Visas & entry
Do I need a visa?
A British passport gets you into most of the world without a visa, but 'no visa' rarely means 'no paperwork' any more. The US wants an ESTA, Canada an eTA, Kenya an eTA plus health insurance, and from late 2026 Europe adds ETIAS. Miss one and the airline won't let you board.
Search any country below, or read how the four kinds of entry work. Rules here are for a British citizen passport on a holiday. Other British passports, work trips and long stays have different rules.
Passport rules that catch people out
- Six months left on your passport is required by most of Asia, Africa and the Middle East, counted from the day you arrive.
- The 10-year rule for Europe. Your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before you enter the Schengen area, and be valid for 3 months after you leave.
- Blank pages. India, Kenya, Vietnam and China want two. Egypt, Thailand and Türkiye want one.
- Same passport in and out. Vietnam and others check you leave on the passport you arrived with.
- Fake visa sites. Unofficial sites charge many times the real fee. Use the official government site linked from GOV.UK.
The four kinds of entry
Our visa filter sorts every country into one of four groups, from walk-straight-in to apply-weeks-ahead.
Turn up with a valid UK passport. You may still be asked for a return ticket, a hotel booking or proof of funds.
You need an eVisa or an electronic travel authorisation (such as an ESTA, eTA or ETA) online before you fly. Usually quick, but don't leave it to the airport.
You can get a visa when you arrive, usually for a fee. Have the fee ready in cash, and check your passport's validity first.
Apply through an embassy or visa centre before travelling, often weeks ahead, with forms, photos and fees.
Free travel zones
- Schengen area
29 countries with no border checks between them, including all the classic holiday spots plus Switzerland, Norway and Iceland. You get 90 days in any 180 across the whole area combined, not per country.
Read the guide → - Common Travel Area
The UK and Ireland (plus the Channel Islands and Isle of Man). No visa, no passport stamp, and no 90-day limit for British citizens. Airlines still ask for photo ID, and a passport is the safest choice.
- EU but not Schengen: Cyprus
Cyprus is in the EU but checks passports separately, so days there don't count towards your Schengen 90. It will still need ETIAS when that starts.
- Europe's microstates
Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City are reached through France or Italy, so you're in practice inside Schengen. Andorra has its own border with France and Spain, but no visa for UK visitors.
- Central America CA-4
Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua share one 90-day allowance, like a mini-Schengen. Moving between them doesn't reset the clock.
Visa guides for popular trips
The places where UK travellers most often get caught out: new online passes, changed rules or confusing exceptions.
No visa, but 90 days in any 180 across all 29 countries. EES fingerprint checks started in 2025, and ETIAS arrives in late 2026.
Read the guide →ESTA online before you fly, now with a selfie. Visits to certain countries or any arrest can mean a full visa instead.
Read the guide →eTA needed to fly in, even just to change planes. Stays of up to 6 months.
Read the guide →Free eVisitor online, or an ETA through the official app for a small service fee. Arrange either before you fly.
Read the guide →Visa required: e-Visa online for most trips. Six months' passport validity and two blank pages, plus an online arrival card.
Read the guide →Visa needed, from US$30 on arrival or an e-visa in advance. Sharm-only trips of under 15 days get a free stamp.
Read the guide →No visa for up to 90 days in 180, but your passport must be valid for 150 days after you arrive.
Read the guide →Visa-free stays were cut to 30 days from 15 September 2026. The digital arrival card is required.
Read the guide →45 days visa-free. For longer trips, a 90-day e-visa locks in your entry and exit points.
Read the guide →Free visa on arrival for 90 days in 180. Some common medicines need approval before you fly.
Read the guide →A free online ETA gives 30 days, extendable online.
Read the guide →Visa-free for 30 days until 31 December 2026. Longer stays and work still need a visa.
Read the guide →eTA required. Since 5 October 2026 you must also buy Kenyan government health insurance while you apply.
Read the guide →90 days on arrival, extendable once. Some UK medicines are banned, so check before you pack.
Read the guide →EES fingerprint checks started in 2025. ETIAS, a €20 online pass for Europe, is expected from late 2026.
Read the guide →Before you book
- Check the Entry requirements page on GOV.UK for your destination and any country you change planes in.
- Check your passport's expiry date and issue date against the rules above.
- Apply for any online pass as soon as you book. Most take minutes, but some are held for checks.
- Print or screenshot your approval. Some airports still ask to see it.
- Keep proof of your return flight and hotel handy at the border.