Immigration
When you arrive in the UK, you will have to go through immigration control, which can be a lengthy process. There will be two queues; one for British nationals and EU/EEA nationals and one for all other passport holders.
If you are not an EU/EEA national, an immigration officer may question you closely about your stay in the UK. They may ask you to produce the documents you needed to obtain entry clearance so make sure you carry all the relevant documents in your hand luggage (originals, not photocopies, including your tuberculosis certificate). In some cases you may have to undergo a medical examination. Please see section "Do I need a medical check before travelling to the UK?".
Customs
Once you have passed through immigration and picked up your luggage, you will have to through customs control, which is divided into three channels:
- blue channel: for travellers from the EU
- green channel: travellers from outside the EU who are not declaring any goods for customs duties
- red channel: for those who have goods to declare.
There are certain goods you have to declare with customs when you enter the UK and there are certain goods that you are not allowed to bring into the UK at all. For details on customs declarations and prohibited goods, please visit HMRC.