Visa requirements for British citizens

The current British passport

Visa requirements for British citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of the United Kingdom.

As of 2024, British citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 192 countries and territories, ranking the British passport 4th in the world according to the Henley Passport Index.

Additionally, the World Tourism Organisation also published a report on 15 January 2016 ranking the passport 1st in the world (tied with Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and Singapore) in terms of travel freedom, with the mobility index of 160 (out of 215 with no visa weighted by: 1, visa on arrival weighted by 0.7, e-Visa weighted by 0.5 and traditional visa weighted by 0).

The United Kingdom left the European Union on 31 January 2020, and consequently discontinued the freedom of movement for its citizens to EU countries on 31 December 2020. However, UK citizens are still eligible for visa-free access for short-term visits to the Schengen Area.

Visa requirements for other classes of British nationals such as British Nationals (Overseas), British Overseas Citizens, British Overseas Territories Citizens, British Protected Persons or British Subjects are different.

History

Visa requirements for British citizens were lifted by many European nations in the few years after World War II. The first changes occurred in 1947. These were removed by France on 1 January 1947.

This was then quickly followed by Belgium on 15 February 1947, Luxembourg 15 February 1947, Norway on 1 March 1947, Denmark on 22 March 1947, Sweden on 1 April 1947, Netherlands on 15 April 1947, Switzerland on 24 June 1947 Liechtenstein on 24 June 1947 and Iceland on 1 July 1947.

The requirement was lifted by Italy on 1 January 1948, Monaco (8 November 1948), Austria (15 May 1955), Paraguay (27 November 1966), United States (1 July 1988), Poland (1 July 1992), Bulgaria (March 1997), Romania (1 January 2001), Serbia and Montenegro (31 May 2003), Ukraine (1 May 2005), Georgia (1 June 2006), Moldova (1 January 2007), Kyrgyzstan (27 July 2012), Armenia (10 January 2013), Kazakhstan (15 July 2014), Indonesia (13 June 2015), Vietnam (1 July 2015) Belarus (12 February 2017), Cape Verde (1 January 2019), Uzbekistan (1 February 2019), Turkey (2 March 2020) and Oman (December 2020).

Electronic visas for British citizens were introduced: India (15 August 2015), Djibouti (18 February 2018), Malawi (October 2019) Mongolia (November 2021). In April 2021 India announced that it would stop issuing Electronic visas for British citizens from August 2021, however this was reinstated in December 2022.

Honduras cancelled a visa-free regime for British citizens as a reciprocal measure in August 2024. Similarly, Namibia will introduce visas for British citizens for reciprocity reasons, starting April 2025.

Visa requirements map

Visa requirements for British citizens holding ordinary passports

  British Islands (United Kingdom, Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey) and Gibraltar - Right of abode

