Top tips for coming to the UK for the Olympic and Paralympic Games

This section provides advice for ticket holders and spectators wishing to come to the UK to watch the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Find out if you need to apply for a visa

If you are unsure whether you need a visa to come to the UK, or which immigration category is most suitable for you, our Do you need a visa? questionnaire will help you find the answer.

You will not need a visa if you hold a passport issued by the UK or a country in the European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland. The UK is not a member of the Schengen group of countries, so a Schengen visa (applicable in other European countries) will not be valid for travel to the UK.

Make your application

We are now processing visas for those wishing to come to the UK to watch the Games. Select your country using the country finder to find out:

• how to apply in your country;
• the location of our visa application centres;
• how long we generally take to process visa applications; and
• how your documents will be returned.

Get your documents ready

Make sure you have your passport or travel document and a valid visa (if appropriate) ready in plenty of time. If you need to get a new document, or you need to make an application for a visa, do so as soon as possible.

Know what not to bring

If you are planning to travel to the UK, there are rules about what goods you can bring with you without paying duty or value added tax (VAT). Some items are also banned or restricted by law. These restrictions apply even if you are a UK citizen who is returning from abroad. You can find out about the restrictions on our customs page. Never bring in counterfeit goods, illegal drugs, offensive weapons (including knives) or indecent or obscene material.

Arriving at the border

With tough checks in place at the border you may be able to speed up your entry by:

• using the separate EEA/EU channel if you are a national of the EU or EEA;
• using the e-passport gates if you have a 'chipped' passport;
• presenting your passport or EEA national identity card to the border officer; and
• fully completing a landing card and handing it to the border officer.

If you travel during Games time, you might notice that we have set up dedicated Olympic lanes for athletes, coaches, officials and accredited media (members of the 'Games Family'). Even if you have tickets for the Games, you should not use these lanes as the entry process is different.

Stay within the law

Never give false or misleading information (including false receipts or documents) to a UK Border Agency officer. If you are unsure of any item you are carrying, you must speak to a UK Border Agency officer.

Know your rights and responsibilities

You can find out about your rights and responsibilities while staying in the UK on our website. Our Your stay in the UK leaflet also has useful information for visitors to the UK.

The European Economic Area (EEA) consists of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, the Republic of Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK. Although Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are not members of the European Union (EU), their citizens have the same rights as EU citizens to enter, live in and work in the UK.