The precise design and scope of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy are still being developed. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will ultimately be for Mayors and other local leaders, based on what is right for their area.

The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.

The precise design and scope of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy are still being developed. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will ultimately be for Mayors and other local leaders, based on what is right for their area.

The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.

The precise design and scope of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy are still being developed. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will ultimately be for Mayors and other local leaders, based on what is right for their area.

The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.

The impacts of the overnight visitor levy will be determined by local decisions. It will be up to Mayors and local leaders to decide whether to implement a levy, subject to a local consultation on specific proposals.

The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.

All visitors must be able to demonstrate that they are genuine and will leave the UK at the end of their visit. The Visitor route is not intended to facilitate individuals travelling to the UK with the intention of claiming asylum. Visitor visa applications are rigorously assessed against the Immigration Rules.

We are committed to further strengthening the integrity of visa decision making by continuing to apply greater scrutiny to those where there is evidence to demonstrate a greater risk of an asylum claim once in the UK — ensuring that visas are only issued to genuine visitors.

This government has also taken decisive action to address instances of individuals using visa-free travel to reach the UK and claim asylum. As a result, we have introduced visa requirements for Jordan, Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Botswana. Where we have data available (the requirement for Botswana was only introduced on 14 October 2025) this action has been extremely effective: asylum seekers from Jordan, Colombia and Trinidad and Tobago have fallen by 93% and asylum seekers at port have fallen by 99% from their peak prior to the introduction of a visa requirement compared to Q3 2025.

Where countries are not cooperating on the return of their nationals who have no right to be in the UK, including failed asylum seekers, we will not hesitate to use the visa system (particularly visit visas) to bring about better cooperation. As announced on 17 November, we have told Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Namibia that if they do not comply with international rules and norms, we will impose visa penalties on them.

Unless other countries heed this lesson, further sanctions will follow.

Any asylum claim that is then subsequently lodged from within the UK and admitted to the UK asylum system, is given full and careful consideration. Our approach is to promptly consider asylum claims, with a rapid appeals process, so that claims from genuine asylum seekers can be accepted, and those that are not, can be rejected.

The Government’s recently published Asylum Policy Statement sets out significant reforms to the UK’s asylum and illegal migration system. The Statement outlines the current challenges, the Government’s objectives, and a comprehensive package of measures to restore order, control, fairness and public confidence in the system.

Whether or not a British national was travelling with a particular tour company, airline or other business when they sought consular assistance is not captured in our case management system.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has processed over 2000 consular enquiries since the escalation in tensions between India and Pakistan. We continue to monitor developments closely and British nationals should stay up to date with our travel advice and follow the advice of local authorities. British nationals affected can contact the FCDO for emergency help both in country and from the UK, 24/7. Travel Advice advises against all travel to the region of Jammu and Kashmir, including Pahalgam.

From a peak of 883,000 visitors from China in 2019, the number of tourists from China visiting the United Kingdom over the past five years is as follows: 130,000 estimated visitors in 2020, 15,000 visitors in 2021, 47,000 in 2022, 368,000 in 2023 and the estimated forecast for 2024 is 573,000.

From a peak of 199,000 visitors from Russia in 2019, the number of tourists from Russia visiting the United Kingdom over the past five years is as follows: 61,000 estimated visitors in 2020, 23,000 visitors in 2021, 44,000 in 2022, 36,000 in 2023 and the estimated forecast for 2024 is 51,000.

From a peak of 883,000 visitors from China in 2019, the number of tourists from China visiting the United Kingdom over the past five years is as follows: 130,000 estimated visitors in 2020, 15,000 visitors in 2021, 47,000 in 2022, 368,000 in 2023 and the estimated forecast for 2024 is 573,000.

From a peak of 199,000 visitors from Russia in 2019, the number of tourists from Russia visiting the United Kingdom over the past five years is as follows: 61,000 estimated visitors in 2020, 23,000 visitors in 2021, 44,000 in 2022, 36,000 in 2023 and the estimated forecast for 2024 is 51,000.

The UK continues to welcome tourists from across the globe, who make an important contribution to the UK economy and enrich British culture. The UK Standard Visitor route offers individuals the ability to visit the UK for a temporary period, (usually for up to a maximum period of 6 months), for purposes such as tourism and visiting friends or family. Visitors may enter multiple times and regular travellers to the UK have the option of applying for longer term validity visas of 2-, 5- and 10-years duration.

As part of our border transformation programme, we are creating a streamlined, digital immigration system which will be quicker and more secure for the millions of people who pass through each year and will enhance the security of the UK. This will include a digital approach to applying for permission to travel, proving identity and immigration status, crossing the border, and demonstrating entitlements in the UK. eVisas are a key part of this, enhancing applicants’ experience, delivering excellent value, and increasing security and efficiency.

We are also introducing our Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme which applies to those passengers visiting the UK who do not currently need a visa for short stays and do not have a valid UK immigration status prior to travelling. People providing their information in advance of travel paves the way for increased automation at the border, with security at the forefront.

The ETA scheme currently applies to all eligible non-European non-visa nations. From 5 March, it will be extended to all eligible Europeans and will be a requirement for travel for this cohort from 2 April.

Alongside British and Irish citizens, nationals of an EU/EEA country, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland and the USA, who are over the age of 10 are normally eligible to use eGates to enter the UK. Frequent travellers who are members of the Registered Traveller service are also eligible to use eGates. We encourage all eligible passengers to make use of our e Gates where possible as they provide a safe, secure and efficient way of crossing the UK border.

