2014: Oman, Qatar and United Arab Emirates 6 April 2016: Kuwait 1 June 2022: Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Diplomatic and service passports: 25 October 2007: China (conditional) (diplomatic, service passports and public affairs passports accompanying a Minister or above for the purpose of an official visit) 6 April 2011: Oman, Qatar and United Arab Emirates (diplomatic and special passports) 9 January 2012: Turkey (diplomatic passports) 1 October 2013: Kuwait (diplomatic and special passports) 30 December 2013: Vatican (service and temporary service passports) 6 April 2014: Bahrain (diplomatic and special passports) 3 August 2015: South Africa (diplomatic passports) 8 October 2015: Vietnam (diplomatic passports) 6 April 2016: Indonesia (diplomatic passports) Cancelled: Visa free travels was cancelled because of the World War II with following countries: Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, San Marino, Sweden, Switzerland (All have been resumed in 1940s - 1950s) 1938: Austria (was resumed in 1968) 21 May 1938: Germany (was resumed) 24 January 1973: Cuba 19 May 1980: Iran 1982: Argentina (was resumed in 1990) 1985: Sri Lanka 1986: Bangladesh, Ghana, India and Pakistan 1 February 1987: Nigeria 1989: Haiti 22 June 1989: Turkey 1 April 1990: Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia 3 October 1990: East Germany 1991: Uganda 1992: Yugoslavia (current as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia) 1 October 1994: Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone 27 October 1995: Gambia 5 January 1996: Tanzania 8 March 1996: Kenya 4 April 1996: Bahrain, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Guyana, Kuwait, Maldives, Mauritius, Niger, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Qatar, Suriname, United Arab Emirates and Zambia (Maldives, Mauritius and Papua New Guinea were resumed in 2002, Guyana and Peru were resumed in 2022) 27 May 1997: Colombia(was resumed in 2022) 1 August 1997: Ecuador 8 October 1998: Slovakia (was resumed in 2003) 19 November 1999: Croatia (was resumed in 2006) 9 November 2002: Zimbabwe 9 January 2003: Jamaica 2 March 2006: Malawi 18 May 2009: Bolivia 3 March 2009: South Africa 1 July 2009: Eswatini and Lesotho 5 May 2014: Venezuela 11 May 2022: El Salvador 19 July 2023: Dominica, Honduras, Namibia, Timor-Leste and Vanuatu 10 September 2024: Jordan 26 November 2024: Colombia

Transit

There are 2 types of transit through the United Kingdom under the United Kingdom Transit Rules - airside transit and landside transit. The Transit Without Visa facility for visa requiring nationals was abolished, effective 1 December 2014, and replaced with United Kingdom Transit Rules. Notwithstanding the lists below, in general, even persons from 'Direct Airside transit visa-exempt nationalities' require a transit visa if transiting though the UK to other parts of the Common Travel Area including Ireland.

With the introduction of the Electronic Travel Authorisation system, everyone, unless exempt from needing an ETA, will need an ETA even if in transit, irrespective of whether it is an airside or landslide transit. (see list of countries needing an ETA above)

Airside transit

• Available only at London Heathrow Airport, London Gatwick Airport and Manchester Airport
• Available only to passengers arriving and departing by air to an international destination other than Ireland on the same day.
• Available only to passengers not leaving the airside zone of the airport and not passing through immigration control.
• Concerns passengers who would normally require a visitor visa to enter the United Kingdom but who hold a Direct Airside Transit visa, a passport of an airside transit visa-exempt country, or an airside transit visa exemption document.

Landside transit

• Available only to passengers arriving and departing by air by 23:59 the next day who require passing through immigration control and leaving the airport building only for transit purposes.
• Concerns passengers who would normally require a visitor visa to enter the United Kingdom but who hold a Visitor in Transit visa or a landside visa exemption document.

Airside transit visa-exempt citizens

Armenia Azerbaijan Bahrain Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Burkina Faso Cambodia Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Comoros	Cuba Djibouti Dominican Republic Ecuador Equatorial Guinea Fiji Gabon Haiti Indonesia Kazakhstan Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos	Madagascar Mali Mauritania Montenegro Morocco Mozambique Niger North Korea Oman Philippines São Tomé and Príncipe Saudi Arabia Suriname	Taiwan Tajikistan Thailand Togo Tunisia Turkmenistan Ukraine United Arab Emirates Uzbekistan Venezuela Zambia
Stateless persons holding UN Convention 1954 travel documents and refugees whose original nationality is exempt.

