Support for EU and EEA EFTA citizens (and joining family members) travelling to the UK

The Independent Monitoring Authority (IMA), which monitors the rights of EU and EEA EFTA citizens after the UK left the EU, has received reports from citizens regarding problems travelling to, and entering the UK.

Following these reports, the IMA investigated the processes used by Border Force; the part of the Home Office which secures the UK border.

As a result, the IMA has created step-by-step videos for EU and EEA EFTA citizens and joining family members travelling to the UK to explain the procedures they should expect at the UK border.

The step-by-step videos cover scenarios that citizens may face depending on the form of identification they travel with and their status. For quicker entry into the UK, you may be able to use the e-Passport Gates (eGates) at the airport if you are travelling with your passport; as long as the criteria explained in Home Office guidance applies to you. If this is the case, please watch this Home Office video on using eGates.

If you encounter an issue using the eGates and are referred to a Border Force Officer, or you are not able to use the eGates at all, the IMA has produced a series of videos to explain examples of what can occur. Please refer to the video most relevant to your situation below.

The videos below were published in summer 2023.

VIDEO ONE: EU and EEA EFTA citizens with EUSS status or a valid pending application and travelling with a passport

If you encounter an issue at the eGates, you may be referred to a Border Force Officer. The video below will tell you what to expect if this happens:

Download the transcript for this video.

VIDEO TWO: EU and EEA EFTA citizens with EUSS status or a valid pending application and 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 below will tell you what to expect:

Download the transcript for this video.

VIDEO THREE: EU or EEA EFTA 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 below will tell you what to expect:

Download the transcript for this video.

VIDEO FOUR: Non-EU or EEA EFTA citizens (Joining Family Member) 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 below will tell you what to expect:

Download the transcript for this video.

Further information

If you have experienced issues at the border where you feel a Border Force Officer has not followed the processes outlined in Border Force guidance or the videos below, then please visit the IMA’s website where you can report a complaint via our portal, send a complaint via post or contact us via telephone.

The various videos listed below do not cover every scenario or situation and are just examples of the UK Border Force processes EU and EEA EFTA citizens (and joining family members) should expect when entering the UK.

VIDEO ONE: EU and EEA EFTA citizens with EUSS status or a valid pending application and travelling with a passport

If you’re an EU or EEA EFTA citizen travelling with your passport and encounter an issue using the eGates, you could be referred to a Border Force Officer.

At the Border Force desk, you will be asked to hand your passport to the Border Force Officer – where they will scan your passport to verify your EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status or pending EUSS application.
- To avoid delays, your passport MUST be connected to your EUSS status or pending application via your UKVI account. Information on how to update your UKVI account details and the identity document connected to your account is available on GOV.UK.

If you have a valid pending application to the EUSS, made on or after 1 July 2021, you may also be asked for proof that you were resident in the UK before 31 December 2020.

Once the Border Force Officer has verified your EUSS status or valid pending application, your passport will be returned to you, and you will be granted entry to the UK.

There may be circumstances where “further checks” are required. In this scenario another Border Force Officer will take your passport to perform further checks.
- During this time, you may be asked to wait at the Border Force desk.
- Alternatively, you could be handed a pre-filled form – titled an ‘IS81’ form, and asked to wait in the “Controlled Waiting Area” whilst the checks take place.
  - It is worth noting here that despite the pre-filled form referring to “detainment whilst further inquiries are undertaken”, you may only be waiting in this area for a short period of time and could still gain entry to the UK once the further checks have been completed.
- Once the Border Force Officer is able to verify that you have EUSS status or a valid pending application – your passport will be returned to you and you will be granted entry to the UK.
- This process can take between 10-30 minutes on average – but it might take longer in some exceptional circumstances.

If the Border Force Officer is unable to make a decision – then it will be escalated to a caseworker (located within the airport)
- If you haven’t already been given a pre-filled IS81 form and asked to take a seat in the Controlled Waiting Area – the Border Force Officer will now provide you with this and ask you to do so.
- Whilst in the waiting area you may be asked some follow-up questions and for documentation (physical or digital) so that the caseworker can understand your case fully.
- There is no average timeframe for this particular process, but in exceptional circumstances you could be waiting for over an hour.
- Once the caseworker is satisfied with the additional information and/or documents, you will be escorted from the waiting area to gain entry to the UK.
- It is possible that due to issues in finding your EUSS status or pending application, your passport may be stamped to grant you temporary entry to the UK:
  - The stamp may state you can only enter the UK for 3-6 months and that you are unable to work during that time. However, if you are able to prove your EUSS status or Certificate of Application whilst in the UK, this will supersede the stamp in your passport.

If the caseworker is unable to make a decision after obtaining additional information from you, then you could be escorted to one of the interview rooms, away from the airport floor:
- Here a Border Force Officer will ask you a series of detailed questions relating to your travel to the UK and your current residency:
  - A translation service can be provided if needed.
- There is no average timeframe for how long this particular interview process can take:
- If the Border Force Officer is satisfied with the information obtained during the interview process, your passport will be returned to you, and you will be granted entry to the UK.
- However, if, after all further examination, there is still not enough evidence to prove your right to enter, you will be refused entry to the UK:
  - In this situation, you will be removed from the UK.
- If you have experienced issues at the border where you feel that a Border Force Officer has not followed the processes outlined in this video, then please visit the IMA’s website where you can report a complaint via our portal, send a complaint via post or contact us via telephone.

