UK visa resources
Passport requirements
To travel to the UK you need a passport or travel document that stays valid for your whole visit, though the exact requirements can vary depending on the visa route you are using.
Important
Your passport is the foundation of any trip to the UK. Before you look at visas, supporting documents or anything else, the UK expects you to hold a valid passport or recognised travel document that covers the time you will be in the country. Getting this right avoids problems at the border and delays with your visa application.
The core rule is simple, but the detail can differ from one visa route to another. This page explains the general passport standard for a Standard Visitor and points out where you should check the specific rules for your own route.
The basic rule: valid for your whole stay
To enter the UK you must have a passport or travel document. For a Standard Visitor, GOV.UK states it should be valid for the whole of your stay. In other words, your passport must not expire while you are still in the UK.
The UK does not, for the Standard Visitor route, publish a fixed extra validity margin (such as a set number of months beyond your departure date). The published requirement is that the document covers your visit. To be safe, many travellers renew a passport that is close to expiry before booking, but you should not assume a specific margin unless the guidance for your route says so.
Requirements can vary by route
The UK has many different visa and entry routes, and the exact passport and document requirements are set out in the guidance for each one. What is true for a short visit may differ for study, work or family routes.
Always read the passport and documents section of the specific route you are applying under, rather than assuming the rules are identical everywhere. If anything is unclear, follow the guidance published for that route on GOV.UK.
- Check the passport requirement on the page for your specific visa route.
- Confirm whether any extra validity time is asked for beyond your stay.
- Confirm what other identity or travel documents you may need to provide.
Blank pages and the visa vignette
When the UK still placed a visa sticker (called a vignette) inside a passport, applicants were expected to have a blank page for it to be attached. If a vignette is being issued in your passport, a blank page allows that sticker to be placed correctly.
This matters less than it used to. UKVI stopped issuing visa vignette stickers to successful new applicants on 1 July 2026. Successful applicants now receive an eVisa, which is a digital record rather than a sticker in the passport. If you were issued a vignette before this change, it remains valid until it expires.
eVisas: linking your passport
An eVisa is a digital record of your identity, your immigration status and the conditions attached to it, held in your online UKVI account. It replaces previous physical immigration documents for new successful applicants.
Because there is no sticker in your passport, you need to make sure your travel document is connected to your online status. You can travel with your eVisa once you have added your passport or travel document details to your UKVI account, so keep those details up to date if your passport changes.
Practical checklist before you travel
- Make sure your passport or travel document is valid for the whole of your intended stay.
- Check the specific requirements for the visa route you are using, as they can differ.
- If a vignette is being placed in your passport, make sure there is a blank page for it.
- If you have an eVisa, add your current passport details to your UKVI account before travelling.
- If your passport is close to expiry, consider renewing it before you book.
Next steps
Official sources
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official government sources.
Verified against official sources · last reviewed 2026-08-20. Information only — not legal advice.