Airside transit visa exemption documents

The exemption applies where travellers:

• arrive and depart by air, and
• the onward flight must be confirmed, and must depart the same day, and
• have proper documentation for their destination (including a visa for the destination country if necessary), and
• fulfil any one of the below conditions:

1. have a valid visa for Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the US, whether or not travelling to or from those countries, or
2. have a valid Australian or New Zealand residence visa; or
3. have a valid Canadian permanent resident card issued on or after 28 June 2002; or
4. have a valid uniform format residence permit issued by an EEA state under Council Regulation (EC) number 1030/2002; or
5. have a valid Irish biometric visa endorsed BC or BC BIVS; or
6. have a valid uniform format category D visa for entry to a state in the European Economic Area (EEA); or
7. have a valid US I-551 permanent resident card issued on or after 21 April 1998; or
8. have an expired I-551 permanent resident card issued on or after 21 April 1998, accompanied by an I-797 extension letter; or
9. have a standalone US Immigration Form 155A/155B attached to an envelope; or
10. have a valid Schengen Approved destination Scheme (ADS) group tourism visa where the holder is travelling to the country that issued it or holds a valid airline ticket from the Schengen area, provided the holder can demonstrate they entered there no more than 30 days previously on the basis of a valid Schengen ADS visa;

E-visas or e-residence permits are not acceptable for airside transit unless the airline is able to verify it with the issuing country. Nationals of Syria who are holders of US B1/B2 visas are not visa-exempt.

Visitor in Transit visa exemption documents

The exemption applies where travellers:

• arrive and depart by air, and
• the onward flight must be confirmed, and must depart by 23:59 the following day, and
• have proper documentation for their destination (including a visa for the destination country if necessary), and
• fulfil any one of the below conditions:

1. have a valid entry visa for Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the US, and a valid airline ticket for travel via the UK, as part of a reasonable journey to or from one of those countries, or
2. have a valid airline ticket for travel via the UK as part of a reasonable journey from Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the US, if they are transiting the UK no more than 6 months after the date when they last entered Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the US with a valid entry visa for that country; or
3. have a valid Australian or New Zealand residence visa; or
4. have a valid Canadian permanent resident card issued on or after 28 June 2002; or
5. have a valid uniform format residence permit issued by an EEA state under Council Regulation (EC) number 1030/2002; or
6. have a valid Irish biometric visa endorsed BC or BC BIVS and be travelling to Ireland; or
7. be travelling from Ireland and it is less than three months since given permission to stay in Ireland by the Irish immigration official with a valid Irish biometric visa, or
8. have a valid uniform format category D visa for entry to a state in the European Economic Area (EEA); or
9. have a valid US I-551 permanent resident card issued on or after 21 April 1998; or
10. have an expired I-551 permanent resident card issued on or after 21 April 1998, accompanied by an I-797 extension letter; or
11. have a standalone US Immigration Form 155A/155B attached to an envelope;

E-Visas such as those regularly issued by Australia or e-residence permits are not acceptable for landside transit.

Obtaining an entry visa

Mandatory tuberculosis testing for a long term UK visa

The UK visa in a Russian student's passport

Visitors entering the UK, the Channel Islands and/or the Isle of Man who do not qualify for one of the visa exemptions listed above have to apply for a visa in advance through the UK Visas and Immigration at a visa application centre.

All visitors must apply by registering an online account (except citizens of North Korea who must apply in person at the British Embassy), fill in the application form, pay the fee and attend an appointment at a visa application centre.

A visitor's visa for a single stay or multiple stays of up to 6 months costs £115. A multiple-entry visitor's visa valid for 2 years costs £432, 5 years £771, and 10 years £963. Mainland Chinese citizen can, for certain common forms of travel, obtain a 2-year, multiple-entry visitor's visa at a cost of £115. Being a digital nomad is explicitly allowed on a standard visitor visa as long as the clients or employer are not based in the UK and there is no access to the UK jobs market.

