When you arrive

Steps to follow when arriving in the UK

Whether you arrive by air, sea or via the Eurotunnel you will need to complete these steps before you are allowed to enter the UK. The steps are summarised below, but please check the UK CISA website for more information.

Pass through immigration

You will be asked to produce the following documentation at Passport Control:

• Passport - valid for one year or more
• Entry certificate/visa
• Evidence of financial support (bankers draft, bank statement, letter from official sponsor)
• Most recent letter of acceptance from Liverpool John Moores University
• Most recent examination results (originals or certified copies)
• Journey and contact details

Before leaving Immigration Control, check that the Immigration Officer has put a date stamp (if you had a Visa or Entry Clearance) in your passport.

Use the eGates for quicker entry

There are over 250 eGates in place at 15 air and rail ports in the UK. eGates are to enable quicker travel into the UK as you do not need to speak to a Border Force Officer on entry to the UK.

You can normally use eGates if you:

• have a biometric symbol on the cover of your passport
• are aged 12+ (12 to 17-year-olds must be accompanied by an adult)
• are either:
• a British citizen
• a national of an EU country, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland or the USA
• a member of the Registered Traveller Service

Those travelling with ID cards cannot use the eGates. 

Collect luggage

After passing through Passport Control, you will be able to collect your luggage from the baggage area or carousel. Clearly mark your luggage so that it is easily identified. If any item does not come through, find a representative of the airline you travelled on and fill in a lost baggage form.

Go through customs

When you have collected your luggage you must pass through Customs control. Join the queue for either the:

• Green channel if you have nothing to declare
• Red channel if you have goods to declare
• Blue channel if you have arrived from an airport within the European Economic Area (EEA) where you have already cleared all your luggage through customs control

If you are travelling to the UK from a country outside the European Union and are carrying 10,000 Euros or more in cash, bankers draft or cheque of any kind (about £6,750 in pounds sterling) you will be required to declare this at Customs. Declaration Forms will be available when you arrive. You could face a fine of up to £5,000 if you don’t make a full and correct declaration.

Please note:
You are legally required to comply with Customs requests to search you and your luggage.

Airport pick up service

We are here to support all new students entering into the University for the first time. LJMU provide a free airport transfer service via Manchester International Airport (MAN) and Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL). To guarantee a placement on the service, we will require you to complete your booking at least 4 working days before you travel. You will be sent details of your taxi by email once transport is confirmed.

Airport transfer booking slots available for January and September 2025 and will be sent to you via email.

Please note:
Unfortunately, we are unable to provide our airport pick up service to those who will be studying at LJMU as a partnership exchange or study abroad student (for example, if you are completing a semester abroad in partnership with LJMU).
If you are an exchange or study abroad student, please visit the dedicated arrival and orientation page for further details and answers to the frequently asked questions.

Travelling from Manchester International (MAN)

• You can travel from Manchester Airport to Liverpool Lime Street station by train. The journey takes approximately 1 hour 20 minutes, and tickets can be purchased at the airport for approximately £8.
• You can travel to Liverpool city centre by coach directly from Manchester airport. Tickets can be purchased on the National Express website for an average of £10.
• You can book a taxi from Manchester airport directly to your accommodation with StreetCars for approximately £80/90.

Travelling from Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL)

• Several Arriva buses run from outside Liverpool Airport arrivals to Liverpool city centre. This journey takes approximately 40 minutes and will cost up to £3.
• Taxis to Liverpool city centre from Liverpool airport cost approximately £15.

Travelling from London

• To travel from London to Liverpool by train, you will need to get a train to London Euston before boarding a train to Liverpool Lime Street. This journey will take approximately 3.5 hours. You can purchase tickets on the Trainline website for approximately £90.
• You can also travel from London airports by coach, however you will have to change vehicles at either London Victoria, Birmingham or Manchester. The journey will take approximately 8 hours and tickets can be bought on the National Express website for approximately £40.

Enrolling at LJMU

All new students arriving at LJMU will need to enrol to get their timetable and student ID card. All enrolment will be on-line and you will be contacted with details of how to provide your documents.

Further information

For more information about travelling to the UK to study, please visit these websites:

• HM Revenues and Customs website 
• Declaring cash when entering or leaving the UK 
• Bringing food products into the UK
• UK Council for International Student Affairs

For further advice and guidance on student arrivals, please see some useful links below: