Travel advice and general information about the United Kingdom.
This is not official advice. If you need help, contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.
The United Kingdom, officially the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, is a sovereign country and Commonwealth realm located in West Europe, which is constituted of the four nations of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The latter three nations have devolved legislatures and laws can therefore vary across the United Kingdom.
Population: 67 million
Language: English, Welsh, Gaelic
Currency: Pound sterling (GBP)
Religion: Christianity (57%) – England and Wales (46%), Scotland (43%), Northern Ireland (79%)
Government: Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Political Rights and Civil Liberties: 91/100 (Free country, but with restrictions on freedom of speech)
Head of State: His Majesty King Charles III
Head of Government: The Right Honourable Sir Kier Starmer KC MP
Crown Dependencies: Guernsey, Jersey and Isle of Mann
Overseas Territories: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, and Turks and Caicos Islands
This information pertains to the United Kingdom and the Crown Dependencies only. The entry requirements for the British Overseas Territories may be different and are not covered by this article.
Barbadians do not need a visa to enter the United Kingdom for tourism purposes or to visit friends / family, but must apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling. You can usually stay in the United Kingdom as a visitor for up to six months, but this is at the discretion of UK Border Force. Not needing a visa does not mean that you are guaranteed entry into the United Kingdom. You will still be assessed by an immigration officer on arrival to determine your suitability for admission. Do not travel to the United Kingdom without a valid ETA, unless you are exempt.
An ETA is required for most foreign nationals who are eligible for visa-free travel to the United Kingdom. However, it is not required for Irish citizens; British Overseas Territories citizens; foreign nationals who are legally resident in Ireland (but only when they are entering the United Kingdom directly from Ireland or any of the Crown Dependencies); or any other person who has permission to live, work or study in the United Kingdom. Unless any of the foregoing exceptions apply to you, you must apply for an ETA before travelling to the United Kingdom. It costs £16 (approx. $43 BBD) to apply for an ETA. No refunds are possible, even if the application is declined.
If you are legally resident in Ireland and are travelling directly to the United Kingdom via Ireland or any of the Crown Dependencies, you must provide evidence that you live in Ireland when you arrive in the UK, unless you have an ETA.
Please note being in receipt of an ETA only gives you permission to travel to the United Kingdom. It does not give you permission to live and work in the United Kingdom. All persons in receipt of an ETA are still assessed by UK Border Force on arrival, and are granted or denied entry in accordance with the immigration rules.
Foreign nationals who frequently visit the United Kingdom for long periods of time may be denied entry or questioned by UK Border Force in order to satisfy the authorities that they are not attempting to live in the United Kingdom, or undertake activities that visitors are not permitted to do (e.g. work).
Barbadians who are also British citizens, British overseas territories citizens, or British nationals (overseas) do not need to apply for a visa or ETA prior to arrival, as long as they present their British passport on arrival. However, while an ETA is not required, any person who is a British overseas territories citizen or a British national (overseas) does not have the automatic right to live and work in the United Kingdom unless they are also a British citizen.
Most British overseas territories citizens who are born on a British overseas territory are also British citizens under the laws of the United Kingdom.
Barbadians who are also Irish citizens do not need to apply for a visa or ETA prior to arrival, as long as they present their Irish passport on arrival.
Irish citizens have the right to live and work in the United Kingdom under the terms of the Common Travel Area. [1]
Follow the advice of the Irish government if you will be entering the United Kingdom using an Irish passport.
There are year-round direct flights available to and from London Heathrow with British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. Various airlines also offer seasonal direct flights to and from London Gatwick, and to and from Manchester, during the winter season.
British Airways offers year-round direct flights to and from London Heathrow and seasonal direct flights to and from London Gatwick usually between November and April.
Virgin Atlantic offers year-round direct flights to and from London Heathrow and seasonal direct flights to and from Manchester Airport usually between November and March.
Aer Lingus offers seasonal direct flights to and from Manchester Airport usually between November and March.
It is best to book flights directly with airlines or reputable travel agencies. To compare prices between different airlines, use Google Flights.
To live or work in the United Kingdom, you must have an appropriate visa or other status that gives you permission to do so (e.g. skilled worker visa, ancestry visa or indefinite leave to remain). [1] Most work visas are granted on the basis of a job offer and where the applicant possesses skills that are desirable to the United Kingdom.
Never accept any offer to pay someone to help you work in the United Kingdom; or to move to the United Kingdom with someone that you do not know; or to get married to a British citizen for the purpose of living and working in the United Kingdom. There are no shortcuts to obtaining permission to live and work in the United Kingdom.
