What is Leave to Enter to the UK?
06.05.2025
According to current UK law, if a foreigner needs to enter the country, obtaining leave to enter will become a prerequisite. The document gives the right to cross the border and stay in the country for a certain period of time and for a specific purpose. It is requested from persons who require an entry visa, an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) and those who need to pass through border controls without presenting them.
What is leave to enter for the UK?
Leave to enter means formal permission conferred by a Border Force officer that allows a non-UK national to cross the immigration control point and lawfully be in the country. Where a person already holds a valid entry clearance (such as a visitor visa or an ETA) leave to enter will normally be granted automatically. In other circumstances, for example where a national of a non-visa country seeks entry as a short-term visitor, leave to enter is granted entirely at the officer’s discretion on arrival. Failure to obtain leave to enter means the individual is treated as having been refused entry and may be removed immediately.
How long is leave to enter valid for?
The acceptable period of leave to enter validity depends on many factors, including the purpose of the trip, the duration of the planned stay, and the visa category. In this regard, it is necessary to carefully read the requirements and rules for issuing the appropriate visa.
Limited leave to enter is a temporary status granted to a foreigner for legal stay in the UK for a specific period and with limited rights (access to social benefits, employment, education and other rights):
- Leave to enter for six months is provided to holders of a tourist visa. The maximum allowed period of continuous stay is half a year per trip.
- ETA holders may use their authorisation multiple times within its two-year lifespan (or until their passport expires), but each individual grant of leave to enter at the gate cannot exceed
- Work, study, family and other long-term routes are usually endorsed for the full length of the entry-clearance vignette (for example, a three-year Skilled Worker visa will lead to three years’ leave to enter).
Difference between leave to enter and leave to remain
Leave to enter and leave to remain are two different types of legal status that define the rules of a foreigner’s stay in the UK.
- Purpose and order of receipt. Leave to enter is a preliminary permit issued by the UK government to foreigners who are outside the country and is intended for initial border crossing (if the applicant has a tourist, student, or work visa). Leave to remain is a permit that allows a foreign national to continue their stay in the UK legally after their initial entry. It is usually granted after the person has already arrived in the country and confirmed his desire to stay longer than the planned period.
- Differences in status. Leave to enter is a temporary status that is valid until the moment of actual entry into the country. Leave to remain is a status that extends legal stay after the first entry and can be time-limited (limited leave) or indefinite (indefinite leave).
- Rights and obligations of the applicant. Leave to enter sets the initial conditions for entry (purpose of the visit, estimated length of stay, availability of financial resources). Leave to remain regulates the subsequent stages of stay, including the extension of terms, the change of status (for example, from a tourist to a worker), the acquisition of further rights and obligations.
Thus, leave to enter indicates initial admission to the country, and leave to remain reflects the continuation of legal stay after initial entry.
Is leave to enter the same as a visa?
No. A visa (or ETA) is permission to travel; leave to enter is permission to cross the border. Think of the visa as an invitation and leave to enter as the final approval at the door. In most cases the two dovetail neatly, but the Home Office stresses that possession of a visa does not guarantee admission. Border officers retain a residual power to refuse leave to enter if fresh information emerges – such as undisclosed criminality, suspicious travel patterns or a stated intention that conflicts with visa conditions.
How to apply for UK leave to enter?
- Check your immigration route. Determine whether you need prior entry clearance or can seek leave on arrival. Nationals of ETA-eligible countries travelling as visitors, for example, must obtain an ETA online before boarding.
- Submit the appropriate application. Complete the relevant online form for Visas/ETAs, pay the fee and, where required, attend biometrics.
- Prepare evidence. Compile documents demonstrating you meet eligibility and suitability criteria: identity, purpose of visit, finances, accommodation and, where applicable, tuberculosis or criminal-record certificates.
- Receive a decision and travel. A successful applicant will receive either a digital approval (ETA), a vignette in their passport, or written confirmation. On arrival, present the passport and any supporting evidence to the officer or e-gate.
- Collect your BRP (where relevant). If your visa route issues a Biometric Residence Permit, you must collect it within ten days of entry.
Missing documents, inconsistent answers or last-minute travel plan changes can all lead to refusal or reduced length of leave.
What if your leave to enter is refused?
A refusal may occur overseas (entry-clearance refusal) or at the border (refusal of leave to enter). In both scenarios you should:
- Request detailed reasons – These will outline the evidential or legal basis for refusal.
- Seek urgent legal advice – Timescales for administrative review or appeal can be short.
- Consider re-applying – In many visitor cases, the quickest remedy is to address the issues and submit a fresh application.
- Judicial review – Where no right of appeal exists, a judicial review may be possible if the decision is unlawful, irrational or procedurally unfair.
Refusal does not automatically lead to a re-entry ban, but repeated denials can damage credibility in future applications, so strategic legal guidance is essential.
How can Sterling Law help?
Sterling Law is a London-based law firm with a dedicated immigration practice. Our multilingual solicitors have an enviable record of success across every immigration route – from visitors and business visas to complex Human Rights and Indefinite Leave matters.
Whether you need a one-off consultation or full representation, Sterling Law provides comprehensive, client-centred support that turns complex immigration rules into a smooth, successful journey. Connect with us today to start your path towards lawful entry to the United Kingdom.