  Ireland (Common Travel Area) - Freedom of movement

  Visa not required / ESTA / eTA / eVisitor

  Visa on arrival

  eVisa

  Visa available both on arrival or online

  Visa required

Visa requirements

Country / Region	Visa requirement	Visa fee	Allowed stay	Notes (excluding departure fees)
Afghanistan	Visa required			Due to safety concerns, the UK Government advises its citizens to avoid travelling to Afghanistan.
Albania	Visa not required		90 days
Algeria	Visa required
Andorra	Visa not required
Angola	Visa not required		30 days	30 days per trip, but no more than 90 days within any 1 calendar year for tourism purposes only. Visitors must have a return/onward ticket and a hotel reservation confirmation. An International Certificate of Vaccination is required.
Antigua and Barbuda	Visa not required		6 months
Argentina	Visa not required		90 days
Armenia	Visa not required		180 days	Visa upon arrival for a maximum term of 180 days in a year.
Australia	eVisitor		90 days	If granted, eVisitor allows British citizens to stay in Australia for 90 days per visit. Issued free of charge and valid for one year. According to HPI (Henley Passport Index) methodology pre-departure government approval, like eVisitor manual processing is not considered as visa free.
Austria	Visa not required		90 days	90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area.
Azerbaijan	eVisa		30 days
Bahamas	Visa not required		8 months	Extendable up to eight months.
Bahrain	eVisa / Visa on arrival		14 days	Visas can be issued on arrival for a stay up to 3 months.
Bangladesh	Visa on arrival		30 days	Visa on arrival available at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport
Barbados	Visa not required		6 months
Belarus	Visa not required		30 days	Visa-free until 31 December 2024. Visa-free arrangement does not apply when travelling on a diplomatic or official passport. Due to safety concerns, the UK Government advises its citizens to avoid travelling to Belarus.
Belgium	Visa not required		90 days	90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area.
Belize	Visa not required
Benin	eVisa		30 days	Must have an international vaccination certificate.
Bhutan	eVisa			Visa via approved tour operators only.
Bolivia	Visa not required		90 days	Be aware you may be given an initial 30 days and can extend it for another 60 days. The Department of Immigration has imposed an annual limit for tourists of 90 days without a visa. For longer periods you must seek advice from the Bolivian Embassy in London or the Department of Immigration office in La Paz.
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Visa not required		90 days	90 days within any 6-month period.
Botswana	Visa not required		90 days
Brazil	Visa not required		90 days	Extendable for further 90 days.
Brunei	Visa not required		90 days
Bulgaria	Visa not required		90 days	90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area.
Burkina Faso	eVisa / Visa on arrival		1 month
Burundi	Visa on arrival		1 month	From December 2021, passengers of all countries that required visa, can now obtain visa on arrival at Bujumbura International Airport, and all land borders.
Cambodia	eVisa / Visa on arrival		30 days	Extendable for another 30 days.
Cameroon	eVisa			Pre-approved visa can be picked up on arrival.
Canada	Electronic Travel Authorization		6 months	Electronic Travel Authorization required if arriving by air.
Cape Verde	Visa not required		30 days	Must register online at least five days prior to arrival.
Central African Republic	Visa required			Due to security concerns, the UK Government advises its citizens to avoid travelling to Central African Republic.
Chad	Visa required
Chile	Visa not required		90 days	May be extended.
China	Visa required			24-hour visa-free transit through any international airports of China, allows domestic travel through different airports. 72-hour visa-free transit through Changsha, Guilin and Harbin airports, or Beihai port. 144-hour visa-free transit through Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Jieyang, Kunming, Nanjing, Ningbo, Qingdao, Shanghai, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Shijiazhuang, Tianjin, Wuhan, Xiamen and Xi'an airports, or Dalian, Guangzhou, Lianyungang, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Wenzhou, Xiamen and Zhoushan ports. Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan count as third countries under the 24, 72 and 144-hours transit without visa (TWOV) policies. British nationals need a visa to enter mainland China, including Hainan Island, but not Hong Kong or Macao. Visiting visas issued to British citizens are generally valid for 2 years
Colombia	Visa not required		90 days	Extendable up to 180-days stay consecutively within a one-year period.
Comoros	Visa on arrival		45 days
Republic of the Congo	Visa required
Democratic Republic of the Congo	eVisa		7 days
Costa Rica	Visa not required		3 months
Côte d'Ivoire	eVisa		3 months	e-Visa holders must arrive via Port Bouet Airport.
Croatia	Visa not required		90 days	90 days within any 180 day period in the Schengen Area.
Cuba	eVisa		90 days	Can be extended up to 90 days with a fee.
Cyprus	Visa not required		90 days	90 days within 180-day period.
Czech Republic	Visa not required		90 days	90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area.
Denmark	Visa not required		90 days	90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area.
Djibouti	eVisa		90 days
Dominica	Visa not required		6 months
