UKEntry and visas

UK entry rules

Citizens of Israel, the EU, the US, Canada and Australia need no visa for the UK but must get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) online before the trip. Citizens of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Türkiye and Serbia need a visa. A visitor can stay up to 6 months per visit.

Checked against official sources on 8 October 2026.

Entry rules by passport

For a tourist trip. Checked on 8 October 2026 against the official sources listed below the table.

Passport	Entry	Stay	Conditions
Russia	Visa required	—	Standard Visitor visa — £135 (≈ $180), up to 6 months per visit.Source: Immigration Rules
Belarus	Visa required	—	Standard Visitor visa — £135 (≈ $180), up to 6 months per visit.Source: Immigration Rules
Ukraine	Visa required	—	Standard Visitor visa — £135 (≈ $180), up to 6 months per visit.Source: Immigration Rules
Kazakhstan	Visa required	—	Standard Visitor visa — £135 (≈ $180), up to 6 months per visit.Source: Immigration Rules
Uzbekistan	Visa required	—	Standard Visitor visa — £135 (≈ $180), up to 6 months per visit.Source: Immigration Rules
Kyrgyzstan	Visa required	—	Standard Visitor visa — £135 (≈ $180), up to 6 months per visit.Source: Immigration Rules
Tajikistan	Visa required	—	Standard Visitor visa — £135 (≈ $180), up to 6 months per visit.Source: Immigration Rules
Turkmenistan	Visa required	—	Standard Visitor visa — £135 (≈ $180), up to 6 months per visit.Source: Immigration Rules
Armenia	Visa required	—	Standard Visitor visa — £135 (≈ $180), up to 6 months per visit.Source: Immigration Rules
Azerbaijan	Visa required	—	Standard Visitor visa — £135 (≈ $180), up to 6 months per visit.Source: Immigration Rules
Georgia	Visa required	—	Standard Visitor visa — £135 (≈ $180), up to 6 months per visit.Source: Immigration Rules
Moldova	Visa required	—	Standard Visitor visa — £135 (≈ $180), up to 6 months per visit.Source: Immigration Rules
Israel	Visa-free with ETA	—	An ETA is needed — £20 (≈ $27) for 2 years; up to 6 months per visit.Source: Immigration Rules
EU countries	Visa-free with ETA	—	An ETA is needed — £20 (≈ $27) for 2 years; up to 6 months per visit. Irish citizens need neither a visa nor an ETA.Source: Immigration Rules
United States	Visa-free with ETA	—	An ETA is needed — £20 (≈ $27) for 2 years; up to 6 months per visit.Source: Immigration Rules
Canada	Visa-free with ETA	—	An ETA is needed — £20 (≈ $27) for 2 years; up to 6 months per visit.Source: Immigration Rules
Turkey	Visa required	—	Standard Visitor visa — £135 (≈ $180), up to 6 months per visit.Source: Immigration Rules
Serbia	Visa required	—	Standard Visitor visa — £135 (≈ $180), up to 6 months per visit.Source: Immigration Rules
Australia	Visa-free with ETA	—	An ETA is needed — £20 (≈ $27) for 2 years; up to 6 months per visit.Source: Immigration Rules

