EU citizen entry and exit within 6 months visit

JacobEdgar

Can EU citizens exit and enter during their 6 month stay without problems? or they will be stopped in airport and asked to provide a lot of documents and potentially barred from entry? asking for a over 65 family member who needs to check things in their residence back home but wanted to come back to use the full 6 month visit allowance.

kaMelo

Why would they be worried about being barred from entry?  They will need their passport and will be subject to the normal UK immigration control just like everyone else who comes to the UK. I know a German citizen can visit for up to six months without requiring a visa, I'm assuming it's the same situation for any other EU country, but that's an assumption so it may be worth them checking their own countries Government website.

Also, just for clarity, there is no such thing as an EU citizen, they are citizens of a country who are members of the EU. Pedantic maybe but it does make a difference.

DullGreyGuy

kaMelo said:

Why would they be worried about being barred from entry?  They will need their passport and will be subject to the normal UK immigration control just like everyone else who comes to the UK. 

No, UK immigration control is based on what passport you hold. So if you have a biometric passport from an EEA  country then you can still use the e-gates and won't be asked anything at all.

If you held a Columbian passport instead you would have to speak to an Immigration Officer and they will ultimately determine if you have the right to enter or not. 

As to why someone would be worried about being barred? Presumably because they've invested in the trip and don't want to waste the money, its embarrassing and stressful being denied entry, being denied entry often means you are barred from future entry for a number of years etc etc. The long duration would suggest either they have work/business here or meeting family/partner which again could be problematic if you're barred from entry for 2 years.

The BiL has a non-EEA passport and after finishing a contract decided to come visit us for a few months as he'd never been to the UK/Europe etc. Got his tourist visa no problem but immigration held him for 4-5 hours because they didnt believe he was a tourist/accused him of coming here to work with no intent to go home. It was only after we spotted an off duty UKBF agent in the Arrivals cafe that we were given any information and were able to address their concerns. 

JacobEdgar

Thanks for the replies . Yes, supposedly it's the same for all EU countries, the passport in question is Spanish.

It is just that in the own gov.uk website says that you might be stopped by the customs for questioning, and you might be required to show proof of accomodation, funds for your stay, to make sure you are not going to try and stay and live here permanently, which is absolutely not the case, as my relative will be returning for sure as he has important business to attend shortly. And of course a ban and return to your country, plus the plausible bill for doing so is something I would very much like to avoid.

kaMelo

DullGreyGuy said:

kaMelo said:

Why would they be worried about being barred from entry?  They will need their passport and will be subject to the normal UK immigration control just like everyone else who comes to the UK. 

No, UK immigration control is based on what passport you hold. So if you have a biometric passport from an EEA  country then you can still use the e-gates and won't be asked anything at all.

Of course that's true, along with many other countries from around the world such as the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, but being able to use an eGate doesn't mean you will never be subject to additional questioning if they don't like the cut of your jib..

JacobEdgar said:

Thanks for the replies . Yes, supposedly it's the same for all EU countries, the passport in question is Spanish.

It is just that in the own gov.uk website says that you might be stopped by the customs for questioning, and you might be required to show proof of accomodation, funds for your stay, to make sure you are not going to try and stay and live here permanently, which is absolutely not the case, as my relative will be returning for sure as he has important business to attend shortly. And of course a ban and return to your country, plus the plausible bill for doing so is something I would very much like to avoid.

I wouldn't worry, those are all things that might happen but highly unlikely to do so.  According to this, at the moment they need nothing more than their Spanish passport to visit the UK for up to six months..
https://www.etauk.uk/news/uk-to-launch-eta-system

smudge56

Presumably he has applied for settlement through the EU settlement scheme.  That gives him indefinite leave to remain in the UK and can leave for up to 5 years.  As there is no Biometric residency card issued with this he should carry his uKVI letter that grants him the leave to remain.

DullGreyGuy

JacobEdgar said:

Thanks for the replies . Yes, supposedly it's the same for all EU countries, the passport in question is Spanish.