Dominican Republic	Visa not required		30 days	Will normally be granted a 30-day stay on arrival. This can be extended up to 120 days by an extension online.
Ecuador	Visa not required		90 days	May be extended.
Egypt	eVisa / Visa on arrival		30 days
El Salvador	Visa not required		6 months
Equatorial Guinea	eVisa
Eritrea	Visa required			Pre-approved visa can be picked up on arrival.
Estonia	Visa not required		90 days	90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area.
Eswatini	Visa not required		30 days
Ethiopia	eVisa / Visa on arrival		up to 90 days	Visa on arrival is obtainable only at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. e-Visa holders must arrive via Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. e-Visa is available for 30 or 90 days.
Fiji	Visa not required		4 months
Finland	Visa not required		90 days	90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area.
France	Visa not required		90 days	90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area.
Gabon	eVisa		90 days	e-Visa holders must arrive via Libreville International Airport.
Gambia	Visa not required		90 days
Georgia	Visa not required		1 year
Germany	Visa not required		90 days	90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area.
Ghana	Visa required			Pre-approved visa can be picked up on arrival.
Greece	Visa not required		90 days	90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area.
Grenada	Visa not required		6 months	Beginning on 1 December 2020, all travellers to Grenada will be required to complete an online application in order to receive a Pure Safe Travel Authorization Certificate to enter Grenada.
Guatemala	Visa not required		90 days
Guinea	eVisa		90 days
Guinea-Bissau	Visa on arrival		90 days
Guyana	Visa not required
Haiti	Visa not required		90 days
Honduras	Visa required
Hungary	Visa not required		90 days	90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area.
Iceland	Visa not required		90 days	90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area.
India	eVisa		30 days	30 days, 1 year and 5 years of eTourist visa is now available from Indian eVisa. However this service is not available for British Citizens of Pakistani Origin (i.e. someone with at least 1 Pakistani Parent or Grandparent).
Indonesia	e-VOA / Visa on arrival		30 days
Iran	Visa required			British citizens must have their visa stamped in their passport in advance of arrival in Iran. Due to security concerns, the UK Government advises its citizens to avoid travelling to Iran.
Iraq	eVisa / Visa on arrival		60 days	British citizens can obtain a visa on arrival at Iraq's airports, land and sea crossings for 60 days, for a fee of USD 75. The Iraqi government lifted pre-arrival visa requirements, allowing British citizens to apply for visa on arrival in any entry point.
Ireland	Visa not required		Freedom of movement (Common Travel Area).	British citizens have many of the same rights and entitlements as Irish citizens
Israel	Visa not required		3 months	Entry refused to anyone who "knowingly issues a public call for boycotting Israel." Starting August 1, 2024, a ETA just like a US ESTA or a Canada ETA will be required for travel to Israel. Applications open on June 1 as a trial but will not be required for US and German passport holders. On July 1, 2024, the application will be opened to all visa exempt country passport holders.
Italy	Visa not required		90 days	90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area.
Jamaica	Visa not required		180 days
Japan	Visa on Arrival		90 days	Can travel to Japan for tourism or business for up to 90 days. A visa is given on arrival, and you do not need to apply before you travel. The Japan immigration authorities may extend your visa by another 90 days at their discretion. You will need to apply for an extension.
Jordan	eVisa / Visa on arrival			Visa can be obtained upon arrival, it will cost a total of 40 JOD, obtainable at most international ports of entry and land border crossings (except King Hussein/Allenby Bridge)
Kazakhstan	Visa not required		30 days
Kenya	Electronic Travel Authorisation		90 days	Applications can be submitted up to 90 days prior to travel and must be submitted at least 3 days in advance. eTA fee is USD 32.50. Proof of reservation at the hotel where visitors plan to stay is required (if staying with friends, an invitation letter is also acceptable). Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if coming from endemic countries. Can also be entered on an East Africa tourist visa issued by Rwanda or Uganda.
Kiribati	Visa not required		30 days
North Korea	Visa required
South Korea	Electronic Travel Authorization		90 days	British citizens can enter South Korea as a short term visit (e.g., tours, visiting relatives or friends, attending simple meetings) up to 90 days without a visa, though they should remain aware of the quarantine requirements. An onward or return ticket is mandatory. It is illegal to work on a tourist visa, whether as a teacher or in any other capacity. One must be in possession of a Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) to enter Korea visa-free, which can be completed up to 24 hours before boarding a flight, and is valid for 3 years from the date of approval. There is a small, non-refundable charge.
Kuwait	eVisa / Visa on arrival		3 months
Kyrgyzstan	Visa not required		60 days
Laos	eVisa / Visa on arrival		30 days
Latvia	Visa not required		90 days	90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area.
