Entering the UK: exemptions to controls
Source: gov.uk (2025-04-01)

Check if you're exempt from immigration control or obtaining permission to enter, and therefore do not need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) or visa.

This page provides information for people who are:
- exempt from immigration control
- exempt from obtaining permission to enter
Depending on your travel purpose and nationality, you may need an ETA or a visa to visit, study or work in the UK.

You can check if you need a UK visa (https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa) or an ETA (https://www.gov.uk/eta).

Check if you’re exempt from immigration control

Some people are exempt from immigration control when travelling to the UK for specific purposes, even if they do not have a right to live in the UK (right of abode).

Unlike other foreign nationals, they are not subject to the Immigration Rules and do not require an ETA.

Non-armed forces categories and qualifying family members

There are 6 main non-armed forces categories of people exempt from immigration control:
- people posted to diplomatic missions in the UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/exempt-exm/exempt-exm#bookmark21)
- consular officers and employees based in the UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/exempt-exm/exempt-exm#bookmark41)
- sovereigns and heads of state (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/exempt-exm/exempt-exm#bookmark52)
- members of governments (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/exempt-exm/exempt-exm#bookmark59)
- people attending an international conference (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/exempt-exm/exempt-exm#bookmark62)
- employees of international organisations (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/exempt-exm/exempt-exm#bookmark64)
Check full eligibility for non-armed forces categories (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/exempt-exm).

Armed forces categories and qualifying family members

There are 5 main categories of people in the armed forces who are exempt from immigration control:
- full-time members of the home forces (HM Armed Forces) subject to service law – regular (non-reserve) HM Forces personnel are always subject to service law
- reservists with HM Forces deployed or due to be deployed: this means reserve forces are only exempt when they are subject to service law
- members of international armed forces (a Commonwealth force or a force raised under the law of a colony, protectorate or protected state), who are undergoing or about to undergo training in the UK, with part of the home forces, including NATO forces
- those serving or posted for service in the UK as a member of a visiting force, listed in the Visiting Forces Act 1952 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visiting-forces) (VFA), or added to the VFA through an order of council
- those serving or posted as a member of an international headquarters or defence organisation, including relevant NATO forces, or as a member of an international headquarters or defence organisation
Check full eligibility for armed forces categories at:

Appendix International Forces (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/appendix-international-forces-caseworker-guidance)

Appendix HM Armed Forces (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/appendix-hm-armed-forces-caseworker-guidance)

Apply for an exempt vignette

You can apply for an exempt vignette (https://www.gov.uk/exempt-vignette) if you do not normally need a visa to work in the UK because you are exempt from immigration control.

It can help you avoid delays when you enter the UK, but you do not have to have one.

If you are exempt from immigration control but do not have a vignette, you will need to show documents to prove that you are exempt (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/exempt-exm/exempt-exm#bookmark19).

Exemptions from immigration control are based on what you are coming to do in the UK and your position, and not on the travel documents you hold. For example, a particular type of passport is not sufficient.

Check if you’re exempt from obtaining permission to enter

You do not need permission to enter the UK if both of the following apply:
- you arrive as a crew member of a ship (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/seafarers-crm01/seafarers-crm01), through or shuttle train, or aircraft (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/aircrew-crm02/aircrew-crm02)
- you are engaged to leave as a member of crew on that ship, aircraft, through or shuttle train (aircrew and train crew may leave on another aircraft or shuttle train but must be scheduled to leave within 7 days)
‘Crew’, in relation to a ship, through-train or shuttle train or aircraft, means anyone actually employed in the working or service of the ship, through-train or shuttle train or aircraft, including the captain of a ship or aircraft.

This applies, unless you:
- are the subject of a deportation order
- have previously been refused permission to enter the UK and not subsequently been given permission to enter the UK
- have been required to submit to examination under Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971
- are an offshore worker
If you are exempt from needing permission to enter you do not need an ETA.

Other arrangements

If you are a national of a country that needs an ETA to visit the UK (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-when-you-can-get-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta), you do not need an ETA if you belong to the following categories:

Seafarer s

You do not need an ETA to travel to the UK if you are working as a:
- seafarer arriving and leaving as crew
- ILO book holder arriving as crew to join a ship that is leaving UK waters (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/seafarers-crm01/seafarers-crm01)
- seafarer repatriating
Seafarers arriving by air or sea to join a ship in the UK should have documentation to show that they are under contract to join, as a member of its crew, a ship in UK waters which is leaving UK waters. This should normally be a contract of employment.

Seafarers coming to the UK to undertake a permitted activity (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-visitor-permitted-activities) within the visitor route do need an ETA.

Ferry crew

You do not need an ETA to travel to the UK if you are working as a:
- ferry crew member arriving on a ship and operating as crew in and out of the UK
- ferry crew member arriving to join a ferry that is leaving UK waters
Ferry crew coming to the UK to undertake a permitted activity (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-visitor-permitted-activities) within the visitor route do need an ETA.

Airline crew

You do not need an ETA to travel to the UK if you are working as aircrew ‘deadheading’ or positioning and leaving the UK.

Aircrew coming to the UK to undertake a permitted activity (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-visitor-permitted-activities) within the visitor route do need an ETA.

International rail crew

You do not need an ETA to travel to the UK if you are working as:
- crew of a through-train or shuttle train who do not leave any control area for embarking or disembarking passengers
- crew of a through-train or shuttle train, scheduled to leave the UK within 7 days
International rail crew coming to the UK to undertake a permitted activity (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-visitor-permitted-activities) within the visitor route do need an ETA.