Travelling to United Kingdom
Entry requirements by nationality
- Argentina: electronic travel authorisation (ETA) required — up to 180 days per visit
- Australia: electronic travel authorisation (ETA) required — up to 180 days per visit
- Brazil: electronic travel authorisation (ETA) required — up to 180 days per visit
- Canada: electronic travel authorisation (ETA) required — up to 180 days per visit
- Chile: electronic travel authorisation (ETA) required — up to 180 days per visit
- China: visa required — up to 180 days per visit
- France: electronic travel authorisation (ETA) required — up to 180 days per visit
- Germany: electronic travel authorisation (ETA) required — up to 180 days per visit
- India: visa required — up to 180 days per visit
- Israel: electronic travel authorisation (ETA) required — up to 180 days per visit
- Italy: electronic travel authorisation (ETA) required — up to 180 days per visit
- Japan: electronic travel authorisation (ETA) required — up to 180 days per visit
- Malaysia: electronic travel authorisation (ETA) required — up to 180 days per visit
- Mexico: electronic travel authorisation (ETA) required — up to 180 days per visit
- Netherlands: electronic travel authorisation (ETA) required — up to 180 days per visit
- New Zealand: electronic travel authorisation (ETA) required — up to 180 days per visit
- Singapore: electronic travel authorisation (ETA) required — up to 180 days per visit
- South Korea: electronic travel authorisation (ETA) required — up to 180 days per visit
- Spain: electronic travel authorisation (ETA) required — up to 180 days per visit
- Ukraine: visa required
- United States: electronic travel authorisation (ETA) required — up to 180 days per visit
What you can bring
- Alcohol: allowed, within limits — Up to 42 litres of beer, 18 litres of still wine, plus either 4 litres of spirits (over 22% ABV) or 9 litres of drinks up to 22% ABV, duty-freeDetailscompare everywhere →
- Cannabis: prohibitedDetailscompare everywhere →
- Cash: allowed, must be declared — Must declare cash of £10,000 or more (any currency) when crossing the Great Britain border; a €10,000 threshold applies for Northern IrelandDetailscompare everywhere →
- Controlled medication: allowed, within limits — Up to 3 months' supply of medicine containing a controlled drug can be carried in hand luggage without a Home Office licence. All of the stimulants, benzodiazepines and opioids named in this entry are Schedule 2-4 drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations (amphetamine, methylphenidate and lisdexamfetamine: Schedule 2; oxycodone: Schedule 2; codeine: Schedule 2 or 5 depending on the preparation; tramadol: Schedule 3; diazepam, alprazolam and clonazepam: Schedule 4 Part 1), so the 3-month exemption applies to them -- only Schedule 1 drugs are barred without a special licence. Non-UK residents must carry a letter stating their name, travel dates, and a list of the medicine with dose/strength, signed by the prescriber; the medicine must travel in hand luggage, not hold luggage.Detailscompare everywhere →
- Drones: depends on specifics — A Flyer ID (theory test) is required for any drone 100g or heavier; an Operator ID is also required for drones 250g+ or 100-250g with a camera. The UK Civil Aviation Authority states it does not recognize overseas drone registrations or qualifications — visitors must obtain UK Flyer/Operator IDs before flying, regardless of what they hold at home.Detailscompare everywhere →
- E-cigarettes: allowed, within limits — Counted under the general personal-goods allowance of £390 (no separate vape category yet)Detailscompare everywhere →
- Fresh produce & plants: depends on specifics — From the EU, Switzerland, or Liechtenstein: fruit, vegetables, and nuts/seeds may be brought in for personal consumption with no certificate needed. From all other (non-EU) countries: most fruit, vegetables, nuts, and seeds require a phytosanitary certificate issued by plant-health authorities in the departure country — but a specific named list is exempt from that requirement: pineapple, kiwi, coconut, citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit), kumquat, persimmon, durian, curry leaves, banana and plantain, mango, dates, passion fruit, and guava. Also exempt: processed/packaged plant products (e.g. packaged salads, frozen plant material), peeled or processed nuts and nut butters, and certain grains such as rice.Detailscompare everywhere →
- Injectable medication: allowed, within limits — Liquid medication over 100ml (which covers most injectable pens/vials) is allowed through UK airport security in hand luggage, but you must carry proof it's prescribed to you -- a prescription copy or a letter from your doctor. Hypodermic syringes are explicitly listed as permitted in hand luggage. No such proof is required for tablets or for liquid medicine in containers of 100ml or less.Detailscompare everywhere →
- Meat & dairy: depends on specifics — From the EU/EEA/Switzerland: cheese, milk, dairy, and most red meats are banned, but fish, poultry, eggs and honey are allowed. From all other countries: all meat and dairy products are banned outright, with narrow exceptions for honey and infant/medical foods up to 2kg.Detailscompare everywhere →
- Prescription medication: allowed, within limits — Up to 3 months' supply without a licence; longer supplies, or any Schedule 1 controlled drug, require a Home Office licence applied for at least 14 days aheadDetailscompare everywhere →
- Tobacco: allowed, within limits — One of: 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars, 250g loose tobacco, or 200 heated-tobacco sticks (splittable across categories), duty-freeDetailscompare everywhere →
- Weapons: depends on specificsDetailscompare everywhere →
Checked against official sources on 2026-08-10. Official source