RussiaVisa required
Standard Visitor visa — £135 (≈ $180), up to 6 months per visit.
Source: Immigration Rules
BelarusVisa required
Standard Visitor visa — £135 (≈ $180), up to 6 months per visit.
Source: Immigration Rules
UkraineVisa required
Standard Visitor visa — £135 (≈ $180), up to 6 months per visit.
Source: Immigration Rules
KazakhstanVisa required
Standard Visitor visa — £135 (≈ $180), up to 6 months per visit.
Source: Immigration Rules
UzbekistanVisa required
Standard Visitor visa — £135 (≈ $180), up to 6 months per visit.
Source: Immigration Rules
KyrgyzstanVisa required
Standard Visitor visa — £135 (≈ $180), up to 6 months per visit.
Source: Immigration Rules
TajikistanVisa required
Standard Visitor visa — £135 (≈ $180), up to 6 months per visit.
Source: Immigration Rules
TurkmenistanVisa required
Standard Visitor visa — £135 (≈ $180), up to 6 months per visit.
Source: Immigration Rules
ArmeniaVisa required
Standard Visitor visa — £135 (≈ $180), up to 6 months per visit.
Source: Immigration Rules
AzerbaijanVisa required
Standard Visitor visa — £135 (≈ $180), up to 6 months per visit.
Source: Immigration Rules
GeorgiaVisa required
Standard Visitor visa — £135 (≈ $180), up to 6 months per visit.
Source: Immigration Rules
MoldovaVisa required
Standard Visitor visa — £135 (≈ $180), up to 6 months per visit.
Source: Immigration Rules
IsraelVisa-free with ETA
An ETA is needed — £20 (≈ $27) for 2 years; up to 6 months per visit.
Source: Immigration Rules
EU countriesVisa-free with ETA
An ETA is needed — £20 (≈ $27) for 2 years; up to 6 months per visit. Irish citizens need neither a visa nor an ETA.
Source: Immigration Rules
United StatesVisa-free with ETA
An ETA is needed — £20 (≈ $27) for 2 years; up to 6 months per visit.
Source: Immigration Rules
CanadaVisa-free with ETA
An ETA is needed — £20 (≈ $27) for 2 years; up to 6 months per visit.
Source: Immigration Rules
TurkeyVisa required
Standard Visitor visa — £135 (≈ $180), up to 6 months per visit.
Source: Immigration Rules
SerbiaVisa required
Standard Visitor visa — £135 (≈ $180), up to 6 months per visit.
Source: Immigration Rules
AustraliaVisa-free with ETA
An ETA is needed — £20 (≈ $27) for 2 years; up to 6 months per visit.
Source: Immigration Rules

Sources: UK Immigration Rules — visa national list · UK Immigration Rules — ETA national list

What is checked at the border

Your passport must be valid for the whole stay.
The purpose must be tourism or another permitted visitor activity; you need to show you will leave at the end of the visit and are not living in the UK through frequent trips.
Money for the whole trip and for a return or onward ticket, your own or from someone supporting you; no fixed amount is set.
You may be asked to show where you will stay.
The carrier checks your ETA or visa before boarding: since 25 February 2026 you cannot travel without one.

How to extend your stay

You can extend only if you were given less than 6 months on entry, and only up to 6 months in total; apply from inside the UK before your permission ends, fee £1,172 (≈$1,570). Only patients in treatment, academics and doctors retaking the PLAB test can stay beyond 6 months.

Overstay penalties

Overstays of up to 30 days are disregarded if you leave on your own at your own expense. Beyond that, visas and entry are refused: for 12 months if you left voluntarily at your own expense, 2 or 5 years if the state paid for your departure, and 10 years after removal. Knowingly overstaying is also a criminal offence: a fine or up to 4 years in prison.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa for the UK?

Citizens of Israel, the EU, the US, Canada and Australia apply for an electronic travel authorisation. Citizens of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Türkiye and Serbia get a visa from a consulate before the trip.

Can the stay be extended?

What happens if I overstay?

What is checked on entry to the UK?

Your passport must be valid for the whole stay. The purpose must be tourism or another permitted visitor activity; you need to show you will leave at the end of the visit and are not living in the UK through frequent trips. Money for the whole trip and for a return or onward ticket, your own or from someone supporting you; no fixed amount is set. You may be asked to show where you will stay. The carrier checks your ETA or visa before boarding: since 25 February 2026 you cannot travel without one.

How can I stay in the UK longer?

A visa-free stay does not give the right to live in the country. A longer stay needs a long-term visa or a residence permit: skilled Worker — a job with a Home Office–approved employer, global Talent — for leaders or potential leaders in academia and research, arts and culture, or digital technology, innovator Founder — your own innovative business endorsed by an approved body, student visa — study with a licensed student sponsor, from age 16, family visa — to live with a spouse, partner, parent, child or relative, high Potential Individual — 2 years (3 with a PhD) for graduates of universities on an approved list, degree awarded within the last 5 years.

Sources

Checked on 8 October 2026. Entry rules change: check them on the consulate website before you travel.