If you choose to marry a British, Irish or EU citizen for the purpose of living or working in the United Kingdom, the British government may treat this as a marriage of convenience or a sham marriage if they can prove to the civil standard that there is no genuine relationship between the parties. If they determine that your marriage is a sham, you may be deported from the United Kingdom.
The currency in the United Kingdom is called the pound sterling (GBP). £1 is equivalent to 100 pence. Foreign currencies are not accepted by local businesses as a means of payment.
In the United Kingdom, most supermarkets offer a free 'cash back' service at the till when you are paying for your groceries by debit card, allowing you to withdraw up to £50 without having to use an ATM. This may be a cheaper alternative than withdrawing cash at an ATM which may trigger bank fees. Simply ask the cashier for 'cash back' after the last item of your shopping basket has been scanned.
Travelling overseas with a Barbados Dollar account? Check your foreign currency limit with your bank. For most individuals, it's $20,000 BBD per year, in equivalent foreign currency. If your limit runs out while overseas, you WILL NOT be able to use your debit or credit card outside Barbados.
Always keep an eye on your foreign currency limit, and use the FOREX Online platform to request a replenishment at least 7 days before you anticipate running out. You can be stranded for several days without the ability to pay for anything if your limit runs out while overseas.
The informal term quid (pronounced "qwid") has the same meaning as pound. For example, "5 quid" means £5.
There is zero tolerance to the possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs in the United Kingdom. Persons convicted of drugs-related offences can expect long prison sentences and heavy fines.
It is illegal to carry, purchase, sell, or enter the United Kingdom with, certain types of knives.
The authorities in the United Kingdom are increasingly suppressing the right to freedom of speech by using hate speech and communication laws to arrest and prosecute people for expressing dissenting views and opinions on social media websites, usually about issues of conscience. These arrests are often justified on the questionable grounds of inciting hatred or causing harm to others.
In August, 2024, the authorities started to target those who shared posts on social media sites about recent UK riots which, in the sole opinion of the authorities, might incite "racial hatred". This has resulted in people choosing to censor their own speech out of fear of being prosecuted by the authorities for expressing their opinions about the riots.
In October, 2024, a Christian was convicted under the Public Order Act 2023 (UK) for silently praying outside an abortion clinic in the United Kingdom.
You must drive on the left-side, like in Barbados.
Familiarise yourself with the Highway Code (applies to England, Wales and Scotland). For Northern Ireland, read the Highway Code for Northern Ireland.
There are many speed cameras in the United Kingdom. Speed limits are expressed in miles per hour (mph). Always observe the speed limit. Road traffic laws are strictly enforced in the United Kingdom. Unless road signs indicate otherwise, the speed limits are as follows—
In many residential areas of Wales, the speed limit is 20 mph (32 kh/h).
A 'carriageway' is like a highway in Barbados and a 'motorway' is like a super highway.
Pedestrians are not allowed on a motorway. You will be arrested by the police if you walk or cycle on a motorway.
Never drive or park on the hard shoulder of a motorway. The hard shoulder is the side of the motorway for emergencies only. You must only use the hard shoulder in a genuine emergency (e.g. if your vehicle has broken down). Never use the hard shoulder to overtake vehicles or to avoid busy traffic.
When driving on a carriageway or motorway, you must keep in the left lane unless you are overtaking. You may be stopped by police if you remain in the right-hand lane when there is no nearby traffic in the left-lane.
Observe waiting and parking restrictions. It is against the law—
You must always indicate at a roundabout, whether you are turning left or right. If you are going straight ahead at a roundabout, you must indicate left just before you reach the exit. You may be stopped by the police if you do not use your indicators correctly.
Drivers in the United Kingdom only use their car horns to warn others of a danger. Avoid using your car horn to express gratitude to other drivers for giving way, as using your car horn like this will confuse local drivers or cause a misunderstanding. It is customary to raise a 'high-five' to persons that give way.
You can use your Barbadian driving licence to drive any type of small vehicle listed on your licence (for example cars, motorcycles or vans) for up to 12 months from the date you last entered the United Kingdom. The vehicle may have up to 8 passenger seats and must not exceed 3.5 tonnes in weight. Visitor driving permits are not required and you do not need an International Driving Permit.
Make sure you have appropriate car insurance. If you are planning to rent a car, make sure you are hiring a vehicle from a registered business as they are responsible for arranging car insurance on your behalf.
Car rental companies often require customers to have a credit card. They may place a temporary hold on your credit card during the term of your rental in case you have an accident or cause damage to the vehicle. If you have an accident, you may be required to pay a substantial excess regardless of who is at fault. It may be more cost effective to purchase car hire excess insurance as an alternative to the Collision Damage Waiver offered by rental companies if you have the financial means to pay the excess before submitting a claim.