VIDEO TWO: EU and EEA EFTA citizens with EUSS status or a valid pending application and travelling with a national ID card

You will not be able to use the eGates if you are travelling using your national ID card as your identity document.
- You will therefore need to queue for the Border Force desk instead.
At the Border Force desk, you will be requested to hand your ID card to the Border Force Officer – they will scan your ID card to verify your EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status or pending EUSS application:
- To avoid delays, your ID card MUST be linked to your EUSS status or pending application via your UKVI account. Information on how to update your UKVI account details and the identity document connected to your account is available on GOV.UK.

If you are an EU or EEA EFTA citizen, you will still be able to use your national ID card for travel until at least 31 December 2025.

If you have a pending application to the EUSS, made on or after 1 July 2021, you may also be asked for proof that you were resident in the UK before 31 December 2020

Once the Border Force Officer has verified your EUSS status or valid pending application, your ID card will be returned to you, and you will be granted entry to the UK.

There may be circumstances where “further checks” are required. In this scenario another Border Force Officer will take your ID card to perform further checks:
- During this time, you may be asked to wait at the Border Force desk.
- Alternatively, you could be handed a pre-filled form – titled an ‘IS81’ form, and asked to wait in the “Controlled Waiting Area” whilst the checks take place:
  - It is worth noting here that despite the pre-filled form referring to “detainment whilst further inquiries are undertaken”, you may only be waiting in this area for a short period of time and could still gain entry to the UK once the further checks have been completed.
- Once the Border Force Officer can verify that you have EUSS status or a valid pending application, your ID card will be returned to you and be granted entry to the UK.
- This process can take between 10-30 minutes on average, but it might take longer in some exceptional circumstances.

If the Border Force Officer is unable to make a decision – then it will be escalated to a case worker (located within the airport):
- If you haven’t already been given a pre-filled IS81 form and asked to take a seat in the Controlled Waiting Area – the Border Force Officer will now provide you with this and ask you to do so.
- While in the waiting area you may be asked some follow-up questions and for documentation (physical or digital) so that the caseworker can understand your case fully.
- There is no average timeframe for this particular process, but in exceptional circumstances you could be waiting for over an hour
- Once the caseworker is satisfied with the additional information and/or documents, you will be escorted from the waiting area to gain entry to the UK.

If the caseworker is unable to make a decision after obtaining additional information you, then you could be escorted to one of the interview rooms:
- Here a Border Force Officer will ask you a series of detailed questions relating to your travel to the UK and your current residency:
  - A translation service will be provided if needed.
- There is no average timeframe for how long this particular interview process can take.
- If the Border Force Officer is satisfied with the information obtained during the interview process, your ID card will be returned to you, and you will be granted entry to the UK.
- However, if, after all further examination, there is still not enough evidence to prove your right to enter, you will be refused entry to the UK:
In this situation, you will be removed from the UK.
If you have experienced issues at the border where you feel that a Border Force Officer has not followed the processes outlined in this video, then please visit the IMA’s website where you can report a complaint via our portal, send a complaint via post or contact us via telephone.

VIDEO THREE: EU or EEA EFTA citizens with an EUSS family permit

If you are an EU or EEA EFTA citizen with an EUSS family permit and travelling with your national ID card, you will not be able to use the eGates:
- In this circumstance you will be referred to a Border Force Officer.

Similarly, if you are travelling with your passport and encounter an issue using the eGates, you may be referred to a Border Force Officer also.

If you are travelling with a passport, you will be requested to hand your passport to the Border Force Officer at the Border Force desk, where they will check the vignette in your passport and will scan the document:
- The vignette is the physical visa that is added to your passport, after being granted an EUSS family permit.

If you are travelling with a national ID card, you will need to provide the form that your EUSS family permit vignette was attached to.

Once the Border Force Officer has verified your EUSS family permit, your passport or ID card will be returned to you, and you will be granted entry to the UK.

There may be circumstances where “further checks” are required – in this circumstance another Border Force Officer will take your passport or ID card to perform further checks:
- During this time, you may be asked to wait at the Border Force desk.
- Alternatively, you could be handed a pre-filled form – titled an ‘IS81’ form, and asked to wait in the “Controlled Waiting Area” whilst the checks take place.
  - It is worth noting here that despite the pre-filled form referring to “detainment whilst further inquiries are undertaken”, you may only be waiting in this area for a short period of time and could still gain entry to the UK once the further checks have been completed.
- Once the Border Force Officer is able to verify that you have an EUSS family permit, your passport or ID card will be returned to you, and you will be granted entry to the UK.
- This process can take on average between 10-30 minutes – but it may take longer in some exceptional circumstances.

