Travel Guidance

The various videos 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.

The information in some videos may have changed since being published. Please keep an eye on our social media pages, news page and FAQ page for the most up to date information.

Travel Guidance EUSS

• The new digital system for UK borders and immigration has changed how EU and EEA EFTA citizens and their family members can travel. If you have been granted status under the EUSS you will now need to use and eVisa.

• If you have EUSS status, then you already have an eVisa. An eVisa is a digital account of your immigration status. Your eVisa can be accessed through your UKVI account which is short for Visas and Immigration Account.

• Before you travel, it is very important that you ensure any travel documents linked to your UKVI account are up to date, and that all your information is correct. You should also generate a share coded to prove your immigration status prior to travelling. You can show your share code to the airline if they request it.

• As an EUUS holder, you may have previously used documents such as a biometric residence card or a biometric residence permit to travel. Although biometric residence cards and biometric residence permits expired at the end of 2024, the Home Office will still allow you to use them as evidence of your immigration status for a bit longer.

• You can use your biometric residence card or permit to travel to the UK until the 31st of March if you still have permission to stay in the UK. We recommend you keep your biometric residence card or permit on you whilst travelling for extra assurance.

• If your travel carrier seems unsure of the rules or is unable to check your permission to travel, you could direct them to contact the UK Border Force Carrier Support Hub. If you experience any problems pricing your immigration status whilst travelling to and from the UK, you can call the Passenger Support Helpline. For calls outside the UK, dial +44 20 3337 0927. Otherwise you can call 0800 8766921 at any time and calls are free of charge.

• If you have experienced difficulties travelling, then the IMA would like to hear from you. You can tell us about your experience via our dedicated inbox at travel@ima-citizensrights.org.uk – this will help us to understand if there are any challenges being faced with the new digital system.

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.

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.

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.

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.