A passport needs to be valid for the duration of stay to enter the United Kingdom. It is required by all nationals referred to in the chart above, except (1) EU nationals holding a valid national ID card. The UK government does not require your passport to be valid for a minimum period of six (6) months from the date of entry into the United Kingdom.

From May 2019, nationals from EU countries, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the United States can make use of ePassport gates when entering the United Kingdom. Nationals of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland can use ePassport gates at some airports if the passport has the necessary ‘chip’ on it. This move should cut down queues at the immigration control considerably. All passport holders must be aged 12 or over to use ePassport gates.

EU nationals are only required to produce evidence of their EU nationality and identity in order to be admitted to any EU member state. This evidence can take the form of a valid national passport or national identity card. Either is acceptable. Possession of a return ticket, any length of validity on their document, or sufficient funds for the length of their proposed visit should not be imposed.

A passport is not required for British nationals travelling between Great Britain and Ireland (an official form of identification, such as a driver's licence, is required), Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

Passengers transiting the UK destined for the Republic of Ireland are advised to hold return tickets to avoid delay.

If bringing a pet from another EU or 'listed' country, your animal must have a microchip, pet passport or official third country veterinary certificate, rabies vaccination administered at least 21 days before travel, and tapeworm treatment (dogs only).

If bringing a pet from an unlisted country, your animal must be microchipped (before or at the same time as their rabies vaccination), official third country veterinary certificate, rabies vaccination, blood test taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination and at least three months before travel, and tapeworm treatment (dogs only).

For full details, see www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad.

The length of time taken to process visa applications depends on the nationality of the applicant and the country where you're applying.

If you do require a visa to visit the United Kingdom, you may be asked to provide information about your finances. 

If you are initially permitted to enter for three months, you may apply to UK Visas and Immigration to extend your stay to six months from your original date of entry. You must apply online for a visa extension. As part of the application process, you’ll be asked to make a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services appointment to provide biometric information. The fee to extend your visa is £993 – a decision will be made within eight weeks. It costs an additional £800 if you use the super priority service. The decision will be made by the end of the following working day or two working days depending on whether your UKVCAS appointment in on a weekday or weekend.

See the UK government website for more details (www.gov.uk/standard-visitor-visa/extend-your-visa).

The maximum total time you can stay in the United Kingdom is six months.