Family members of EU, EEA and Swiss citizens who are not covered by one of the visa exemptions above can apply for an EEA Family Permit free of charge (instead of a visa).

Applicants for most UK visas, including visitor visas and EEA Family Permits, must submit biometric identifiers (fingerprints and a digital facial image). Exemptions from biometrics apply to diplomats, foreign officials, Commonwealth Forces, those transferring a visa vignette to a new passport, and travelers going directly to the Channel Islands or Gibraltar without passing through the UK or Isle of Man. Children must be accompanied when providing biometrics, which may be shared with foreign governments and are destroyed 10 years after capture. Most visa applications are decided within 3 weeks.

Applicants resident in the following countries and territories who wish to enter the UK for 6 months or more are required to be tested for tuberculosis as part of the visa application process:

• Afghanistan
• Algeria
• Angola
• Armenia
• Azerbaijan
• Bangladesh
• Belarus
• Benin
• Bolivia
• Botswana
• Brunei
• Burkina Faso
• Burma
• Burundi
• Cambodia
• Cameroon
• Cape Verde
• Central African Republic
• Chad
• China
• Congo
• DR Congo
• Djibouti
• Dominican Republic
• East Timor
• Ecuador
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eritrea
• Eswatini
• Ethiopia
• Gabon
• Gambia
• Georgia
• Ghana
• Guatemala
• Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Guyana
• Haiti
• Hong Kong
• India
• Indonesia
• Iraq
• Ivory Coast
• Kazakhstan
• Kenya
• Kiribati
• Kyrgyzstan
• Laos
• Lesotho
• Liberia
• Macau
• Madagascar
• Malawi
• Malaysia
• Mali
• Marshall Islands
• Mauritania
• Micronesia
• Moldova
• Mongolia
• Morocco
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Nepal
• Niger
• Nigeria
• North Korea
• Pakistan
• Palau
• Panama
• Papua New Guinea
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Philippines
• Russia
• Rwanda
• São Tomé and Príncipe
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone
• Solomon Islands
• Somalia
• South Africa
• South Korea
• South Sudan
• Sri Lanka
• Sudan
• Tajikistan
• Tanzania
• Thailand
• Togo
• Turkmenistan
• Tuvalu
• Uganda
• Ukraine
• Uzbekistan
• Vanuatu
• Vietnam
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

After a person has successfully obtained a UK visa, if they subsequently obtain a new passport, but the UK visa in their old passport still has remaining validity, they are not required to have the UK visa vignette affixed in the old passport transferred to the new passport, but must be able to present both the new and old passports at passport control when entering the UK.

If a person who has successfully obtained a UK visa subsequently loses the passport in which the visa vignette is affixed (or if it is stolen), they have to pay the original visa fee in full again and may be required to show that their circumstances have not changed when applying for a replacement visa. However, a new 'confirmation of acceptance for studies' (CAS)/'certificate of sponsorship' (COS) is not required when applying for a replacement Tier 4/Tier 2 visa.

Visa types

These are correct as of April 2015.

Visitor visas

• Standard Visitor visa
• Marriage Visitor visa
• Permitted Paid Engagement visa
• Parent of a Tier 4 child visa
• Visa to pass through the UK in transit
  • Direct Airside Transit visa
  • Visitor in Transit visa

Work visas

As of September 2023:

• British National (Overseas) visa
• Charity Worker visa (Temporary Work)
• Creative Worker visa (Temporary Work)
• Exempt vignette
• Frontier Worker permit
• Global Talent visa
• Government Authorised Exchange visa (Temporary Work)
• Graduate Trainee visa (Global Business Mobility)
• Graduate visa
• Health and Care Worker visa
• High Potential Individual (HPI) visa
• Innovator Founder visa (formerly Innovator visa)
• International Agreement visa (Temporary Work)
• International Sportsperson visa
• Minister of Religion visa (T2)
• Overseas Domestic Worker visa
• Religious Worker visa (Temporary Work)
• Representative of an Overseas Business visa
• Scale-up Worker visa
• Seasonal Worker visa (Temporary Work)
• Secondment Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)
• Senior or Specialist Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)
• Service providers from Switzerland visa
• Service Supplier visa (Global Business Mobility)
• Skilled Worker visa
• Turkish Worker visa
• UK Ancestry visa
• UK Expansion Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)
• Youth Mobility Scheme visa