Lebanon	Free visa on arrival		1 month	Extendable for 2 additional months; granted free of charge at Beirut International Airport or any other port of entry if there is no Israeli visa or seal, holding a telephone number, an address in Lebanon, and a non-refundable return or circle trip ticket.
Lesotho	Visa not required		14 days
Liberia	Visa required			Pre-approved visa can be picked up on arrival.
Libya	eVisa			Due to security concerns, the UK Government advises its citizens to avoid travelling to Libya.
Liechtenstein	Visa not required		90 days	90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area.
Lithuania	Visa not required		90 days	90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area.
Luxembourg	Visa not required		90 days	90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area.
Madagascar	Visa on arrival		60 days	For stays of less than 15 days, the visa fee is free, but an administrative fee of EUR 10 must be paid. 30 days - EUR 35; 60 days - EUR 40.
Malawi	Visa not required		30 days
Malaysia	Visa not required		3 months
Maldives	Free visa on arrival		30 days
Mali	Visa required
Malta	Visa not required		90 days	90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area.
Marshall Islands	Visa not required		90 days	90 days within any 180-day period.
Mauritania	Visa on arrival			Available at Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport.
Mauritius	Visa not required		90 days
Mexico	Visa not required		180 days	Visa stamp (up to 180 days) length determined on arrival.
Federated States of Micronesia	Visa not required		30 days
Moldova	Visa not required		90 days	90 days within any 180-day period.
Monaco	Visa not required
Mongolia	Visa not required		30 days	The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia has exempted visas for 34 countries from January 2023 to December 2025.
Montenegro	Visa not required		90 days	Must register with the local police station (either through a tourist organization or at hotel reception) within 24 hours of arrival.
Morocco	Visa not required		90 days	For periods of longer than 90 days, a resident permit is required and can be issued by the Police Department in place of residence in Morocco.
Mozambique	Visa not required		30 days	Travelers must pay a fee of 650 MT upon entry.
Myanmar	eVisa		28 days	e-Visa holders must arrive via Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw or Mandalay airports or via land border crossings with Thailand — Tachileik, Myawaddy and Kawthaung or India — Rih Khaw Dar and Tamu. e-Visa available for both tourism (allowed stay is 28 days) or business purposes (allowed stay is 70 days).
Namibia	Visa not required		3 months	3 months within a calendar year.
Nauru	Visa required			In addition of a visa, an application should be obtained by email via the Directorate of Immigration.
Nepal	Online Visa / Visa on arrival		90 days
Netherlands	Visa not required		90 days	90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area.
New Zealand	Electronic Travel Authority		6 months	May enter using eGate. International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy must be paid upon requesting an Electronic Travel Authority. Holders of an Australian Permanent Resident Visa or Resident Return Visa may be granted a New Zealand Resident Visa on arrival permitting indefinite stay (pursuant to the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement), subject to meeting character requirements and obtaining an Electronic Travel Authority prior to departure. Such travellers are not required to pay the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy.
Nicaragua	Visa not required		90 days
Niger	Visa required			Due to security concerns, the UK Government advises its citizens to avoid travelling to Niger.
Nigeria	eVisa		90 days	Pre-approved visa can be picked up on arrival.
North Macedonia	Visa not required		90 days
Norway	Visa not required		90 days	90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area.
Oman	Visa not required / eVisa		14 days / 30 days
Pakistan	eVisa		90 days
Palau	Free visa on arrival		30 days
Panama	Visa not required		90 days	As of 2024, British nationals entering Panama now have a 90 day (3 month) tourist visa stamped in their passport to mark entry to Panama. Extensions are not normally allowed unless you apply to change your immigration status within the 90 days (business, marriage). maximum amount of time that you can stay in Panama as a tourist is three (3) months. If you want to stay longer than three months, you may extend your stay applying for an extension through the Offices of Immigration in Panama. (Panama embassy U.K.) British nationals don't need a visa to visit Panama except if arriving by sea.
Papua New Guinea	eVisa		60 days	Available at Gurney Airport (Alotau), Mount Hagen Airport, Port Moresby Airport and Tokua Airport (Rabaul).
Paraguay	Visa not required		90 days
Peru	Visa not required		183 days	Visa stamp (up to 183 days) length determined on arrival
Philippines	Visa not required		30 days	A tourist visa is available from the Philippine Embassy before you travel, which will allow an initial total of 59-day stay. For longer periods, a visa extension is available once inside the country from the Bureau of immigration.
Poland	Visa not required		90 days	90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area.
Portugal	Visa not required		90 days	90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area.
Qatar	Visa not required		30 days
