Scotland

-> Scotland

Red tape and visas

Citizens of most European countries can enter the UK with just a passport; EU citizens can stay indefinitely, other Europeans can stay for up to three months. US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand citizens can stay for up to six months, providing they have a return ticket and adequate funds to cover their stay. Citizens of most other countries require a visa, obtainable from the British consular or mission office in the country of application.

If you want to extend your visa, you should write, before the expiry date given on the endorsement in your passport, to: The Under Secretary of State, Home Office, Immigration and Nationality Dept, Lunar House, Wellesley Rd, Croydon CR9 2BY (tel 0870/606 7766, www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk), enclosing your passport or National Identity Card and form IS120 (if these were your entry documents).

British embassies and high commissions abroad

Australia British High Commission, Commonwealth Ave, Yarralumla, Canberra, ACT 2600 tel 02/6270 6666, www.uk.emb.gov.au.

Canada British High Commission, 80 Elgin St, Ottawa, ON K1P 5K7 tel 613/237-1530, www.britain-in-canada.org.

Ireland 29 Merrion Rd, Dublin 4 tel 01/205 3700, www.britishembassy.ie.

New Zealand British High Commission, 44 Hill St, Wellington tel 04/924 2888, www.britain.org.nz.

USA 3100 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20008 tel 202/588-6500, www.britainusa.com.

Customs

Since the inauguration of the EU Single Market, travellers coming into Britain directly from another EU country do not have to make a declaration to Customs at their place of entry. In other words, you can bring almost as many cigarettes and as much French wine or German beer into the country as you can carry. The guidance levels are 10 litres of spirits, 90 litres of wine and 110 litres of beer, which should suffice for anyone's requirements - any more than this and you'll have to provide proof that it's for personal use only. The guidelines for tobacco are 800 cigarettes, 400 cigarillos, 200 cigars or 1kg of loose tobacco. If you're travelling to or from a non-EU country, you can still buy duty-free goods, but within the EU, this perk no longer exists. The duty-free allowances are:

. Tobacco: 200 cigarettes; or 100 cigarillos; or 50 cigars; or 250 grammes of loose tobacco.

. Alcohol: 2 litres of still wine plus 1 litre of drink over 22 percent alcohol, or 2 litres of alcoholic drinks not over 22 percent.

. Perfumes: 60ml of perfume plus 250ml of toilet water.

. Plus other goods to the value of £145.

There are import restrictions on a variety of articles and substances, from firearms to furs derived from endangered species, none of which should bother the average tourist. However, if you need any clarification on British import regulations, contact the Excise Contact Centre on 0845/010 9000, www.hmce.gov.uk.

Most goods in Britain, with the chief exceptions of books and food, are subject to Value Added Tax (VAT), which increases the cost of an item by 17.5 percent (included in the marked price of goods). Visitors from non-EU countries can save a lot of money through the Retail Export Scheme (tax-free shopping), which allows a refund of VAT on goods to be taken out of the country. (Savings will usually be minimal for EU nationals because of the rates at which the goods will be taxed upon import to the home country.) Note that not all shops participate in this scheme (those doing so will display a sign to this effect) and that you cannot reclaim VAT charged on hotel bills or other services.

Pets

Since the UK abandoned its strict quarantine rules in 2000, it is now possible to bring cats and dogs from most countries in Europe. However, there are still some restrictions: your pet must not have been out of any of the accepted countries in the six months before entering Britain, must be microchipped, at least three months old and be vaccinated against rabies. For a list of participating countries and more detailed information call 0870/241 1710 or check at www.defra.gov.uk.