Get prepared

When you arrive at East Midlands Airport, you’ll need to go through Passport Control – look out for the separate lanes for EU and non-EU passengers.

Here’s a few tips to help you get through without delay:

Use an eGate if possible – simply scan your passport
Open your passport on the photo page and remove any covers
Remove hats and sunglasses
Stay together with your family so you don’t lose each other as you pass through

Speed up through our eGates

For a faster route, you should use our eGates if you can. It uses facial recognition technology to allow passengers through the border, without the need to see a Border Force Officer.

You can use the eGates if you:

have a biometric symbol on the cover of your passport
are aged 10+ (10 - 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

After Passport Control

Customs

You’ll need to pass through Customs after Passport Control, as there’s restrictions on what you can bring into the country.

You’ll need to declare any of the following:

Anything over your Duty Free allowance
Any goods that are banned or restricted in the UK
Goods that you intend to sell in the UK
More than €10,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies/assets) in cash if you are arriving from outside the EU

From Saturday 12th April 2025, travellers will no longer be able to bring cattle, sheep, goat, and pig meat, as well as dairy products, from EU countries into Great Britain for personal use, to protect the health of British livestock, the security of farmers, and the UK’s food security.

This includes bringing items like sandwiches, cheese, cured meats, raw meats, or milk into Great Britain – regardless of whether it is packed or packaged or whether it has been bought at duty free.

Baggage Reclaim Hall

Afterwards you’ll enter the Baggage Reclaim Hall, which is where you will collect your checked-in baggage. Check the information screens to see which carousel you need to go to. For lost and delayed luggage please view the Lost Property page.

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