Immigration, passports, visa and customs FAQs

For detailed information on what you can and cannot bring into the UK, please see the guideline provided by Border Force.

Birmingham Airport has compiled a useful list of tips for travellers entering the UK, which can be found here.

Following the advice on the list should help you get through customs and immigration as smoothly and quickly as possible.

As you may know, the immigration process is a central government function, run and managed by Border Force. Therefore, please contact Border Force directly with your complaint at complaints&[email protected].

For information regarding UK visa and entry requirements please see https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration.

Checks upon arrival into the UK are designated by the UK Government. There is currently no requirement to clear Immigration when arriving from the "Common Travel Area", of which Ireland is a part.

Brief notes from the Immigration Rules are below as well as a link to the full text:

Common Travel Area - CTA2.1

Paragraph 15 of the Immigration Rules states that the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland collectively form a common travel area. A person who has been examined for the purpose of immigration control at the point at which they entered the area does not normally require leave to enter any other part of it. See full text at www.gov.uk/government/publications/common-travel-area.

If you are travelling with someone else's child/minor/under 18, you will need a letter of consent from the child's parent/legal guardian to allow you to take responsibility for them. The letter of consent must name you as the designated responsible adult, the relationship of you to the child (grand-parent/family friend etc), the parents full contact details (address/telephone number) and be signed by the parent. It is also advisable to have a copy of the parent's passport with you.

If your child has a different surname to yours, please carry a copy of their birth certificate with you and a copy of your marriage certificate/legal change of name documentation so that the relationship to your child can be proven.

Immigration is a central Government process that is operated in the UK by Border Force.  We work closely with our Border Force colleagues in Birmingham to ensure a smooth transition through the airport. If you do have any feedback about your experience, please email Border Force at complaints&[email protected].

Our customer service teams are on hand to assist those arriving from EU destinations at our e gates and to direct non-EU arriving passengers to the correct channel.

We aim to keep wait times to a minimum.

You may use the e-passport gates if you are a citizen from the following countries: UK, EU, EEA (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein), Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the United States of America.

You will also have to be aged 12 and over with a biometric passport. Members of the Registered Traveller service can also use the eGates.

This service offers a secure, self-service alternative to conventional border controls.

Further Department for Transport information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coming-to-the-uk/faster-travel-through-the-uk-border.

As you may know, the immigration process is a central government function, run and managed by Border Force. Therefore, please contact Border Force directly with your complaint at complaints&[email protected].

As you may know, the immigration process is a central government function, run and managed by Border Force. Therefore, please contact Border Force directly with your complaint at complaints&[email protected].