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.

EES, or the EU Entry/Exit System, is a new digital system introduced by the EU to strengthen its external Schengen border.

It will mean most non-EU citizens, including British citizens, will need to register their biometric details – providing fingerprints and having their photo taken – when they enter or exit the Schengen area. Travellers do not need to provide information in advance of travel – this will all be done at the border point.

EES registration is replacing the current system of manually stamping passports when visitors arrive in the EU.

EES may take each passenger extra time to complete so be prepared to wait longer than usual at the border.

EES applies to non-EU citizens and non-EU residents entering the Schengen area for a short stay. This means any traveller not holding the nationality or residence permit of any EU country or the nationality of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.

EES does not apply to holders of residence permits and long-stay visas. For further information from the EU on this please see here.

The countries in the Schengen area are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

EES is not applicable when travelling to the Republic of Ireland and Cyprus.

EES is part of long-term plans designed by the EU to digitise the border and improve border security in the Schengen area by keeping a digital record of everyone entering and exiting the Schengen area. The taking of fingerprints and a facial image assigns a traveller’s biometrics to a particular passport and thereby prevents the fraudulent use of multiple/false passports.

It automates border control checks to help the EU stop visitors overstaying.​

No, EES does not apply to Ireland. Please follow existing guidance on travelling to Ireland.

No. There is no charge for travellers for EES registration. Any requests for payment to comply with EES are incorrect and/or fraudulent. The EU will later be introducing an advance permission to travel system, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which will require a payment. This scheme is a separate system to EES and is not expected to launch until Autumn 2026.

Travellers will be required to undertake EES registration the first time they cross an external Schengen border. This will typically take place at the port or airport in their country of entry, where they will scan their passport, submit their fingerprints and/or have their photo taken, but could also take place upon exit.

Passengers may be asked Schengen Border Code questions, which are basic questions about their trip. One of the most common questions that travellers are asked upon reaching the EU is whether they have a return ticket to their home country or an outward ticket to another third country once their trip in the Schengen Zone ends.

No. Your details may be taken by a border guard, or you may be asked to enter your details directly using a handheld tablet or at a kiosk. Travellers should follow signs and instructions from port staff. During the phased implementation of EES over the initial 6 month period it is possible that travellers may not be asked to provide biometrics.

Travellers will be required to complete their EES registration on their first entry to and their final exit from the Schengen area.

There is no requirement to complete EES when travelling within the Schengen area e.g. if you are travelling from Switzerland to France.

Implementation will be phased for the first six months of EES, with full implementation by 10 April 2026. During this period, you may experience different requirements when travelling in and out of the Schengen area, particularly at different ports.

No, but you will need to complete the EES process every time you enter or exit the Schengen area.

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].