Drivers are required to pump their own fuel and enter the premises of the on-site convenience store to pay before leaving. After you place the pump into your vehicle, the cashier will electronically activate the pump at your stand.
After pumping is finished, take note of the final amount and the pump number (usually sign-posted above the pump stand). When you approach the counter, advise the cashier what pump number you used.
Credit and debit card payments are accepted at almost all gas stations in the United Kingdom.
The term gas station is not used in the United Kingdom. What we call gas stations, British people call petrol stations or fuel stations regardless of the type of fuel available. At motorway services, they are also known as service stations. In the United Kingdom, the term gas refers to natural gas piped into a building used for heating and cooking.
Fuel prices are not set by the British government and are determined by competition and market forces. Prices can therefore vary and are usually displayed at or near the entrance to a gas station, usually expressed in pence. Some supermarkets have on-site gas stations and may offer fuel at lower prices than independent gas stations in order to attract customers to shop in their supermarket.
Air pumps at gas stations are coin-operated (i.e. not free to use).
Don't try to mimic the British accent.
Avoid speaking in Bajan creole or using Bajan terms or idioms as the locals will not understand you. Be mindful that you will be speaking to persons from a different culture. Remember to be sensitive to cultural differences.
There are many different accents in the United Kingdom and the mannerisms of British people vary depending on where they are from. They may use idioms that do not make sense, or phrases that sound unusual to Barbadians. For example, people from the English county of Yorkshire commonly use the phrase "love" when referring to another person they are speaking with, regardless of gender.
Be mindful how you respond to closed questions. Avoid responding with "no, please" in all situations as this phrase sounds unusual to persons outside Barbados and may cause confusion. If you are asked a question in which you are being offered something, you should respond with "yes, please" or "no, thank you". For all other yes/no questions, you should simply respond with "yes" or "no" and avoid using the verb "please" as this will confuse a local person or cause a misunderstanding.
Avoid saying "good night" as a greeting as this will cause a misunderstanding. In the United Kingdom, the expression "good night" is only ever used when departing. To greet someone in the late evening, even if the time is one minute before midnight, it is customary to say "good evening". If it's after 12 PM but before 4 PM, you should say "good afternoon".
Never hang up the phone without saying bye. This would be considered rude, even in informal settings.
You may see public displays of affection between same-sex couples, such as hand-holding. Do not express derogatory remarks about a person's sexuality: homophobia is not tolerated in the United Kingdom.
British people are very fond of the Royal Family and feel a strong affinity towards the monarchy. You will cause offence and may be confronted if you express derogatory remarks about the King or any working member of the Royal Family.
To contact the police, fire brigade or ambulance services, call 999. You must only use this number in a genuine emergency or if you are reporting a crime that is in progress. To contact the police when it is not an emergency, call 101.
You cannot call the emergency services in the United Kingdom without an active SIM card installed. If you have a Flow or Digicel SIM card, make sure it is installed in your phone. You do not need to enable roaming, or have any credit, to call the emergency services.
The Barbados High Commission in London may be notified of your arrest. You may be able to ask the British government not to notify, but this is at the discretion of the local authorities.
If you are not sure whether the Barbados government has been notified of your arrest, you have the right to ask the police to notify Consular Services of the Barbados High Commission in London and they must comply with your request without delay.
Any person charged with a criminal offence has the right to receive a timely, fair and public hearing by an independent, impartial court and to be tried by jury. You have the right to be present at your trial and to consult with an attorney at law of your choice. You cannot be compelled to testify or confess guilt. These rights are guaranteed by British law.
You are entitled to free legal advice if you are questioned at a police station. If you are charged with a criminal offence, you may be entitled to legal aid that partially or fully covers the cost of your defence if you do not have the means to pay for it.
[1] If you are a British-Barbadian dual national, you do not need permission to live and work in the United Kingdom because you are exempt from immigration control, as long as you enter the United Kingdom using your British passport. If you are an Irish-Barbadian dual national, you do not need permission to live and work in the United Kingdom under the terms of the Common Travel Area, as long as you enter the United Kingdom using your Irish passport. For all intents and purposes, an Irish citizen is not subject to immigration control in the United Kingdom, but the authorities have the right to deport an Irish citizen in exceptional cases where it is in the public interest to do so.
Yes, if you are travelling overseas you should also take your Barbadian passport with you, as you will need it to re-enter Barbados without being subject to immigration control.
If you were registered or naturalised as a Barbadian citizen but do not have a Barbados passport, you can re-enter Barbados using your foreign passport without being subject to immigration control if you present your certificate of Barbadian citizenship.