🇬🇧 Flying to United Kingdom
Visa · Health · Arrival · Flights — everything you need before you fly.
Content under review. Entry requirements and health rules change frequently. Information marked [VERIFY] has not yet been confirmed against authoritative sources. Do not rely on this page for travel decisions until verified content is published. Always check IATA Travel Centre and your government's travel advisory.
Last verified: July 23, 2026 · Recheck ETA fee and enforcement rules periodically — moved twice in 2026 already.
Sources: www.gov.uk, homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk, wwwnc.cdc.gov, www.heathrowexpress.com, www.gov.uk
Avi's Insider Tip
Buy your Elizabeth line ticket with the same contactless card or phone you'll use all week — London auto-caps your daily fare, so you never have to think about it again after landing. I skip Heathrow Express unless I've booked it weeks ahead.
Travel essentials
Scannable data for the efficient traveler.
Sources: www.gov.uk, homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk, wwwnc.cdc.gov, www.heathrowexpress.com, www.gov.uk
Visa-free entry
The UK doesn’t run a classic "visa-free" list the way many countries do — instead, most nationalities that never needed a visitor visa (US, Canada, Australia, EU/EEA, and dozens more) can visit visa-free for up to 6 months, but as of 2026 they must hold a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travel. This isn’t optional paperwork: since 25 February 2026, airlines and other carriers must refuse boarding to anyone without a valid ETA, so you need it before you check in, not before you land. British and Irish citizens (including dual citizens) never need an ETA.
No visa-on-arrival scheme exists for the UK. If you’re from a nationality that isn’t visa-exempt (e.g. India, China, most of Africa and the Middle East), you need a full visit visa applied for and approved in advance — there is no at-the-border option.
Health & vaccines
No vaccinations are required by law to enter the UK. Routine vaccines (MMR, tetanus/diphtheria, flu) being up to date is the standard general travel-health advice, not a UK-specific requirement.
The UK does not require a yellow fever certificate for entry from any country — it has no risk of yellow fever transmission itself and does not impose the "arriving from an endemic country" transit rule that some destinations (e.g. Thailand, UAE) do.
Customs
200 cigarettes (or equivalent) and standard alcohol allowances (42L beer, 18L still wine, or a mix of 4L spirits + 9L of drinks up to 22% ABV) duty-free for arrivals from anywhere in the world — the same limits apply from the EU as from anywhere else since Brexit. Declare cash of £10,000 or more (or equivalent).
🛂 Entry requirements
⚠️ The ETA requirement is still relatively new and has changed twice in 2026 (fee raised from £16 to £20 on 8 April 2026; carrier boarding checks went live 25 Feb 2026). Apply at gov.uk or the official "UK ETA" app — never a third-party site, which will charge more for the same thing.
💉Health & vaccine requirements
⚠️ Sourced from the CDC Yellow Book country page for the United Kingdom and general NHS travel-health guidance. Always confirm with your doctor before departure, especially if you’re connecting through a country with its own entry requirements.
Essential local apps
Download these before you land — tap a card to open the real app or site.
Uber
Ride-shareFully legal and TfL-licensed in London — the most widely used app, with UberX/Comfort/Black tiers. Pick-up from Heathrow’s designated ride-share zone (a short walk/shuttle from most terminals).
Bolt
Ride-shareEstonian-founded rival to Uber, also TfL-licensed — usually cheaper base fares and fewer surge spikes, grown fast in London since 2023.
Citymapper
NavigationBuilt around London’s Tube/bus/rail network specifically — better real-time disruption info than Google Maps for the Underground.
Arriving at Heathrow Airport (LHR)
SIM & connectivity
EE, Vodafone, O2, and Three all have counters or vending machines in Heathrow arrivals; expect £10–£20 for a 30-day 15–30GB bundle. Three’s prepaid SIMs include free EU roaming, useful if you’re continuing on to the continent. An eSIM bought before you land is usually cheaper and skips the queue.
Pound Sterling (GBP). Contactless/Apple Pay/Google Pay is the dominant way to pay almost everywhere, including the Tube and buses — you often don’t need cash at all for a short trip. ATMs are widely available at Heathrow and across London.
Getting into town
Heathrow Express: 15 min nonstop to Paddington, £25 walk-up (£10 if booked 45+ days ahead for a fixed train). Elizabeth line: ~27 min with intermediate stops, flat £15.50 with contactless/Oyster, no peak surcharge — the better value option for most travelers. Black cabs and Uber/Bolt also available from the designated ranks/pickup zones.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit London?▼
Most nationalities (US, Canada, Australia, EU, and dozens more) don’t need a visitor visa for stays up to 6 months, but as of 2026 they DO need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travel — it’s a £20, usually-instant online approval, not a visa. Airlines are required to refuse boarding without one since 25 February 2026, so get it before you book your flight, not after.
What is the UK ETA and how much does it cost?▼
The ETA is an online pre-travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors, applied for via gov.uk or the official "UK ETA" app. It costs £20 per person (raised from £16 in April 2026), including children and infants. Most applications are auto-approved within minutes, though gov.uk recommends applying at least 3 working days before you travel. It’s valid for multiple visits over 2 years or until your passport expires.
Do I need any vaccinations to enter the UK?▼
No. The UK has no vaccine entry requirements and no yellow fever or malaria risk. Being up to date on routine vaccines (MMR, tetanus) is standard general advice, not a UK-specific rule.
What is the cheapest way from Heathrow to central London?▼
The Elizabeth line is the best value: a flat £15.50 with contactless or Oyster, about 27 minutes to central London, no peak-time surcharge. Heathrow Express is faster (15 min nonstop to Paddington) but costs £25 on the day, or £10 if booked 45+ days ahead for a fixed departure.
Can I get a SIM card at Heathrow?▼
Yes — EE, Vodafone, O2, and Three all have arrivals-hall counters or vending machines. A 30-day tourist bundle typically runs £10–£20. Buying an eSIM online before you land is usually cheaper and skips any queue.
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