• Entrepreneur visa (Tier 1) [closed for new applications]
• Investor visa (Tier 1) [closed for new applications]
• Start-up visa [closed for new applications]
• Turkish Businessperson visa [closed for new applications]

Student visas

• Short-term study visa
• Tier 4 visa
  • General
  • Child

History

Visa policy of the UK from 1960 to the present

  United Kingdom or British Empire

  Visa-free access (subject to UK arrival with credible presentation as a visitor)

By early 1917, all aliens (i.e. persons who were not British subjects) were required to obtain visas from a British consul before embarking for the United Kingdom. Visa requirements would then be maintained for aliens under the peacetime regime of immigration control retained after 1918.

Visas were mutually abolished between the UK and France in July 1921, although this did not apply to French overseas territories or the rest of the British Empire.

Visa fee reduction between the UK and the United States had been discussed as early as 1925. They were mutually reduced by 80 per cent on 1 April 1937; by February 1938, such fees had already been abolished between the US and most European countries, but American citizens continued being required visas for entry into the UK until 1948.

Post-World War II

Members of the British Empire had been considered British subjects before the war and did not generally need visas; this did not apply to mandated territories such as South West Africa or Western Samoa, whose residents did need visas but were eligible to stay indefinitely. As dominions became more independent and adopted their own nationality laws, however, visa restrictions started to be applied.

The abolition of visa requirements was increased in post-war era as part of a policy to make travel freer and easier; by 1949 visa requirements had been abolished in 20 countries.

Although waiving visas or visa charges for United States citizens was discussed as early as 1930, such visas would remain until 1948, when the UK abolished such visas and the US waived visa fees and doubled visa lengths for UK citizens, albeit stopping short at full visa abolition due to domestic considerations; MP Phil Piratin was denied a visa.

Modern history

In March 2007, the Home Office announced that it would carry out its first Visa Waiver Test to review the list of countries and territories outside the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland whose nationals are exempt from holding a visa for the UK.

After carrying out the review, in July 2008, Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, and David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, announced to Parliament that the results of the test showed a 'strong case' for introducing visa regimes for 11 countries (Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Lesotho, Malaysia, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela) having taken into account the following factors (including the extent to which they were being addressed by the countries' authorities):

• Passport security and integrity
• The degree of co-operation over deportation or removal of the countries' nationals from the UK
• Levels of illegal working in the UK and other immigration abuse (such as fraudulent asylum claims)
• Levels of crime and terrorism risk posed to the UK

Following the July 2008 announcement, the UK Government entered into a 6-month period of 'detailed dialogue' with the governments of the 11 countries 'to examine how risks can be reduced in a way that obviates the need for a visa regime to be introduced'. In order to maintain visa-free access to the UK, the 11 countries had to 'demonstrate a genuine commitment to put into effect credible and realistic plans, with clear timetables, to reduce the risks to the UK, and begin real implementation of these plans by the end of the dialogue period'.

On 9 January 2009, the new visa rules announced required citizens of Bolivia, Lesotho, South Africa and Swaziland to obtain a visa, and only Venezuelan nationals travelling on biometric passports with an electronic chip issued since 2007 could continue to enter the UK without a visa. The existing visa-free status for citizens of Botswana, Brazil, Malaysia, Mauritius, Namibia and Trinidad and Tobago was maintained.

Starting from 3 March 2009, a transitional regime was put in place until 30 June 2009 for South African citizens - those who held a valid South African passport and had previously entered the UK lawfully using that passport could continue to enter the UK without a visa, whilst all other South African citizens were required to apply for a visa. On the same day, Taiwan citizens were able to enter the UK without a visa. On 18 May 2009, Bolivian citizens were no longer able to enter the UK without a visa and Venezuelan citizens were required to present a biometric passport to enter the UK without a visa. On 1 July 2009, all South African citizens were required to apply for a visa to enter the UK. On the same day, citizens of Lesotho and Swaziland were required to apply for a visa to enter the UK.

