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Immigration requirements for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens

If you’re an EU, European Economic Area (EEA) or Swiss citizen

Irish citizens can continue to enter and live in the UK.

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can travel to the UK for holidays or short trips without needing a visa. In other cases, find out if you need to apply for a visa to enter the UK.

You can cross the UK border using a valid passport which should be valid for the whole time you are in the UK.

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can continue to use the automatic ePassport gates to pass through the border on arrival.

You cannot use an EU, EEA or Swiss national ID card to enter the UK unless you:

In these cases, you can continue to use your national ID card to enter the UK until at least 31 December 2025.

If you’re waiting for a decision on your application for settled or pre-settled status

You can still use your EEA or Swiss national identity card to enter the UK if all of the following are true:

  • you’ve applied for settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man’s settlement schemes
  • you’ve been issued with confirmation your application is valid
  • you’re not applying as a joining family member

Other types of cards

British citizens can continue to use a Gibraltar identity card to travel to the UK.

Irish citizens can continue to use a passport card to travel to the UK.

You must have the correct documents to show at the UK border if you’re travelling to the UK. You cannot use any documents to enter the UK that are not listed here.

If you’re a non-EEA family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen

You need a valid national passport, and one of the following:

  • an EU Settlement Scheme family permit
  • a UK-issued EEA family permit
  • a UK-issued biometric residence card

You cannot use an Article 10 or Article 20 residence card issued by an EEA member state.

Student visa routes have opened up to EU, EEA and Swiss citizens. You can apply for a visa to study in the UK if you:

  • have been offered a place on a course
  • can speak, read, write and understand English
  • have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course

If you will be coming to the UK to study you can apply for a:

  • Student visa - to study full time in the UK if you’re 16 or over

Standard Visitor - short courses and or part time study - EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can travel to the UK for holidays or short trips without needing a visa. In other cases, find out if you need to apply for a visa to enter the UK.

You can cross the UK border using a valid passport which should be valid for the whole time you are in the UK.