United Kingdom - Country Information

Film Commissions

UK Film Council - International
Tel: 020 7861 7860 Fax: 020 7861 7864
E-mail: obfc@ukfilmcouncil.org.uk
Website: www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk
Chief Executive Officer: John Woodward

Permits
Overseas nationals employed by companies abroad, who are visiting the UK for location filming only, do not require work permits. However, for any visit in excess of six weeks a work permit is required.

Tax breaks/incentives
State support for film culture and the film industry in the UK is extensive. The UK Film Council receives two streams of public funding: money from the National Lottery and from grant support. There are also certain tax reliefs.

Recent Productions
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Batman Begins, Woody Allen’s Match Point, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction, Valiant.

General Information

Location: Europe
Local Time: From 25 Mar 07 to 28 Oct 07 GMT +1
From 28 Oct 07 to 30 Mar 08 GMT
From 30 Mar 08 to 26 Oct 08 GMT +1
From 26 Oct 08 to 29 Mar 09 GMT
From 29 Mar 09 to 25 Oct 09 GMT +1
Capital City: London
Population: 60 million
Area: 244,820 square km, 94,530 square miles.
Language(s): English
Dialling Code: 44
Emergency: Police, Fire & Ambulance: 999
Directory Enquiries: 118500
TV Standard: PAL
Driving: Driving is on the left. National licence required. Minimum driving age is 17
Electricity: 240V AC 50Hz

Business & Currency

Currency: Pound Sterling (GBP 1 = 100 Pence)
Notes: GBP: 5, 10, 20, 50. Scotland: 1, 5, 10, 20, 100
Coins: GBP: 1, 2. Pence: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50

Credit Cards/Travellers Cheques: Credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted

Opening Hours
Bank: 0930-1530 Mon-Fri (some open Sat morning)
Office: 0900-1700 Mon-Fri
Shops: 0900-1730 Mon-Sat

Public Holidays
2008
Jan 1 New Year's Day, Jan 2 Bank Holiday (Scotland), Mar 17 St. Patrick's Day (Northern) Ireland, Mar 21 Good Friday, Mar 24 Easter Monday, May 1 May Day, May 28 Bank Holiday, Jul 12 Orangemen's Day Holiday (Northern) Ireland, Aug 4 Summer Bank Holiday (Scotland), Aug 25 Summer Bank Holiday (except Scotland), Dec 25 Christmas Day, Dec 26 Boxing Day
Holidays falling on Sat/Sun are observed on the following Mon

Business/Social Hints: Business is conducted in English, not many executives speak a second language. Smoking is banned in all pubs, restaurants, clubs and workplaces. On social occasions, eg invitation to restaurants and clubs, punctuality expected. Dress as for business meetings unless otherwise indicated.

Tipping: If a service charge has been added to bill, tips are not necessary, additional discretionary tips in restaurants & for taxis around 10%

Health

Reciprocal health: Participant of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC scheme) which allows visitors on short-term stays to other member countries to use the public health care sector for free or reduced-cost medical treatment and emergency care.

Compulsory vaccinations: None.

Recommended immunisations: None, however check travellers have up to date tetanus & polio immunisations.

Airports

Passport & Visa

The following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate

Restrictions: 1) Passports issued by Bophuthatswana, Ciskei, Transkei & Venda are not recognised. 2) "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" not recognised by HM Goverment, visas issued on declaration of identity (GV3) 3) Documents issued by the Palestinian Authority are valid for travel to the United Kingdom (visa required)

Passports

Required, but NOT by the following:
1) Holders of National Identity Cards issued to nationals of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Rep, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland Rep, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden & Switzerland
2) Holders of identity cards issued by the authorities in Gibraltar to British Citizens & British Dependent Territory Citizens resident there

Passport Validity: Passports must have 6 months validity remaining on arrival

Passport Notes:

Visas

The following REQUIRE a visa:
1) Citizens of Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Rep, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Congo Dem Rep, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Rep, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea (North), Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macau (S.A.R. travel permit holders), Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Sao Tome & Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia & Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vatican City (service & emergency passports) Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia & Zimbabwe
2) All non-EEA nationals (apart from British Subjects without the right of abode in the UK) seeking admission to the UK for a period in excess of 6 months require prior entry clearance