On 30 March 2010, Alan Johnson, the Home Secretary, and David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, announced to Parliament that, having carried out a review of visa regimes in relation to Eastern Caribbean countries, 5 countries (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis and St Vincent and the Grenadines) would have their visa-free status maintained. At the same time, the UK Government would enter a six-month period of 'detailed dialogue' with the governments of 2 countries (Dominica and St Lucia), who would have to 'demonstrate a genuine commitment to put into effect credible and realistic plans, with clear timetables, to reduce the risks to the UK, and begin implementing these plans by the end of the dialogue period' to maintain their visa-free status. On 2 March 2011, Theresa May, the Home Secretary, and William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, announced to Parliament that the governments of Dominica and St Lucia 'have made concrete improvements to the immigration, border control and identity systems which would not have happened without the test', and so the visa-free status for the 2 countries would be maintained.

On 13 June 2011, new Immigration Rules were laid before Parliament that came into force on 4 July 2011 introducing a new streamlined application procedure (waiving the normal requirements to provide documentary evidence of maintenance and qualifications at the time of application) for some non-visa nationals from 'low-risk countries' who wish to study in the UK for more than 6 months and apply for Tier 4 entry clearance. The following 15 countries and territories were categorised as 'low-risk' and included in 'Appendix H' of the Immigration Rules: Argentina, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago and the United States. Although the announcement did not relate to a Visa Waiver Test per se, it showed that the UK Border Agency considers some countries and territories in the list of visa-free nationalities to be lower risk than others. In particular, Trinidad and Tobago, which was considered to be a high-risk country from a visa regime perspective in 2008 when the Visa Waiver Test was carried out, was now viewed by the UK Border Agency as a low-risk country. On 5 September 2012, two more countries (Botswana and Malaysia) were added to the list of 'low-risk' nationalities for the purpose of Tier 4 entry clearance applications, i.e. 'Appendix H', (taking effect on 1 October 2012), whilst on 6 September 2013, Barbados was also added to 'Appendix H' (taking effect on 1 October 2013). Again, although the announcement did not relate to a Visa Waiver Test per se, it showed that Botswana, Malaysia and Barbados (countries which were considered to be a high-risk countries from a visa regime perspective when the Visa Waiver Test was carried out in 2008 in the case of Botswana and Malaysia, and in 2010 in the case of Barbados) were now viewed by the UK Border Agency as low-risk countries.

In March 2013, it was revealed that Theresa May, the Home Secretary, was considering removing Brazil from the list of visa-exempt nationalities due to concerns about illegal immigration, since Brazil was fifth in the top 10 of illegal immigrant nationalities in the UK according to Home Office figures for 2011, and was the only country on the list for which short-term visitors do not need a visa. However, the UK Government later decided to retain the visa exemption for Brazilian citizens, a decision which was seen as attempting to develop closer trading links with Brazil.

On 1 January 2014, an electronic visa waiver (EVW) scheme was introduced, enabling citizens of Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates who have obtained an EVW authorisation online to visit and / or study in the UK for up to 6 months without a visa; with Kuwait added to the EVW scheme during February 2016.

After 'assessing countries against a list of risk and compliance criteria', the UK Government added Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the UAE to 'Appendix H' (the list of 'low-risk' nationalities for the purpose of Tier 4 student visa applications) at various periods between 2014 and 2018 but according to the Cambridge Education Group, Oman was to be removed from this Appendix. However, it doesn't seem like this may have occurred.

These 2 changes reflect the UK Government's view that Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the UAE should now be regarded as low-risk countries from a visa regime perspective and it is possible that, in future, nationals of these four countries will be classified as non-visa nationals (enabling them to visit and/or study in the UK without a visa for up to 6 months without having to obtain an EVW authorisation online every time they wish to enter the UK).

On 13 March 2014, the UK Government announced that, with effect from 5 May 2014, Venezuelan citizens (including those with biometric passports) would require a visa to enter the UK.

In January 2020, British ambassador to Ukraine announced that there would be no visa-free arrangements for Ukrainian citizens.

On April 9, 2020, the Home Office issued a new immigration rule imposing visa restriction on low-skilled people workers with effect from January 2021. The restriction introduced a new point-based immigration system, allotting points for certain skills, salaries, qualification and shortage occupations. Any worker with points falling below the given threshold will be restricted from applying for UK work visa, as per the new immigration rule. Free Movement, a UK-based website updating, commenting, training and advising on immigration and asylum laws, claims that nurses, hospital porters, cleaners, postal workers, etc., are to be worst affected by the new immigration law.

