Visa Information

IMPORTANT – A valid passport is required to travel to the UK.

All visitors to the UK will need either a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), depending on their nationality and circumstances. Delegates are responsible for arranging their own travel and ensuring that they have the necessary documentation to enter the UK.

Check whether you need a visa or ETA

Please use the official UK Government service to check whether you need a visa or ETA:

IFLA will not take any responsibility in the visa delivery process. The indications in this page are for information only and to help you understanding the process

IF YOU REQUIRE A VISA

If you need a visa to attend WLIC 2027 London, you should apply for a Standard Visitor visa.

We recommend applying at the earliest possible point, which is no more than three months before your intended travel date to the UK, this is because UK authorities do not process visas applications earlier than 3 months in advance.

We advise you to register for the Congress before you apply for your visa, as confirmation letter regarding your registration will strengthen your visa application.

If your visa or ETA is denied and you can provide proof of denial, a 50 EUR refund charge will apply to your registration fee. In all other cases, the standard cancellation fees will apply.

Prior to applying, you will need to gather evidence of your circumstances, employment, ability to meet the costs of your trip and your arrangements whilst in the UK.

You will need information including:

The dates you are planning to travel to the UK
Where you will be staying during your visit, including a booking confirmation if you have one
How much you expect your trip to cost. As an estimate, daily expenses (excluding accommodation) in London are approximately £70, for travelling round London, for meals and incidental costs.
Your current home address and how long you have lived there
Your parents‘ names and dates of birth, if known
How much you earn each year, if you have an income
Recent bank statements
Details of any criminal, civil or immigration offences you may have committed
Your letter of invitation to the Congress which you can generate with your details
The confirmation of your conference registration
Your letter of confirmation from IFLA if you are speaking or presenting at the Congress.
A letter from your employer or academic institution confirming your employment or study.
A digital photo of your face.

You must apply for the visa online and attend an appointment at a Visa Application Centre that will be determined by UKVI. Once you have attended your appointment, you can usually expect a decision within 3 to 4 weeks.

IF YOU NEED AN ETA

If you do not need a visa, you may need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling to the UK.

IMPORTANT – Only apply for an ETA through the official GOV.UK website or the official UK ETA app. Other websites and apps may charge additional fees and will not provide a faster decision.

To apply, you will need:

The passport you will travel with
Your email address
Credit or debit card, or Apple or Google Pay
Ability to upload or take photos of your face

ETA applications cost £20 and are usually decided within 3 working days. An ETA is valid for two years, and you can apply at any time. However, the ETA is linked to your current passport. If you need to apply for a new passport, you will also need to apply for a new ETA.

Further Information

For more information or support in applying for your visa or ETA please follow the links below:

UKVI – what you need to do

Contact UK Visas and Immigration for help

IFLA respects the right of the host nation to make decisions on visas and immigration.

The WLIC 2027 team is generally unable to answer questions relating to your visa or ETA application, but if after referring the information above, you still have issues with your application, please contact Visas2027@cilip.org.uk and we will do our best to help.