It is just that in the own gov.uk website says that you might be stopped by the customs for questioning, and you might be required to show proof of accomodation, funds for your stay, to make sure you are not going to try and stay and live here permanently, which is absolutely not the case, as my relative will be returning for sure as he has important business to attend shortly. And of course a ban and return to your country, plus the plausible bill for doing so is something I would very much like to avoid.

EEA not EU

You can be so just make sure they have your details and address if they are staying with you or their hotel if thats where they are staying. Similarly say how they are going to fund their stay, bank cards, credit cards, saying you're not charging for bed and board etc. Show they have work to return to.

The main two issue BiL had was that he only had $1,000 on him for a 6 month, he didnt show that he also had a credit card, he had no material plans (he only said he wanted to see Wembley) for when he was going to be with us and he didnt have a job.  These were all resolved when we clarified that his ideal life is spending time in his room online watching Anime or tinkering building websites (which he is bad at but enjoys). Doesn't drink, smoke, no interest in fashion, we'd be paying for his food etc. I think I joked that I'd be surprised if he didnt leave with at least half of his cash still. In reality he left with about $750 left and most of the $250 was spent on gifts. 

OhWow

JacobEdgar said:

Thanks for the replies . Yes, supposedly it's the same for all EU countries, the passport in question is Spanish.

It is just that in the own gov.uk website says that you might be stopped by the customs for questioning, and you might be required to show proof of accomodation, funds for your stay, to make sure you are not going to try and stay and live here permanently, which is absolutely not the case, as my relative will be returning for sure as he has important business to attend shortly. And of course a ban and return to your country, plus the plausible bill for doing so is something I would very much like to avoid.

Being refused entry when visiting does not always mean a ban: it's not a deportation, just a refusal of entry. The refusal would have to be declared in future in the UK and other countries if they ask. 

To gain entry to the UK on another try, it's often just addressing why you were refused entry and then applying for a Standard Visit Visa before travelling the next time to ensure you have got it right. Refusal of entry can be for things like; owing NHS debt; they think you won't go home; they think you will work; you don't have enough money for your visit; you are trying to live in the UK "through frequent or successive visits" etc

"You may want to apply for a Standard Visitor visa if you have a criminal record or you’ve previously been refused entry into the UK."

As for what you should bring with you as you might have to show this and what they are looking at, the gov.uk site states-

"What you can and cannot do

You can visit the UK on holiday or to spend time with family and friends.

You can also do other permitted activities as a Standard Visitor.

While in the UK as a tourist, you cannot:

• do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person
• claim public funds (benefits)
• live in the UK for long periods of time through frequent or successive visits
• marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership. You’ll need a Marriage Visitor visa instead

What you need at the UK border

You must provide a valid passport or travel document. Your passport should be valid for the whole of your stay in the UK.

You may also be asked to prove that:

• you’re visiting for tourism
• you’re able to support yourself and your dependents during your trip (or have funding from someone else to support you)
• you’ve arranged accommodation for your stay
• you’re able to pay for your return or onward journey (or have funding from someone else)
• you’ll leave the UK at the end of your visit"

All the above quotes are what appears when you select "Spain" and "Tourism or visiting family and friends" in the following link-

Check if you need a UK visa

https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa

OhWow

JacobEdgar said:

Can EU citizens exit and enter during their 6 month stay without problems? or they will be stopped in airport and asked to provide a lot of documents and potentially barred from entry? asking for a over 65 family member who needs to check things in their residence back home but wanted to come back to use the full 6 month visit allowance.

Each time they arrive at the border, they are asking for permission to enter the UK to visit. There is no using the full 6 months visit allowance: each entry is decided at the border. They might refuse entry this time, allow just a short visit or give 6 months entry. It's the  "live in the UK for long periods of time through frequent or successive visits" that they might need to be careful of.

They also need to be aware of how long Spain/their private health insurers, will treat then as a visitor, to pay for any NHS bills.