In February 2021, the UK's new visa scheme stated that Hong Kong residents with a British National (Overseas) passport can stay in the UK for five years and get full citizenship.

In May 2022, a new visa scheme was offered to graduates from the world's top 50 universities, giving them a two year long work visa with the opportunity to prolong it if they meet certain requirements.

From 4 August 2022, police registration is no longer required.

Reciprocity

Main article: Visa requirements for British nationals

Of the 81 countries and territories whose citizens are granted 6 months' visa-free access to the UK:

• 14 reciprocate to British citizens: Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Grenada, Hong Kong, Macao, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Panama, San Marino and Vatican City.
  • The New Zealand process entails a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) (at a cost of NZD 9 or NZD 12) ahead of travel.
• 47 grant their standard visitor entry for up to 90 days (or 3 months), where granted: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, United States and Uruguay.
  • The United States process entails an ESTA (at a cost of US$14) in advance if entering the US by air or by sea.
  • Australia requires British citizens to obtain an eVisitor authorisation online in advance free of charge
• 13 grant their standard visitor entry for times mentioned: Belize (1 month), Kiribati (30 days), Maldives (30 days), Marshall Islands (30 days), Mauritius (60 days for tourists, 90 days on business), Micronesia (30 days), Nauru (30 days), Palau (30 days), St Lucia (6 weeks), Samoa (60 days), Seychelles (1 month, extendable to 12 months), Tonga (31 days), Tuvalu (1 month)
• 3 grant their standard visitor entry for up to 90 days (or 3 months), but extendable, with express permission: Botswana, Japan and Taiwan.

Beyond reciprocity (recent legacy arrangements)

Five Latin American legacy arrangements remain, and one recent other, as at 2024: (standard visitor grants of entry obtainable to, for duration stated)

• Bolivia (90 days), Colombia, (90 days), Ecuador (90 days), El Salvador (90 days) serbia (90 days) and Venezuela (90 days).
• Fiji (4 months, extendable for an extra 2 months).

No reciprocity

• Papua New Guinea requires British citizens to apply for a visa on arrival, valid for up to 60 days, for PGK100 (tourist) or PGK500 (business)

Visitor statistics

Most visitors arriving to United Kingdom were from the following countries of nationality. Note the statistics for Ireland are fluid; no visitor conditions attach and visits across the land border are not counted.

