It is your responsibility to find out what you can bring into the UK before you travel, we can provide you with a good overview but if you are unsure about anything then you need to get some official advice.

You can do this by contacting HRM Revenue and Customs, this is the part of the government (government body) that controls what you can bring into the UK and will be happy to help you.

Below is a list of prohibited and restricted items that will help you decide if you need to contact HRM Revenue and Customs. Prohibited means banned completely and restricted means that you will need to obtain a licence first before you can bring it into the UK.

Banned in the UK

Unlicensed drugs: Heroin, amphetamine, cocaine, morphine, barbiturates, LSD and cannabis (cannabis laws often confuse people in the UK, but the thing to remember is that although it is legally called a ‘class C’ drug cannabis is still illegal and bringing it across the border can get you into serious trouble with the British police)

Offensive Weapons: Knives, knuckledusters or martial arts weapons, CS spray and Tasers – even if these items can be bought legally in parts of Europe they are still illegal in the UK.

Counterfeit or Pirated goods: This applies to fake watches, clocks, CDs, DVDs, perfumes, designer clothes and anything else that is an illegal copy of a well known brand product. 

Pornography: Some pornography is legal in the UK and some is illegal. Images of sexual activity between consenting adults is generally ok, however if you attempt to enter the UK with any material that is considered indecent or obscene you will be prosecuted under UK law

Meat, milk and other animal products from outside the EU: This includes many animal products such as shells, ivory and animal skins.

Restricted in the UK – contact HRM Revenue & Customs to obtain an import licence

Firearms, explosives, ammunition including electric shock devices and gas canisters

Live animals are covered in our Pets section

Plants and plant produce: the UK is a member of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered species of Wild Fauna & Flora which governs the laws on bringing plants into the UK.

Radio Transmitters: Some CB radios and cordless phones

Please note that the above list is not extensive. If you feel uncertain about anything that you are planning to bring into the UK please contact HRM Revenue & Customs before you travel.

By John Hillman

To be listed here click.

USEFUL WORDS

valid passport
entry / exit visa
multiple entry visa – allows you to enter and leave a country more than once
transit visa – allows you to pass through a country (usually only the airport) on your way to another
tourist visa
business visa
temporary worker visa
spousal visa – allows you to travel with your husband or wife if s/he has another type of visa
student visa
working holiday visa
visa extension
exemption – official permission not to do something (in this case not to need a visa)
permission to enter / exit a country
leave to remain – official permission to stay in a country for a fixed period
embassy
consulate
nationality
citizenship
residency
immigrant

GRAMMAR SPOT

The Third Conditional

The third conditional is used to describe and speculate about an imaginary past situation and its imaginary consequence. It consists of two clauses:

a) the conditional clause:

if + Past Perfect (had (not) + past participle) or

if + Past Perfect Continuous (had (not) + been + -ing)

b) the main clause:
would(n’t) + the perfect (have + past participle) or
would(n’t) + have been + base form + -ing

If he hadn’t applied for the visa, he wouldn’t have been able to enter the country.

If we’d been living in England last year, we would have made friends more quickly.

may (not) / might (not) / could have are used instead of would(n’t) have if the result is not so sure:

She might have gone to America if she’d got better exam results.

However, would/might/may/could + base form (or be + base form + -ing) is used if the situation is still possible now:
He would be living in England now if he’d got the visa.

Pronunciation

Have and would are usually contracted or made weak:

If I’d (I had) seen him, I’d (I would) have stopped.

If I’d (I had) been feeling tired, I wouldn’t have continued.