If the Border Force Officer is unable to make a decision – then it will be escalated to a caseworker (located within the airport):
- If you haven’t already been given a pre-filled IS81 form and asked to take a seat in the Controlled Waiting Area – the Border Force Officer will now provide you with this and ask you to do so.
- Whilst in the waiting area you may be asked some follow-up questions and for documentation (physical or digital) so that the caseworker can understand your case fully.
- There is no average timeframe for this particular process, but in exceptional circumstances it is possible you could be waiting for over an hour
- Once the caseworker is satisfied with the additional information and/or documents, you will be escorted from the waiting area to gain entry to the UK.

If the caseworker is unable to make a decision after obtaining additional information from you, then you could be escorted to one of the interview rooms:
- Here a Border Force Officer will ask you a series of detailed questions relating to your travels to the UK and family members currently residing in the UK:
  - A translation service will be provided if needed
- There is no average timeframe for how long this particular interview process can take.
- If the Border Force Officer is satisfied with the information obtained during the interview process, your passport or ID card will be returned to you, and you will be granted entry to the UK.
- However, if, after all further examination, there is still not enough evidence to prove your right to enter, you will be refused entry to the UK.
In this situation, you will be removed from the UK.
If you have experienced issues at the border that you feel that a Border Force Officer has not followed the processes outlined in this video, then please visit the IMA’s website where you can report a complaint via our portal, send a complaint via post or contact us via telephone.

VIDEO FOUR: Non-EU or EEA EFTA citizens (Joining Family Member) with EUSS status, a valid pending EUSS application or an EUSS family permit

If you’re a non-EU or EEA EFTA national from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, or USA, you may be able to use the eGates to enter the UK:
- If you are from a different non-EU or EEA EFTA country, or you encountered an issue using the eGates and are referred to a Border Force Officer, then please continue to watch this video

When you arrive at the Border Force desk, you will be requested to hand your passport to the Border Force Officer
- If you have EUSS status or a valid EUSS pending application, the Border Force Officer will scan your passport to verify this
  - To avoid delays, your passport MUST be linked to your EUSS status or pending application via your UKVI account. Information on how to update your UKVI account details and the identity document connected to your account is available on GOV.UK.
- As a joining family member with a valid pending EUSS application, it is recommended that you arrive with ‘entry clearance’, unless you have an in date or expired EUSS Family Permit
- If you have an EUSS family permit, the Border Force Officer will check the vignette in your passport:
  - The vignette is the physical visa that is added to your passport after being granted an EUSS family permit.

Once the Border Force Officer has verified your EUSS Family Permit, EUSS status or valid pending EUSS application, your passport will be returned to you, and you will be granted entry to the UK.

If the Border Force Officer is able to verify that you have EUSS status right away whilst scanning your passport, you are not required to provide your biometric residence card.

There may be circumstances where “further checks” are required – in this case another Border Force Officer will take your passport to perform further checks.
- During this time, you may be asked to wait at the Border Force desk.
- Alternatively, you could be handed a pre-filled form (titled ‘IS81’ form) and asked to wait in the “Controlled Waiting Area” whilst the checks take place.
  - It is worth noting here that despite the pre-filled form referring to “detainment whilst further inquiries are undertaken”, you may only be waiting in this area for a short period of time and could still gain entry to the UK once the further checks have been completed.
- Once the Border Force Officer is able to verify that you have EUSS status, a valid pending application or an EUSS family permit, your passport will be returned to you, and you will be granted entry to the UK.
- This process can take on average between 10-30 minutes – but it may take longer in some exceptional circumstances.

If the Border Force Officer is unable to make a decision – then it will be escalated to a caseworker (located within the airport)
- If you haven’t already been given a pre-filled IS81 form and asked to take a seat in the Controlled Waiting Area – the Border Force Officer will now provide you with this and ask you to do so.
- Whilst in the waiting area you may be asked some follow-up questions as well as for documentation (physical or digital) so that the caseworker can understand your case fully.
- There is no average timeframe for this particular process, but in exceptional circumstances you could be waiting for over an hour
- Once the caseworker is satisfied with the additional information and/or documents, you will be escorted from the waiting area to gain entry to the UK:
  - It is possible that you may have your passport stamped by a Border Force Officer to grant you temporary entry to the UK:
    - The stamp may state that you can only enter the UK for 3-6 months and that you are unable to work during that time. However, if you are able to prove your EUSS status or Certificate of Application whilst in the UK, this will supersede the stamp in your passport.

If the caseworker is unable to make a decision after obtaining additional information from you, then you could be escorted to one of the interview rooms:
- Here a Border Force Officer will ask you a series of detailed questions:
  - A translation service will be provided if needed.
- There is no average timeframe for how long this particular interview process can take.
- If the Border Force Officer is satisfied with the information obtained during the interview process, your passport will be returned to you, and you will be granted entry to the UK.
- However, if, after all further examination, there is still not enough evidence to prove your right to enter, you will be refused entry to the UK.
In this situation, you will be removed from the UK.

If you have experienced issues at the border that you feel that a Border Force Officer has not followed the processes outlined in this video, then please visit the IMA’s website where you can report a complaint via our portal, send a complaint via post or contact us via telephone.