Following Brexit, the most pressing question for travellers is what documents and authorisations are required to visit London and the countries of the United Kingdom more broadly (namely England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).
Indeed, following the referendum in which British citizens voted for their country to leave the European Union, the required documents for entry to the entire United Kingdom changed from January 2021.
In a nutshell, the documents you need to travel to the United Kingdom are a valid passport and, from April 2025, an electronic travel authorisation (ETA). Travel insurance is not compulsory but is strongly recommended.
If you’re planning a trip to one of the United Kingdom countries, you’ll find plenty of useful information below about the required documents and how to apply for an ETA.
As mentioned, entry requirements changed following Brexit and from 2021 all travellers wishing to enter the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) must have a valid passport.
As a result, a national identity card is no longer sufficient for travel to the United Kingdom – you must have a valid biometric passport for the entire duration of your stay in the country.
Only in the case of Northern Ireland is it possible to enter the country with a national identity card if you land in the Republic of Ireland and subsequently travel overland. For further information, see the documents required for travel to Ireland.
In addition to a passport, the major new development is the introduction of the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation), a new electronic authorisation system required to enter the United Kingdom from April 2025.
The Electronic Travel Authorisation is the United Kingdom’s response to the growing need to digitalise and optimise the management of tourist flows, much like the well-known ESTA system of the United States.
The cost is £16 and the authorisation remains valid for two years, during which you can make multiple entries to the United Kingdom. Each stay can be up to six months, offering considerable flexibility for frequent travellers.
An important detail to note: the validity of the ETA is tied to the passport used to make the application. If your passport expires before the two-year period is up, you will need to apply for a new authorisation and pay the £16 fee again.
The authorisation is compulsory for anyone wishing to visit the United Kingdom for tourism, visiting family or friends, business travel or study (for periods of up to six months). Travellers in transit or making a simple stopover in the United Kingdom must also obtain an ETA. There are no age-based exemptions: even babies and children must have the authorisation.
Nationals of countries and territories that require a visa cannot apply for an ETA.
Exemptions apply to British and Irish citizens as well as United Kingdom residents. The exemption extends to holders of settled or pre-settled status and those who already hold a work or study visa. This decision reflects the intention not to further complicate matters for those with an established connection to the country.
The ETA application process has been designed to be as user-friendly as possible. Travellers can choose between two channels: the Home Office website or the dedicated app, available for both iOS and Android devices.
To complete your application, you’ll need:
Your application is typically processed quickly, from a few hours up to a maximum of three days. Each traveller must submit an individual application: group or family applications are not available.
Despite these significant changes, if your visit is purely for tourism, you don’t need to apply for a visa. However, a visa is required if you’re travelling to the United Kingdom for work, study or for stays longer than 6 months.
European citizens travelling to the United Kingdom for leisure trips of less than six months can still rely on the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) in case of emergency. The EHIC allows European citizens to access medically necessary treatment if they’re temporarily staying in an EU, EEA or Swiss country. Despite Brexit, the EHIC can still be used throughout the United Kingdom to access care and healthcare services provided by the National Health Service (NHS).
Be aware that the health insurance card is not equivalent to insurance cover.
If you need to cancel your trip for health reasons, return home early, require rescue operations or need repatriation, you’ll need specific insurance cover. For example, if you have a serious accident while in the United Kingdom and want to request free transfer back to your home country, this is not covered by the EHIC – you’ll need to purchase appropriate travel insurance before your trip. The health card also doesn’t cover private healthcare or costs for planned treatment in another EU country.
Following Brexit, the United Kingdom is no longer covered by the European Union’s Roam Like at Home rules, and the situation has changed significantly during 2025. TIM and Kena have eliminated free roaming to the United Kingdom from March-April 2025, WindTre from 16 June 2025, and Iliad has announced the same change from January 2026. Other virtual operators are also progressively making changes.
This means that using your smartphone for calls, messages and data in the United Kingdom may incur significant additional costs, unless you have a specific international package. It is therefore essential to check with your operator what conditions apply before you travel.
First, check your operator’s website or app to see whether your active plan includes the United Kingdom and on what terms. Alternatively, virtually all operators offer dedicated international packages with minutes, messages and data allowances for use in the United Kingdom for set periods. Another popular option is to purchase an eSIM before you leave or a UK SIM card when you arrive at the airport, which is particularly cost-effective for stays of a week or longer.
If you’re planning a touring holiday around the United Kingdom, you may be wondering whether your driving licence is valid. Fortunately, the answer is “Yes!” Even after Brexit, you can drive in the United Kingdom with your driving licence issued by any European country without needing to obtain an international driving permit.
Bear in mind that if you arrive in Great Britain with your own vehicle, your driving licence is not a valid travel document – you’ll still need to carry your passport to cross the border and pass immigration controls.
It is possible to travel with your pet to the United Kingdom provided you have one of the following documents when entering Great Britain:
Travellers entering the country with a pet must follow specific procedures to allow for documentation and microchip verification.
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