Confirm your immigration status to your carrier before travelling to the UK
Check what you need to do to travel to the UK if your carrier (for example, your airline) cannot verify your immigration status and to avoid future travel delays.
This guide听explains:听
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how to ensure your carrier is able to automatically check your status
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how to evidence your听status听to travel with your carrier听(for example听by sharing your听eVisa,听a听digital record of exemption听or physical听proof听of your听status)听if your carrier is unable to check your status automatically
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what听you can听do to make future travel easier,听such as using听eGates听if听you are听eligible听
If you have a鈥疷KVI鈥痑ccount听and access to your eVisa听
You听will听have an eVisa if听you听have听successfully applied for a visa or another type of permission to be in the UK.听This includes if you have status under the EU Settlement Scheme听(EUSS).听You need a听UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account听to access your eVisa.
Your carrier will not be able to verify your听status听automatically if your details and documents do not match听the passenger information you give听them.听听
You can update your听personal details and passport or travel document鈥痠nformation听now, including if you hold EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status.听Keeping your details up to date will help your carrier verify your status automatically and avoid delays on future journeys.听听
If your carrier听(for听example, your听airline) cannot verify your status,听you can:听
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get a听share code听using the view and prove service听
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use a valid physical immigration document if you have one听
You must show either of these to your carrier with your valid passport.
If you have听problems听using听your UKVI听account听听
If you are unable to sign in or update your details or are having issues doing so听you should听contact UK Visas and Immigration for help.
If you have indefinite leave to remain (also known as settlement)
If you travel using physical proof of your status (for example, a听letter endorsed with a stamp,听or a听stamp听or vignette听in an expired passport), you must show this听with听a听valid passport听to your carrier.听
To make future journeys easier, you should get a digital record of your听identity and immigration听status (known as an听eVisa).听
To do this, you need to apply for a free听鈥榥o time limit鈥� (NTL) application while you are in the UK.听
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it can take up to 6 months to process听your application听
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you can continue to use your physical document while your application is being processed听
If you are a听British听Dual听citizen听
As a听British听dual听citizen, you can travel to the UK using one of the following:听
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a valid鈥�British passport听
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another valid passport with a certificate of entitlement that proves you have the鈥�right of abode in the UK听
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a valid Irish passport听
If you do not have one of these, your carrier may allow you to travel if:听
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you have an expired UK passport听
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you have another passport or national identity听card听and you听got听British听citizenship听after settling in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme听
Read the听Dual citizenship听guidance to find out what you can show your carrier and what you need to do.听
If you are unable to听prove your听UK citizenship,听your听carrier can contact听the carrier听support听hub for advice.听
To avoid delays听on future听journeys, you听can鈥�apply for a passport鈥痮r听a鈥�certificate of entitlement鈥痠f you need one.听
If you are transiting without a visa
If you鈥檙e eligible to transit without a visa, the evidence you need to show your carrier (for example, your airline) will depend on your circumstances. Check if you need a UK visa to find out what you need to show.
If you have a Crown听Dependency visa听
If you have been issued with a Crown Dependency visa, you will have been granted immigration permission by Jersey,听Guernsey听or the Isle of Man. This will be听a听physical听document if you were issued a Crown Dependency visa before 1 July 2026听(for example, a stamp or valid vignette in your passport, or a letter). You will not be able to access a UKVI account.听
You must听show your document听to听your carrier to prove your immigration status along with your valid passport.听
To听avoid delays听on听your听future journey, you听must travel听with the passport that you applied with to gain your Crown Dependency issued visa.听
If you were issued a Crown Dependency visa on or after 1 July 2026, you will have a digital travel permission that your carrier can check automatically.
If you need help or further information relating to your Crown听Dependency visa, you can refer to the Crown Dependency website that your permission relates to:听
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听
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听
If you need an鈥疎TA听
Check if you are eligible听to apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA).听
An听electronic travel authorisation (ETA)听allows you听to听travel to the UK,听Jersey,听Guernsey听and听the听Isle of听Man听for tourism, visiting family or certain other reasons for up to 6 months.听
You may need an鈥疎TA鈥痠f听you鈥檙e鈥�transiting through the UK鈥痑nd you pass through UK border听control but听come back through it and leave the UK within a short amount of time (usually 24 hours). This is known as landside transit.听
If you are exempt from immigration control听
If you are exempt from immigration control but do not have a digital record of exemption or a valid exempt vignette, you will need to provide alternative evidence to demonstrate that you are exempt from immigration control. Contact your mission for advice.
To make听future听travel easier,听you should check if听you鈥檙e exempt from immigration control and if eligible apply for a digital record of exemption, so that it can be checked at the border.
Get help听
You can鈥�contact UK Visas and Immigration for help before travelling to the UK.听
Your carrier听is responsible for听deciding whether to allow you to board, in line with their own policies and responsibilities.听
If a carrier cannot confirm your status, they can contact the carrier support hub for advice.