Non-accredited media

This page explains what you need to do if you want to come and work in the UK for the London 2012 Olympic or Paralympic Games as a non-accredited journalist, broadcaster or crew member from outside the European Economic Area.

To be able to come and work in the UK, you will need get a visa before you travel. You can apply for your visa now, and is important to apply in good time for your application to be considered. To read our visa and customs guidance for media professionals who want to cover the Games, see the Media section.

If you travel into Heathrow airport during Games time, you might notice that we have set up dedicated Olympic lanes for athletes, coaches, officials and accredited media (known as 'Games family members'). You should pass through the border in the normal way or, if you are a UK or EU/EEA citizens with a 'chipped' passport, using the e-Passport gates.

How can you become accredited for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games?

Accreditation identifies people and their roles at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Paralympic Committee (IPC) outline the accreditation categories (such as 'athlete' and 'media') and set quotas for each accreditation category.

National organising committees and other responsible organisations nominate people for each accreditation category, and pass their biographical details to the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG). LOCOG passes each person's biographical details to the Home Office, which will recommend whether they should be accredited for the Games.

After considering this recommendation, LOCOG decides on behalf of the IOC and IPC whether to accredit them for the 2012 Olympic or Paralympic Games. If LOCOG decides to accredit them, it sends an Olympic Identity & Accreditation Card or a Paralympic Identity & Accreditation Card to the responsible organisation who nominated the person. The responsible organisation then provides the card to them.