Passports and Visas

Passports

For you: No-Fee Official (if required by your position) and a blue tourist passport. Servicemembers DO NOT NEED a No-Fee Blue Tourist Passport. 

For your dependents (required): No-Fee and Blue Tourist Passports.

Because your ID card and NATO orders are all YOU need (as opposed to your family) to enter the UK per the Foreign Clearance Guide, you may get pushback from your Admin office for an official passport – but you will definitely need one if you are to visit non-NATO countries as part of official duties – check the FCG and with your sponsor to verify any official travel requirements. The U.S. Element can provide a letter of endorsement to assist, or you can handle this on arrival in the UK if you don’t expect to have official travel right away. Again, prompt execution is encouraged upon receipt of orders. Tourist passports can take several months to process. Contact Mr. Jason Lawrance at Jason.Lawrance2.LN@mail.mil for further guidance.

Visas

Dependent spouses (any age), and dependent children UNDER 21 of active duty military members assigned to the UK, DO NOT need visas (Exempt Dependents). Exempt Dependents who travel in/out of the UK MUST carry their passport, military sponsor's PCS orders, and if NOT named on the orders, other official U.S. government documentation showing they are a dependent of the military member assigned to duty in the UK. Exempt dependents MAY obtain an exempt vignette from the UK Home Office after arrival in the UK. This contains a photo and is placed inside the passport. This is optional but encouraged – it will simplify getting back in the country. Contact Mr. Jason Lawrance at Jason.Lawrance2.LN@mail.mil, who can explain the process for obtaining the exempt vignette for your dependents once they arrive in the UK.

Dependent children aged 21 OR OVER on first arrival in the UK, as well as secondary dependents such as a dependent parent, WILL need pre-arrival visas (Non-exempt dependents). E-mail Mr. Jason Lawrance (e-mail above) for instructions on how to apply for entry clearance for your non-exempt dependents. Civilian component members and their dependents MUST still obtain pre-arrival visas.

Contact Mr. Jason Lawrance (e-mail above) for instructions on applying for entry clearance visas, or if your position has been extended and you require a Leave to Remain visa.

ETAs

Travelling to the United Kingdom as military personnel under the UK Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), you are technically exempt from standard immigration controls and are not legally required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). However, it is highly advised that you proactively procure an ETA prior to your departure anyway. Because commercial airlines and border security increasingly rely on automated digital systems to verify passenger eligibility, having an approved ETA on file helps prevent automated system flags or misunderstandings with gate agents, ultimately making your boarding process and entry into the UK significantly smoother. You can easily apply online at https://www.gov.uk/eta/apply or by downloading the official UK ETA app. Once approved, your ETA is valid for two years, or until the passport you applied with expires (whichever comes first), and it can be used for multiple entries during that time.