Bringing personal items to the UK as a Ukrainian refugee

What you should do when arriving in the UK

When you bring personal belongings to the UK, you will usually not need to stop or speak to a customs officer.

You can walk through a customs control point (usually a green channel marked ‘nothing to declare’), unless you arrive with any of the following:

• a personal vehicle
• a pet
• prohibited or restricted goods
• £10,000 or more in cash (or the equivalent in another currency)

There is no value limit on items you bring into the UK.

If you arrive in a personal vehicle

You will not need to register or tax your vehicle in the UK if all of the following apply:

• you have arrived in the UK as a refugee
• the vehicle is registered and taxed in its home country
• you only use the vehicle in the UK for no more than 6 months

When entering the UK, you can drive past a customs control point (usually a green channel marked ‘nothing to declare’) without speaking to a customs officer.

If you become a resident or stay for longer than 6 months, you must register and tax your vehicle in the UK.

If you arrive with a pet

To find out what you must do if you arrive in the UK with your pets, call: 03000 200 301 and press 1 to speak to an adviser, or email: pettravel@apha.gov.uk.

If you arrive with prohibited or restricted items

You must go to the red point or into the red channel at the port or airport and speak to a customs officer if you have any of the following:

• controlled drugs
• offensive weapons, for example flick knives
• self-defence sprays, for example pepper spray and CS gas
• endangered animal and plant species
• rough diamonds — you can bring in items of jewellery for personal use
• indecent and obscene materials, such as books, magazines, films and DVDs
• personal imports of meat and dairy products
• firearms, explosives and ammunition — you need a special licence to bring these items into the UK

If you arrive with cash

If you arrive in the UK with £10,000 or more in cash (or the equivalent in other currencies), you must tell a customs officer when you arrive.

You do not need to:

• do anything if you bring in cash under £10,000 (or equivalent)
• pay tax or duty on cash brought into the UK