This page describes the UK Border Agency's work connected to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games was the largest sporting event ever hosted in the UK. Over 14,000 athletes from 205 nations came to the UK to participate.

The UK Border Agency supported the delivery of a safe and secure Games. Our work ensured the smooth arrival and departure of people and goods. We ran security checks on more than 380,000 workers and participants.

If you came to the UK as a 'Games family member'

London 2012 athletes, coaches, officials and accredited media were selectively accredited by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).

As part of the accreditation process, the UK Border Agency ran security checks on all applicants. You can find more information about the accreditation process at the bottom of this page. You should also refer to the Leaving the UK page.

Accreditation card

Your accreditation card in most cases, it will also act as a 'visa waiver' - this means that you will not need a visa if you come to the UK between 30 March and 8 November.

If you came to the UK before 30 March 2012 to take part in an activity related to the Games, see the Olympic/Paralympic Games visitors section.

Members of the 'Games family' are reminded to travel with their pre-valid Olympic or Paralympic identity and accreditation cards.

The card will ensure that athletes, coaches, officials, National Olympic Committee delegates and accredited members of the media are granted the appropriate UK entry endorsement relating to their participation in the Games. Travel without the card, for non-visa nationals, may mean that they will need to seek an amendment to their permission to stay in the UK by attending an immigration office in country.

Your accreditation card will not act as a visa for any countries other than the UK. The UK is not a signatory to the Schengen Treaty, which allows borderless passage through signatory countries of the EU. As a result, members of the Games Family travelling to the UK via other countries, including direct airside transit (including via EU/Schengen airports), must check the visa requirements of transit countries and obtain any necessary visas/permissions before travel.

Games family members with existing leave to remain

Games family members already in the UK, with existing leave, will need to go to one of the public enquiry offices, with their pre valid accreditation card and supporting documents, to get their passport stamped with their Olympic leave. See the Non-EU/EEA, Bulgarian or Romanian Games family members who entered the UK without an accreditation card page.

Games family members child visitor

All Games family members who are aged 17 or under are advised to ask a parent or guardian to complete the Olympic or Paralympic Games family member child visitor parental consent form. This form can be downloded from the right side of this page. Presentating this completed document to UK immigration officials will help a child's application for leave to remain in to the UK.