We continue to keep our borders and immigration system under review to ensure that it works in the national interest.

Heathrow airport had a successful Christmas 2022. According to CAA Airport Data, Heathrow handled just under 6 million passengers throughout the month of December 2022, approximately 89% of the number of passengers in December 2019. Decisions on passenger capacity are the responsibility of airports and so in this case is a decision for Heathrow Airport Limited.

There is no current policy of restricting applications from Iranian citizens looking to visit the UK on a tourist visa.

The rules applying to visitors can be found on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-v-visitor and apply to both Visa Nationals including citizens of Iran (who must apply for a visa in advance of travel) and Non-Visa Nationals (who seek leave to enter at the UK border).

The information is not held in the requested format.

British nationals can continue to use the Government of India (GoI)'s regular/paper visa application services for all visa categories. We regularly raise our concerns regarding our exclusion from the list of countries eligible for e-visas with the GoI. The previous Foreign Secretary raised this matter with the Indian External Affairs Minister during her visit to India in March. We continue to lobby the GoI on this issue, while respecting it is for them to determine the types and validity of the visas it offers. We will update India Travel Advice with the latest information if there are any changes in India's visa rules.

Russian nationals are permitted to make UK visa applications as there may still be legitimate reasons why they might seek to come to the UK, such as to visit family members.

We have introduced measures for Russian nationals applying for visas which includes additional and robust checks.

The Nationality and Borders Act (NABA) 2022 also gave the Home Secretary powers to impose visa penalties on any country, including those that pose a risk to international peace and security. We keep this under constant review.

Standard visitor visas are taking on average 6 weeks to process. Information can be found on visit processing times here: Visa decision waiting times: applications outside the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Spouse / partner visas are taking up to 24 week to process. This increase in time has been advised to applicants and is related to the need to prioritise applications related to the situation in Ukraine.

Average processing times do not form part of any current transparency data for spousal/partner applications and are not published.

The transparency data does, however, include a range of processing data and the latest data can be found at: Migration transparency data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

EEA identity cards are among the least secure documents seen at the UK border and are, as a rule, not as secure as corresponding national passports. They continue to dominate detection figures for document abuse at the border.

The Government is committed to strengthening the security of our border, so will phase out the use of EU, other EEA and Swiss national identity cards as a valid travel document for entry to the UK from 1 October 2021.

We do not accept identity cards as a travel document from any other nationalities. We expect people who visit the UK from outside the EU (including the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand) to hold a passport and we will now expect those visiting from EU countries to do the same. Using a passport also means EU nationals making a short visit can also use e-gates where available for a quicker and easier arrival experience.

We have provided almost a year’s notice for this change to allow people to plan ahead and obtain a passport, if they need to, before they travel.

Now freedom of movement has ended, EU, EEA and Swiss citizens may continue to travel to the UK for short trips, including for tourism, short-term business visits or short-term studies, and will not require a visa, but they will need to seek entry on arrival at the border and meet the requirements of the relevant immigration rules: they will also require a passport for travel to the UK from 1 October 2021.

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can also continue to use their biometric passports to pass through e-passport gates (Where available) on arrival.

It is also worth noting there are no routine immigration controls on journeys within the Common Travel Area, which includes the Republic of Ireland, and none whatsoever on the Irish land border. This will not change.

The EU has legislated such that British Citizens can travel visa-free in the Schengen area for short stays, such as for tourism, for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. British Citizens who are planning to stay longer will need permission from the relevant Member State, which may require applying for a visa and/or permit. British Citizens who apply for visas for longer stays in an EU Member State will also need to meet the healthcare requirements of that country. They may be able to join local healthcare schemes, or they may have to take out private insurance. They should check all entry requirements with Member State authorities before they travel.

The provisions in the Protocol on Social Security Coordination in the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) mean that reciprocal healthcare arrangements are in place, allowing people to continue to have access to urgent or necessary healthcare cover when travelling in the EU. However, the Government still recommends that individuals take out comprehensive travel insurance which covers healthcare costs when travelling abroad. Reciprocal healthcare arrangements only cover emergency and necessary healthcare costs and so may not cover all healthcare costs that might arise when travelling.

During negotiations with the EU, the Government discussed arrangements for British Citizens travelling to the Schengen Area. Regrettably, the EU consistently maintained that British Citizens will be treated as third-country nationals under the Schengen Borders Code from 1 January 2021. This means that British Citizens are able to travel visa-free for short stays for up to 90 days in a rolling 180-day period. This is the standard length of stay that EU offers to nationals of eligible third countries that offer visa-free travel for EU citizens, in line with existing EU legislation.

British Citizens planning to stay longer will need permission from the relevant Member State(s). This may require applying for a visa and/or permit. Information about travel to Europe is available on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/visit-europe-1-january-2021

The UK's Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the EU notes that both the UK and EU currently provide for visa-free travel for short-term visits for each other's nationals in accordance with their respective laws. The detail of those arrangements is set by domestic law, reflecting the UK's position as a non-Member State. Negotiations with the EU have concluded and the Government is focused on the smooth, robust and effective implementation of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The Government does not typically enter into bilateral agreements on visa-free travel.

The ending of the free movement of persons between the UK and the EU is a consequence of the UK's exit from the EU. The Government made clear that free movement of persons would end once the UK ceased to be a Member State of the EU, and left the EU single market. This fulfilled the Government's commitment to the British public to take back control of our borders and introduce a single, global immigration system.