Nationality	Total
	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015	2014	2013	2012	2011
United States	4,499,000	3,877,000	3,910,000	3,455,000	3,266,000	2,976,000	2,778,000	2,840,000	2,846,000
France	3,561,000	3,693,000	3,956,000	4,064,000	4,171,000	4,114,000	3,974,000	3,787,000	3,633,000
Germany	3,233,000	3,262,000	3,380,000	3,341,000	3,249,000	3,220,000	3,048,000	2,967,000	2,947,000
Ireland	2,851,000	2,782,000	3,029,000	2,897,000	2,632,000	2,486,000	2,350,000	2,453,000	2,574,000
Spain	2,319,000	2,530,000	2,413,000	2,397,000	2,197,000	1,986,000	1,746,000	1,716,000	1,836,000
Italy	2,197,000	1,808,000	1,779,000	1,990,000	1,794,000	1,757,000	1,636,000	1,521,000	1,526,000
Netherlands	1,987,000	1,954,000	2,136,000	2,062,000	1,897,000	1,972,000	1,891,000	1,735,000	1,789,000
Poland	1,651,000	1,817,000	1,807,000	1,921,000	1,707,000	1,494,000	1,339,000	1,222,000	1,057,000
Belgium	1,135,000	1,116,000	1,148,000	1,048,000	1,175,000	1,122,000	1,174,000	1,113,000	984,000
Australia	1,063,000	1,003,000	1,092,000	982,000	1,043,000	1,057,000	1,058,000	993,000	1,093,000
China	1,010,000	472,000	406,000	307,000	325,000	233,000	237,000	215,000	181,000
Switzerland	926,000	808,000	989,000	940,000	872,000	864,000	807,000	832,000	768,000
Romania	902,000	987,000	944,000	891,000	693,000	471,000	377,000	267,000	259,000
Canada	874,000	850,000	835,000	828,000	708,000	649,000	731,000	704,000	740,000
Sweden	789,000	827,000	831,000	821,000	850,000	869,000	784,000	777,000	794,000
India	692,000	511,000	562,000	415,000	422,000	390,000	373,000	339,000	355,000
Denmark	691,000	735,000	– 730,000	730,000	756,000	662,000	696,000	636,000	614,000
Norway	647,000	673,000	712,000	700,000	771,000	874,000	838,000	771,000	739,000
Portugal	613,000	431,000	482,000	492,000	392,000	395,000	285,000	292,000	283,000
United Arab Emirates	553,000	392,000	374,000	365,000	347,000	260,000	304,000	256,000	241,000
Czech Republic	414,000	412,000	375,000	414,000	465,000	352,000	356,000	325,000	286,000
Hong Kong	409,000	243,000	230,000	218,000	204,000	159,000	163,000	135,000	149,000
Japan	389,000	– 247,000	247,000	246,000	194,000	222,000	225,000	243,000	237,000
Austria	342,000	322,000	307,000	302,000	277,000	263,000	275,000	268,000	271,000
Hungary	334,000	437,000	415,000	397,000	328,000	323,000	276,000	262,000	210,000
Turkey	334,000	177,000	230,000	196,000	192,000	196,000	154,000	145,000	126,000
Brazil	291,000	240,000	244,000	187,000	324,000	293,000	258,000	260,000	276,000
Israel	265,000	278,000	265,000	209,000	205,000	185,000	179,000	138,000	164,000
Greece	250,000	200,000	213,000	227,000	225,000	238,000	181,000	159,000	225,000
Lithuania	236,000	372,000	327,000	242,000	271,000	198,000	202,000	171,000	178,000
Bulgaria	235,000	266,000	262,000	248,000	173,000	184,000	125,000	138,000	97,000
South Africa	217,000	224,000	230,000	188,000	231,000	217,000	225,000	211,000	194,000
Finland	215,000	214,000	258,000	261,000	245,000	255,000	212,000	208,000	233,000
Nigeria	208,000	107,000	119,000	101,000	128,000	134,000	157,000	154,000	142,000
Russia	199,000	181,000	227,000	147,000	164,000	249,000	214,000	227,000	211,000
Malta	190,000	72,000	104,000	87,000	74,000	100,000	85,000	65,000	64,000
New Zealand	188,000	216,000	220,000	213,000	207,000	196,000	165,000	175,000	— 187,000
Thailand	184,000	93,000	94,000	77,000	79,000	76,000	74,000	75,000	65,000
Mexico	166,000	153,000	155,000	106,000	102,000	92,000	109,000	84,000	78,000
Luxembourg	146,000	76,000	83,000	104,000	122,000	97,000	90,000	83,000	73,000
Cyprus	128,000	96,000	163,000	135,000	136,000	119,000	123,000	111,000	124,000
Slovakia	113,000	142,000	179,000	156,000	175,000	132,000	146,000	120,000	117,000
Pakistan	90,000	102,000	69,000	66,000	58,000	75,000	63,000	73,000	65,000
Egypt	52,000	— 43,000	43,000	42,000	47,000	59,000	54,000	50,000	41,000
Morocco	33,000	32,000	– 33,000	33,000	29,000	35,000	31,000	26,000	19,000
Sri Lanka	29,000	20,000	17,000	22,000	16,000	17,000	24,000	— 20,000	20,000
Barbados	27,000	22,000	– 11,000	11,000	16,000	9,000	10,000	6,000	11,000
Tunisia	9,000	5,000	7,000	12,000	14,000	9,000	10,000	— 9,000	— 9,000
Jamaica	8,000	15,000	8,000	4,000	14,000	— 10,000	10,000	— 7,000	7,000
Total	40,857,000	37,905,000	39,214,000	37,609,000	36,115,000	34,377,000	32,692,000	31,084,000	30,798,000

See also

• Visa policies of British Overseas Territories
• Common Travel Area
• Visa requirements for British citizens
• UK Electronic Travel Authorisation