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Travel documents
Get set for your trip, with everything you need to know about travel documents and visas for adults, children and unaccompanied minors.
If you’re travelling to the UK for a short stay of up to 6 months and you don’t need a visa, you’ll need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), unless exempt. Read more below and on GOV.UK (opens in a new tab).
For information about the expected launch of the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES), please visit the official EES website (opens in a new tab). We’re getting ready and will have more info to share in due course.
What documents do I need to travel on Eurostar?
If you are travelling to and from London, you'll need to show a valid travel document, along with your ticket. Before your trip, please check the details below to see which document(s) are needed.
Please note: Babies and children must have their own valid travel document(s).
You don't need a passport if you're travelling between cities in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany. It's worth bringing an identity document though, as customs do random spot checks from time to time. Don't forget your ticket, too.
Travelling to and from London
UK passport-holders
Your British passport must:
● be valid for the length of your stay in Europe,
● have at least three months' validity left from the date you intend to leave the EU, and
● be less than 10 years old.
Check that you have a clear page in your passport, as it will need to be stamped with your travel date when you’re travelling to and from the EU.
If you don’t have a passport yet or your passport needs renewing, please allow plenty of time to apply before your trip.
You won't be allowed to travel if you haven't received your passport in time for your journey.
You can check passport processing times on the UK government website.
See if your passport needs renewing here. (opens in a new tab)
Advance Passenger Information (API)
We’re required by the UK government to collect Advance Passenger Information (API) for you and anyone else on your booking before you travel to/from the UK. You’ll need your passport details.
Find out more about API here.
You don’t need a visa for short trips to EU countries of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
If you visit more than one of these countries within a 180-day period, make sure you don't spend more than 90 days in total across all the countries that you visit.
This is because most of these countries apply the 90-day limit as a group.
You may need a visa for longer stays or when travelling for work or business.
Find out more (opens in a new tab)
If your main residence is in the EU, you won't need to get your passport stamped as long as you carry your EU residence permit when you travel.
If you can't prove that you're an EU resident, you may be asked additional questions by border authorities and your passport may be stamped before you enter the Schengen area.
UK citizens can no longer apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
If you have an existing EHIC, it will continue to be valid until its expiry date.
Once it expires, you'll need to apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) which provides access to state healthcare in the EU.
EHIC and GHIC do not replace travel insurance.
It is strongly recommended that you take out travel insurance with medical cover when travelling abroad.
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens travelling to the UK
Passports are required for all passengers travelling to the UK, including children.
Your passport doesn’t need to be valid for a minimum number of months to travel, as long as it’s valid for the length of your stay in the UK.
If you don’t have a passport yet or your passport needs renewing, please allow plenty of time to apply before your trip.
You won't be allowed to travel if you haven't received your passport in time for your journey.
Advance Passenger Information (API)
We’re required by the UK government to collect Advance Passenger Information (API) for you and anyone else on your booking before you travel to/from the UK. You’ll need your passport details.
Find out more about Advance Passenger Information.
You can continue to use your national ID card to travel until at least 31 December 2025.
If you have both a valid passport and a valid identity card, it’s a good idea to travel with the document linked to your settled or pre-settled status.
If you have a new passport or a new identity card and your pre-settled or settled status is linked to your previous ID document, remember to update your travel document details in your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account (opens in a new tab).
That way you'll avoid extra checks at border control, making for a smoother journey.
Visit GOV.UK (opens in a new tab) to find out more about entering the UK as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen.
Advance Passenger Information (API)
We’re required by the UK government to collect Advance Passenger Information (API) for you and anyone else on your booking before you travel to/from the UK. You’ll need your passport or national ID card details. Find out more about API here.
Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
An ETA is a digital permission to travel to the UK. It’s required for short stays of up to 6 months for tourism, visiting friends and family, business and short-term studies.
Do I need an ETA?
You need an ETA to travel to the UK unless:
- you have a UK visa.
- you have the right to live, work or study in the UK (including settled or pre-settled status).
- you have an Irish passport.
There may be other exemptions.
Check who needs an ETA on GOV.UK (opens in a new tab).
Does a child need an ETA?
If they’re not exempt, they’ll need an ETA, no matter their age.
How much does it cost?
It costs £16 per applicant and, when granted, is linked electronically to your passport.
How long is an ETA valid for?
It’s valid for 2 years or until the passport your ETA is linked to expires – whichever comes first.
When can I apply for an ETA?
Please apply before booking your trip, where possible. Most applications are processed within 3 days, but it may occasionally take longer. Learn more about applying on GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
Visas
If your stay is longer than 6 months or for a different reason, please check this GOV.UK page (opens in a new tab) to see if you need a visa.
If you currently use any of these physical UK immigration documents, you’ll need to replace it with an online immigration status called an eVisa:
- Biometric residence permits (BRP)
- Biometric residence cards (BRC)
- Passport endorsements, such as indefinite leave to enter wet ink stamps
- Vignette stickers in passports, such as entry clearance or visa vignettes
Please visit GOV.UK (opens in a new tab) to check how to access your eVisa. You’ll need to create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account first if you don’t already have one.