Notes: 1) Visa exemption:
Visas are not required by passengers if either:
a) they are lawful permanent residents of the United Kingdom without conditions attached to their leave to enter or remain who are returning for settlement within 2 years of their last embarkation or
b) they seek to return to the United Kingdom within the period of an earlier limited leave provided that the last leave was for a period of more than 6 months and for the same purpose as that for which the leave was granted or
c) they have the right of abode in the United Kingdom confirmed in the passport by a stick-in certificate of entitlement or
d) they are exempt from United Kingdom immigration control and are returning to continue their stay, eg diplomats based in the United Kingdom
2) Visa nationals arriving for the first time in the United Kingdom always require a valid visa
3) Commonwealth citizens & foreign nationals who are in doubt about their admissibility can obtain prior Entry Clearance, even where not compulsory, from their local British High Commission or Consular office. These are compulsory for non visa nationals seeking entry under certain categories (particularly as dependants of persons already in the United Kingdom) and, in the case of visitors and students can save delay and inconvenience to passengers at the port of arrival. In case of doubt, refer to the nearest British overseas representative

Air Transit

1) Passengers who would normally need a visa and whose sole purpose is to pass through in transit may do so without a visa provided they arrive by air with a confirmed booking for an onward flight within 24 hours. They must also have the necessary documents, such as a visa, for their destination(s). Admission is at the discretion of the Immigration Officer at the port of entry. Passengers should if possible, obtain prior entry clearance before travelling
2) The above is an administrative concession which does not apply to citizens of Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Belarus, Burundi, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Congo, Congo Dem Rep, Cote d'Ivoire, Ecuador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Lebanon, Liberia, Macedonia, Malawi, Moldova, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Palestinian Territories, Pakistan, Rwanda, Senegal, Serbia & Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Turkey, Uganda, Vietnam & Zimbabwe, unless they are in possession of one of the following documents:
a) a valid visa for entry to Australia, Canada, New Zealand or United States & a valid airline ticket for travel via the United Kingdom as part of their journey from another country or territory to the country in respect of which the visa is held
b) a valid visa fo entry to Australia, Canada, New Zealand or United States and a valid airline ticket for travel via the United Kingdom as part of a journey from the country in respect of which the visa is held to another country
c) a valid airline ticket for travel via the United Kingdom as part of a journey from Australia, Canada, New Zealand or United States to another country or territory, provided that the transit passenger does not seek to transit the United Kingdom on a date more than 6 months from the date on which they last entered Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the United States with a valid visa for entry to that country
d) a valid USA I-551 Permanent Residence Card issued on or after 21 April 1998
e) a valid Canadian Permanent Residence Card issued on or after 28 June 2002
f) a valid common format Category D visa for entry to an EEA State
g) a valid common format residence permit issued by an EEA State pursuant to Council regulation (EC) No. 1030/2002
h) paragraphs a, b, & c a "valid visa" shall include a transit visa

Notes: Transit visas cannot be obtained on arrival

Special Notes

1) The United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland collectively form a common travel area. A Person who has been examined for the purpose of immigration control at the point at which they entered the area does not normally require leave to enter any other part of it. However certain persons who enter the United Kingdom through the Republic of Ireland do require leave to enter
(contact Immigration Department for full details).
2) Persons seeking entry to the United Kingdom from outside the Common Travel Area who intend to proceed to the republic of Ireland, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, will require leave to enter, unless arriving with leave to enter or remain which is in force, if they are subject to United Kingdom Control.

WWW.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/policyandlaw/immigrationlaw/immigrationrules/part1/)

Climate

Temperate climate generally cool to mild with frequent cloud and rain throughout the year, but also spells of settled, fine weather. Summers can be quite warm. The south tends to be warmer and drier than the north, and the west wetter than the east. Most rain (snow in winter) is in the higher regions of Scotland, Wales and Northern England

Clothing

Generally mediumweights throughout the year although lightweights possible for summer with warmer clothes for winter. Rainwear at all times

Representative

UK Tourist Office
VisitBritain
Thames Tower, Black's Road
London, W6 9EL
tel: +44 20 8846 9000
fax: +44 20 8563 0302
e-mail: industryrelations@visitbritain.org
website: www.visitbritain.org

Embassy
Immigration & Enquiry Bureau
Lunar House, 40 Wellesley Road
Croydon, CR9 2BY
tel: +44 870 606 7766
website: www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk
www.ukvisas.gov.uk