UK visas for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens
Last verified 5 September 2026 against GOV.UK sources·Page updated 5 September 2026
| Visiting the UK | ETA for most visitors. Irish citizens, and people who already hold qualifying UK immigration status, do not need one |
|---|---|
| TB test | Not required for people who have been living in the EU, EEA or Switzerland; it applies only if you have lived in a listed country for 6 months or more in the last 6 months |
| English requirement | Varies — Maltese citizens meet the requirement by nationality; most other nationalities must evidence English where the route requires it |
| ATAS certificate (sensitive subjects) | Exempt by nationality |
| Youth mobility | Iceland participates in the Youth Mobility Scheme; there is no EU-wide scheme in force |
| UK Ancestry visa | Possible for Cypriot and Maltese citizens, as Commonwealth citizens, if the ancestry requirements are met |
| EU Settlement Scheme | For people who were living in the UK by 31 December 2020 and their eligible family members — not a route for moving now |
| Dual nationality | Varies by country: most EU states permit dual nationality, several restrict it or require permission. Check the law of your own nationality |
Since 1 January 2021, most EU, EEA and Swiss citizens moving to the UK have used the same immigration routes as other nationalities. Irish citizens are the main exception under the Common Travel Area. Free movement ended; there is no European fast track. A few rules still differ, particularly around the ETA, travel documents and the EU Settlement Scheme for people who were already living in the UK before the end of 2020. This page covers those differences and points to the route guides for the rest.
Moving to the UK now
If you are arriving for the first time, or returning without settled or pre-settled status, you need permission like any other nationality: a Skilled Worker job with a licensed sponsor, Global Talent endorsement, a Student place, a partner visa or another route. The salary thresholds, fees and health surcharge are the same. There is no separate work permit for EU citizens and no self-sufficiency route.
There is no EU-wide youth mobility scheme in force. Within this group, Iceland participates in the Youth Mobility Scheme. The UK and EU are negotiating a separate Youth Experience Scheme, but it is not yet in force; the changes timeline will record it if and when it opens.
If you lived in the UK before the end of 2020 — the EU Settlement Scheme
The EU Settlement Scheme is not a way in for new arrivals. It protects the rights of EU, EEA and Swiss citizens, and their eligible family members, who were living in the UK by 31 December 2020. Settled status is permanent residence, broadly equivalent to ILR. Pre-settled status is temporary status for people who had not yet qualified for settled status; it is automatically extended before expiry if necessary, and some eligible holders are now being converted to settled status automatically. Late applications remain possible where there are reasonable grounds for missing the original deadline, and family members joining a person with status can still apply in defined circumstances. If you think you qualify, the EU Settlement Scheme guide covers eligibility, late applications, family members and the move to settled status.
Settled status counts as settlement for British citizenship. Note that the rules on losing status through absence differ from ILR: settled status is lost after five continuous years outside the UK (four for Swiss citizens), rather than two.
Visiting the UK
Most EU, EEA and Swiss citizens visiting the UK need an Electronic Travel Authorisation rather than a visitor visa. Irish citizens, and people who already hold qualifying UK immigration status — settled or pre-settled status, an EU Settlement Scheme family permit or a pending application, among others — do not need an ETA. The ETA costs £20, is applied for online or through the UKVI app, and is valid for multiple visits over two years or until the passport expires. Visits can last up to six months and cannot include work.
Passports, not ID cards. Since October 2021 EU national identity cards are no longer accepted for entry to the UK. A valid passport is required. The exception is people who hold settled or pre-settled status, a frontier worker permit or certain other statuses, who can continue to use an ID card for the time being.
Irish citizens are different. Under the Common Travel Area arrangements they do not need an ETA, a visa or any immigration permission to live, work or study in the UK, and they are treated as settled for most purposes.
What European citizens do not need
TB test. No EU, EEA or Swiss country is on the tuberculosis test list. The requirement is based on residence, so it can still apply to someone who has recently lived in a listed country.
ATAS. EU, EEA and Swiss nationals are exempt from the Academic Technology Approval Scheme for sensitive subjects.
Transit visa. None is needed for changing planes.
What European citizens do need
English. Most EU countries are not on the Home Office’s list of majority-English-speaking countries, so routes that require English must be evidenced by an approved test or a degree taught in English confirmed by Ecctis. Maltese citizens are on the list and meet the requirement by nationality; Irish citizens do not need immigration permission at all, and have their own exemption at the citizenship stage. Skilled Worker applications made from 8 January 2026 need B2. See the English requirements guide.
Applying from Europe. Applications are submitted online and completed at a visa application centre, where biometrics are taken; some applicants can use the UKVI app instead. Some applications can be sped up with a priority or super priority service at an additional cost, subject to the route and availability. The visa itself is an eVisa, linked to a UKVI account, once the application is granted. No vignette is placed in the passport now (vignettes ended on 1 July 2026); for travel, some applicants receive a form for accompanying an eVisa (FAV).
Routes to settlement
For people arriving now, the settlement path is the same as for any nationality: five years on Skilled Worker or the partner route, three or five on Global Talent, and so on, leading to Indefinite Leave to Remain. Time under pre-settled status counts towards settled status under the scheme’s own rules rather than towards ILR.
Whether you can hold British citizenship alongside your existing nationality depends on your own country’s law. Most EU states permit dual nationality; a few restrict it or require permission in advance, and the rules have changed in several countries in recent years. Check the current position for your nationality before applying to naturalise. See the ILR vs citizenship comparison.
Common questions
Can EU citizens still move to the UK without a visa? No. Since 2021 a work, study, family or other route is required, except for Irish citizens.
Is the Ancestry visa open to any EU citizens? Only to citizens of Cyprus and Malta, as Commonwealth citizens, and only if the route’s other requirements are met.
Can I use my national ID card to enter? Not unless you hold settled or pre-settled status or another qualifying status. Otherwise a passport is required.
I lived in the UK for years before Brexit but never applied to the scheme. Is it too late? Late applications are still considered where there are reasonable grounds. Check the EU Settlement Scheme guidance on GOV.UK.
Does settled status count for citizenship? Yes. It is treated as settlement, normally held for twelve months before you apply.
The route guides
- British citizenship by naturalisation From ILR to a British passport: residence and absence limits, the good character test, £1,839 in fees — and what to check about your own nationality law first.
- Settlement: Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) Permanent residence in the UK: the 5-year routes, absence rules, the £3,226 fee, English rising to B2 in 2027 and the earned settlement proposal.
- Spouse and partner visa Joining a British citizen or settled partner: the £29,000 financial requirement, English tests, the 5-year route to ILR and unmarried partners.
- Student visa CAS, money requirements, work rights and who can bring family — the main route for courses with a licensed UK education provider.
- Global Talent visa For leaders and potential leaders in academia, digital technology and arts — no sponsor, no salary threshold, settlement in 3 to 5 years.
- Skilled Worker visa Sponsorship, the £41,700 salary threshold, degree-level job requirement, B2 English and the path to settlement — the UK's main work visa explained.