Flying from Ireland to the UK, including Northern Ireland? You must submit a General Aviation Report (GAR) to UK Border Force before every flight in either direction. This page was checked against the UK Government’s general aviation guidance (June 2026 edition, page updated 12 October 2026).
Who needs to submit a GAR
Under the General Aviation (Persons on Board, Flight Information and Civil Penalties) Regulations 2024, which came into force on 6 April 2024, the owner or agent and the captain of a general aviation aircraft must submit details of the flight and everyone on board for every international flight to or from the UK. This includes flights within the Common Travel Area, so it applies to:
- flights from Ireland to Great Britain or Northern Ireland
- flights from Great Britain or Northern Ireland back to Ireland
- flights between the UK and the Channel Islands or Isle of Man
- flights between the UK and the EU or any other country, inbound and outbound
Flights between Great Britain and Northern Ireland are domestic, so no GAR is needed for Border Force. However, a police notification may still be required (see below).
When to submit
A GAR must be submitted no earlier than 48 hours and no later than 2 hours before the aircraft’s expected time of departure.
Flights between the UK and Ireland using a UK aerodrome that is not police designated: you must also notify the police. Submitting your GAR through an approved method meets this requirement, but it must be submitted no later than 12 hours before departure. In practice, most Irish GA flights to smaller UK airfields therefore need the GAR in at least 12 hours before departure.
If the flight is carrying passengers for reward and the UK aerodrome is not police designated, you must get prior approval from a Police Examining Officer.
How to submit
A GAR can only be submitted online, using one of these methods:
- the free Submit a GAR (sGAR) service on GOV.UK. You can also complete the official GAR template and upload it to sGAR
- an approved third-party app (these may charge a fee): currently MyGar.Net, Rocket Route and Gendec.co.uk
- an approved direct connection, as listed on GOV.UK
GARs sent by email or fax are not accepted. The older Online GAR and FB01 services were withdrawn in February 2026. Check the GOV.UK list of approved methods before relying on any other app to file your GAR.
Penalties
Failing to submit a GAR, or submitting it late or incorrectly, can result in a civil penalty of up to £10,000. Wilfully failing to notify the police when required is a criminal offence.
Where you can land
- Great Britain: flights from Ireland must land at a customs-designated airport or an approved (regulated) aerodrome. Unregulated airfields in Great Britain cannot accept flights from Ireland.
- Northern Ireland: unregulated aerodromes can accept flights from Ireland, but a GAR is still required.
The full list of designated and approved aerodromes is in Annex A of the GOV.UK general aviation guidance. A GAR does not give you PPR at an aerodrome, and it does not replace a flight plan.
Passengers and documents
Everyone on board needs a valid passport or travel document. Irish and British citizens travel on their passport. Other nationalities may need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) or visa, and the responsible person can be charged £2,000 for each passenger who arrives without one. EU, EEA and Swiss national ID cards are no longer accepted for entry to the UK.
Delays and diversions
- If the flight is delayed but still operates on the same day, you don’t need a new GAR.
- If it slips to the next day, or the aircraft, people on board or arrival aerodrome change before departure, submit a new GAR.
- If weather or a technical problem forces a change of UK arrival aerodrome in flight, call the HMRC National Coordination Unit on +44 300 123 2012 if it’s practicable. Otherwise, divert to the customs (or police) designated alternate on your flight plan.
Irish Customs
Separate Irish requirements apply when returning to Ireland. Download the Irish customs form here.
Official sources
This page is a summary for reference only. Always check the official GOV.UK guidance before flying. Last checked: 14 October 2026.