What documents are required when flying to England? How different are the custom restrictions? Can I freely travel with my pet dog or cat?

In connection with the agreement concluded on 24 December 2020 and the decision on provisional application of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part, it is worth learning what changes will apply to passengers travelling to and from Great Britain.

Travel documents

The document that entitles you to enter and stay in Great Britain is a valid passport or a valid ID card.

NOTE! You will still be able to cross the British border using a valid ID card until 30 September 2021. Following this date, it will only be possible with a valid passport.

EU citizens can enter Great Britain for tourism purposes without a visa for up to 6 months.You will need a visa if you want to work or study in the UK. The same applies to people who want to stay in the country for more than 6 months. The citizens of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as well as the citizens of the British Overseas Territories will have to meet the following criteria when crossing the external border of the EU/SCH:

  • Have a valid passport issued within the last 10 years that will remain valid for at least 3 more months following the intended date of departure from a Member State;
  • Justify the purpose and conditions of the intended stay, and have sufficient means of subsistence, both for the duration of the intended stay and for the return to the country of origin;
  • Must not appear in any databases as persons posing a threat to public policy, internal security, public health or international relations of any of the Member States.
  • They will also be required to use border crossings marked as “All passports.”

Let’s remember about the new customs restrictions

Customs restrictions when travelling from Great Britain to the European Union:

  • Goods of value up to 430 EUR in your hand luggage for your own use
  • 1 litre of alcohol of an alcoholic strength exceeding 22% or 2 litres of alcohol of an alcoholic strength not exceeding 22% or 4 litres of wine and 16 litres of beer;
  • Up to 10,000 EUR or its equivalent in different currency/securities without any declaration;
  • 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250 grams of smoking tobacco;
  • The above customs restriction changes do not apply to Northern Ireland as it will be treated as a Member State.

Customs restrictions when travelling from the European Union to Great Britain:

  • Goods of value up to 390 EUR in your hand luggage for your own use;
  • 4 litres of alcohol of an alcoholic strength exceeding 22% or 9 litres of alcohol of an alcoholic strength not exceeding 22% (the limits can be split, e.g. 4.5 litres of alcohol of an alcoholic strength not exceeding 22% and 2 litres of alcohol of an alcoholic strength exceeding 22%) and 18 litres of wine and 42 litres of beer;
  • Up to 10,000 EUR or its equivalent in different currency/securities without any declaration;
  • 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250 grams of smoking tobacco.

Can you bring food?

  • The regulations on carrying food for your own personal use when travelling from EU countries to Great Britain will not change. You will still be able to bring meat, dairy and other animal products – such as fish, eggs and honey – produced in an EU country.
  • As of 1 January 2021, new regulations on importing goods from Great Britain to the European Union will enter into force.

Import ban:

  • Food products of animal origin (meat, ham and dairy);
  • Plants (intended for planting, e.g. seeds, bulbs, cut flowers, pot plants and potatoes);
  • CITES (endangered animals or plants and products derived from them);

Travelling with pets

For non-commercial movement of animals from the EU to the UK, you need:

  • Correct marking of animals;
  • Valid vaccination against rabies;
  • EU passport;
  • More information can be found on the website of the Chief Veterinary Inspectorate.

For non-commercial movement of animals from the UK to the EU:

  • Correct marking of the animal;
  • Valid vaccination against rabies;
  • A health certificate each time you enter the EU (a passport issued in Great Britain will not be a document allowing entry into the EU);
  • Pets entering the EU will have to be checked at a designated travelers’ point of entry;




TAX free


As of 1 January 2021, travellers who buy goods in the EU with the Tax Free procedure and have permanent residence in Great Britain are entitled to a refund of the tax paid when buying goods in the EU that will be brought outside the EU in an unchanged condition in one’s hand luggage. In order to apply for a tax refund, one will have to present a confirmation stating that the goods are exported in a form determined by the Member State from which the export actually took place. Travellers who have permanent residence in Northern Ireland, which will be treated as a Member State based on the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, will not be able to use the Tax Free procedure.


Passenger rights


Great Britain decided to uphold the existing EU legislation on the protection of passenger rights and introduced a relevant legal act that adapts the rules of the Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 to the situation of British carriers following Brexit. In this case, passenger rights to assistance, change reservations and compensation in the event of denied boarding and of cancellation or long delays of flights are as stipulated in the Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. To ensure unchanged passenger protection, the Regulation will also apply to flights to the EU from countries other than Great Britain, as long as the routes are operated by a British carrier. This also applies to flights from third countries to Great Britain as long as they are operated by carriers from the EU.


Check before your trip


Due to the changes introduced in connection with BREXIT signs informing of new travelling regulations can be found at Kraków Airport. Please remember to check the detailed regulations on goverment pages.