If you already have a UKVI account, please check that your details are up to date (opens in a new tab) to avoid extra checks at border control.
If you have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you already have a UKVI account and an eVisa. Please ensure your UKVI account details are kept up to date (opens in a new tab) for smoother border checks.
EU, EEA and Swiss children travelling to the UK with:
- a French school using the France-UK school trip travel information form (opens in a new tab) will need a valid national ID card or passport.
- a school from another country will need a valid passport and possibly an ETA (opens in a new tab).
Non-UK and non-EU citizens travelling between the UK and the EU
You need a valid passport to travel between the UK and the EU. Please check the validity rules for your destination country before booking your trip.
Advance Passenger Information (API)
We’re required by the UK government to collect Advance Passenger Information (API) for you and anyone else on you booking before you travel to/from the UK. You’ll need your passport.
Find out more about API here.
Please check whether you need a visa for your destination(s) before you travel.
● UK: UK government website (opens in a new tab)
● France: French government website (opens in a new tab)
● Belgium: EU visa website (opens in a new tab)
● The Netherlands: EU visa website (opens in a new tab)
● Germany: EU Visa website (opens in a new tab)
If you don’t need a visa to travel to the UK, you may need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) (opens in a new tab) instead.
An ETA is a digital permission to travel to the UK. It’s required for short stays of up to 6 months for tourism, visiting friends and family, business and short-term studies.
Do I need an ETA?
If you don’t require a visa to travel to the UK for a short stay of up to 6 months, you’ll need an ETA, unless exempt. Check who needs an ETA on GOV.UK (opens in a new tab).
Does a child need an ETA?
If they’re not exempt, they’ll need an ETA, no matter their age.
How much does it cost?
It costs £16 per applicant and, when granted, is linked electronically to your passport.
How long is an ETA valid for?
It’s valid for 2 years or until the passport your ETA is linked to expires – whichever comes first.
When should I apply for an ETA?
Please apply before booking your trip, where possible. Most applications are processed within 3 days, but it may occasionally take longer. Learn more about applying on GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
My stay is longer than 6 months or for a different reason. What should I do?
Please check this GOV.UK page (opens in a new tab) to see if you need a visa.
If you currently use any of these physical UK immigration documents, you’ll need to replace it with an online immigration status called an eVisa:
- Biometric residence permits (BRP)
- Biometric residence cards (BRC)
- Passport endorsements, such as indefinite leave to enter wet ink stamps
- Vignette stickers in passports, such as entry clearance or visa vignettes
Please visit GOV.UK (opens in a new tab) to check how to access your eVisa. You’ll need to create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account first if you don’t already have one.
If you already have a UKVI account, please check that your details are up to date (opens in a new tab) to avoid extra checks at border control.
Non-UK and non-EU children travelling to the UK with:
- a French school using the France-UK school trip travel information form (opens in a new tab) will need a valid passport.
- a school from another country will need a valid passport and possibly a visa or an ETA (opens in a new tab).
Unaccompanied under-18s
Unaccompanied minors (up to the age of 18) will need to carry additional travel documentation.
As well as reading the relevant section below, we strongly recommend checking the latest government advice before the trip – for both the country the young person is departing from, and the country they're travelling to.
Children under 12 must travel with a responsible person aged 16 or older.
Children 12 to 15 (inclusive) can travel on their own to some Eurostar destinations, as long as they’ve got a fully completed Eurostar unaccompanied minor form (opens in a new tab) (opens a PDF) and only travel on trains departing between 06:00 and 17:00 local time.
The form must be signed by their parent or legal guardian (or by a responsible adult, aged 18 or over, given consent by the parent or legal guardian) at the station in the presence of a member of the Eurostar team.
The child will need to keep this signed form with them throughout their journey and show it to the onboard team if they’re asked.
When the parent or legal guardian gives written consent for the young person to travel, they accept and agree that the young person will travel unaccompanied and be treated as an adult passenger (ie the young person will not be supervised by a member of the Eurostar team) for the entirety of the trip.
The responsible person must also ensure arrangements are in place for the young person to be met on arrival.
Please note: Children under 16 years of age cannot travel unaccompanied on our direct trains to or from the Netherlands.
Documents the child will need:
● Eurostar ticket
● Passport
● Eurostar unaccompanied minor form (opens in a new tab) (opens a PDF) signed by a parent or legal guardian
Additional requirements for French residents
As above, plus:
● Authorisation des sorties de territoire (AST) form (opens in a new tab) signed by a parent
● Photocopy of the identity card or passport of the parent who has signed the AST form
16 to 17-year-olds can travel by themselves, as long as they’ve got all the usual travel documents and meet all the legal requirements.
Documents the child will need:
● Eurostar ticket
● Passport
Additional requirements for French residents
As above, plus:
● Authorisation des sorties de territoire (AST) form (opens in a new tab) signed by a parent
● Photocopy of the identity card or passport of the parent who has signed the AST form
Customs
Everything you need to know about custom regulations when travelling between the UK and Europe.
Guide and assistance dogs
Find out which travel documents are required when travelling on Eurostar with your guide or assistance dog.
When to arrive at the station
Find out when you need to arrive at the station before your departure.