If you a pilot and flying into the UK privately you need to be aware of limits and restrictions of the UK Borders.
The UK Border Website provides useful information.
Key points to consider
- From the 1st January 2012 the UK tax office HMRC increased the theshold for declaring goods you bring into the UK from abroad. The new limit is £800. For more information please see: Customs HMRC
- You must declare any sums of cash of 10 000 euro or more (or the equivalent currency) if you are travelling to the UK from a country outside the EU.
- You cannot bring in meat or dairy products from most non-EU countries. There are also restrictions on fish products, egg and honey products, some fruit and vegetables, and some plants and plant products (such as bulbs, seeds, cut flowers and tree bark).
- You must provide prior notification of flights, operators and pilots must complete a General Aviation Report (GAR) form. You can download the form and accompanying instructions from the right side of this page.
The requirement to provide notification is made under:
section 35 of the Customs & Excise Management Act 1979
section 27 of schedule 2 of the Immigration Act 1971
schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000
GAR Form links:
General Aviation Report GAR FORM EXEL
Details on which airports provide Customs services. Airports
Using the GAR Form you can enter into any airport including ZZZZ, provided the local police authority is notified by fax or email (see above links to GAR Form).
If you need to declare goods or are carrying passengers which require immigration control checks then the following airports must be your point of entry:
EGPD Aberdeen
EGAA Belfast Aldergrove
EGBB Birmingham
EGHH Bournemouth
EGGD Bristol
EGFF Cardiff
EGNV Durham
EGPH Edinburgh
EGPF Glasgow
EGNS Isle of Man
EGBM Leeds Bradford
EGGP Liverpool
EGKK Gatwick
EGLL Heathrow
EGGW Luton
EGSS Standsted
EGCC Manchester
EGNT Newcastle
EGSH Norwich
EGNX Nottingham
EGPK Prestwick
EGHI Southampton
EGMC Southend
Smaller airports only offering customs control only:
EGKB Biggin Hill
EGTG Bristol Filton
EGSC Cambridge
EGBE Conventry
EGTE Exeter
EGLF Farnborough
EGNJ Humberside
EGLC London City
EGMD Lydd
EGMH Manston
EGHQ Newquay
EGMD Plymouth
EGKA Shoreham
EGPB Sumburgh
Information correct per Customs Border Website 08 FEB 2013.
Contact numbers for faxing copies of your GAR form to local police authorities.
Contact details:
VAT information provided by our partners The VAT Consultancy