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Coming to the UK to visit family, spending a long weekend in London, or travelling here for the first time since Brexit? Before you grab a cheap flight, check whether the travel documents you plan to use will actually get you on the plane. It is a small detail that can quickly turn into an expensive airport problem.
For most Polish tourists, the starting point is a valid passport and an ETA. But someone who already lives in the UK with settled or pre-settled status is in a very different position. Here is what to check, without the immigration jargon.
Passport and ETA: the two things to sort first
If you are visiting from Poland for a holiday or to see family, your passport should be valid for your whole stay. A Polish national identity card will not normally do for a tourist visit, although there are exceptions for people with certain UK immigration rights. There is no blanket rule requiring another six months on your passport after the trip. Check the official entry-document rules before you book.
You will also come across ETA – Electronic Travel Authorisation. Think of it as permission to travel, not a visa and certainly not a promise of admission at the border. An eligible visitor can normally stay for up to six months for tourism or family visits, but an ETA does not give you the right to move to the UK or take an ordinary job. If relocation is your plan, start with our guide to preparing for a move to the UK.
As of 8 October 2026, the official application fee is £20 per person. Babies and children also need their own ETA if the requirement applies to them. Apply on GOV.UK or through the official UK ETA app with the passport you will travel on, a face photo, an email address and a payment method. Paying a third-party website more will not speed up the decision, so apply with time to spare and wait for approval before travelling.
An ETA is linked to your passport. It lasts two years or until the passport expires, whichever happens first. Replace your passport and you will need a new ETA. If a renewal is due soon, it usually makes sense to sort the passport before applying. You can check an existing ETA online.
Already living in the UK? Your rules may be different
If you hold a valid UK visa or permission to live, work or study here, including settled or pre-settled status, you will not normally need an ETA. What you do need is an up-to-date UKVI account linked to the passport or other permitted document you are using. An old document number can cause difficulties with an airline even when your immigration permission is still valid. See the official eVisa travel guidance.
British and Irish citizens, including people who also hold Polish citizenship, cannot apply for an ETA and need the appropriate evidence of citizenship or right of abode. And remember: your settled status does not automatically cover parents or friends flying over to visit you. Each traveller needs their own check. The full exemption list is worth reading.
What to have ready for the journey
Imagine your parents are flying over for a week. They have their return tickets on their phones, but they do not know your full address. Send them the postcode, your phone number and a simple explanation of where they are staying. At the border, visitors may be asked where they will stay, why they are coming and how they will support themselves. There is no single fixed amount of spending money that works for every visitor. What matters is meeting the visitor rules and being able to explain a genuine trip.
For children travelling with just one parent or another adult, check the airline’s rules and carry documents that help explain parental responsibility or permission where needed. GOV.UK has specific guidance for under-18s.
Health cover matters too. If you qualify for an EHIC through Poland, bring it, but do not confuse it with travel insurance. It may help with medically necessary state healthcare during a temporary stay, while costs such as repatriation are a separate issue. Carry medicines in their original packaging and check any restrictions on controlled medicines. Before leaving, also look at roaming charges, cabin-bag rules, liquids restrictions and UK plug adapters.
Brexit also changed what can be brought into Great Britain from abroad. Food and personal goods can be subject to restrictions, and Northern Ireland may have different rules. If you are packing large amounts of food or shopping, read the official customs guidance first.
Finding flights and planning the arrival
Use flexible-date flight searches if you can, then check the final price with bags directly on the airline’s website. A cheap late-night arrival can suddenly look less attractive once you add the transfer and the possibility of a taxi.
London is a particularly good example. Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and London City are not interchangeable destinations. The airport that suits your hotel may be a better deal than the one attached to the cheapest flight. Our London city break guide explains the transfers and where to look for accommodation.
Before leaving home, do a final check: passport, ETA or UKVI status, children’s documents, return booking, accommodation details, insurance and the journey from the airport. A few minutes now can save a lot of trouble later.
Information checked 8 October 2026. Fees and entry rules can change. Check GOV.UK and your airline again before departure.