Romania	Visa not required		90 days	90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area.
Russia	Visa required			Due to security concerns, the UK Government advises its citizens to avoid travelling to Russia.
Rwanda	Visa not required		30 days	Can also be entered on an East Africa Tourist Visa issued by Kenya or Uganda.
Saint Kitts and Nevis	Visa not required		3 months
Saint Lucia	Visa not required		6 weeks
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Visa not required		6 months
Samoa	Visa not required		60 days
San Marino	Visa not required
São Tomé and Príncipe	Visa not required		15 days
Saudi Arabia	Electronic Visa Waiver / Visa on arrival		6 months / 90 days	e-Visa / Visa on arrival can also be obtained.
Senegal	Visa not required		90 days
Serbia	Visa not required		90 days
Seychelles	Electronic Border System		3 months	Application can be submitted up to 30 days before travel. Visitors must upload a reservation confirmation(s) for each visitor's location of stay in Seychelles. Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if coming from endemic countries. Payment of the fee (EUR 10) by credit or debit card. Valid for one journey only and it expires once exit the country.
Sierra Leone	eVisa / Visa on arrival		3 months / 30 days
Singapore	Visa not required		90 days
Slovakia	Visa not required		90 days	90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area.
Slovenia	Visa not required		90 days	90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area.
Solomon Islands	Free Visitor's permit on arrival		3 months
Somalia	Visa on arrival		30 days	Available at Berbera, Borama, Burao, Erigavo and Hargeisa airports. 30 days, available at Bosaso Airport, Galcaio Airport and Mogadishu Airport.
South Africa	Visa not required		90 days
South Sudan	eVisa			Obtainable online. Printed visa authorization must be presented at the time of travel.
Spain	Visa not required		90 days	90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area.
Sri Lanka	eVisa / Visa on arrival		60 days / 30 days	The standard visitor visa allows a stay of 60 days within any 6 month period. Visa fees (for Standard visitor visa): SAARC - USD 35 Non SAARC - USD 75 e-Visa categories will be charged an additional USD 18.50 service fee. If transiting from any of the Sri Lankan airports, An e-Visa is exempted (2 day transit period).
Sudan	Visa required
Suriname	Visa not required		90 days	An entrance fee of USD 25 or EUR 25 must be paid online prior to arrival. Multiple entry e-Visa is also available.
Sweden	Visa not required		90 days	90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area.
Switzerland	Visa not required			UK citizens do not require an entry visa for Switzerland for either short stays or for long stays (over 90 days).
Syria	eVisa			Due to security concerns, the UK Government advises its citizens to avoid travelling to Syria.
Taiwan	Visa not required		90 days
Tajikistan	eVisa / Visa on arrival		60 days / 45 days
Tanzania	eVisa / Visa on arrival		90 days
Thailand	Visa not required		60 days	If not arriving by air, British citizens are only permitted two visits per year. For longer periods up to 60 days, a Tourist visa is available online.
Timor-Leste	Visa on arrival		30 days	Visa on arrival is only available at the Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport or at the Dili Sea Port.
Togo	eVisa		15 days
Tonga	Free visa on arrival		31 days
Trinidad and Tobago	Visa not required
Tunisia	Visa not required		3 months
Turkey	Visa not required		3 months	90 days within any 180-day period (as of 2 March 2020)/
Turkmenistan	Visa required			Pre-approved visa can be picked up on arrival.
Tuvalu	Visa not required		1 month
Uganda	eVisa		3 months	Can also be entered on an East Africa tourist visa issued by Kenya or Rwanda.
Ukraine	Visa not required		90 days	Due to ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, the UK Government advises its citizens to avoid travelling to Ukraine.
United Arab Emirates	Visa not required		30 days	The visa issued at the airport for British passports holders is valid for 30 days – plus a 10 day grace period. If you wish to stay longer, you may make a request with the Immigration Officer at the airport or contact the local General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs at least 3 days prior to the expiry date.
United States	Visa Waiver Program		90 days	ESTA is valid for 2 years from the date of issuance. ESTA is also required when entering the country by cruise ship or land. Visa required if Nationals of VWP countries who have travelled or been present in Iraq, North Korea, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, or Yemen at any time on or after 1 March 2011 (with limited exceptions), or those who have travelled or being present in Cuba at any time on or after 12 January 2021, or nationals of VWP countries who are also nationals of Iraq, Syria, Iran, North Korea or Sudan.
Uruguay	Visa not required		90 days
Uzbekistan	Visa not required		30 days
Vanuatu	Visa not required		30 days
Vatican City	Visa not required
Venezuela	Visa not required		90 days	Extensions of up to 90 days can be arranged at any SAIME (immigration service) for a fee and must apply before one’s tourist card and stamp expire. One can only apply for or extend their (residency permit) at the main SAIME office in Caracas.
Vietnam	Visa not required		45 days	A single entry e-Visa valid for 90 days is also available.
Yemen	Visa required			Due to security concerns, the UK Government advises its citizens to avoid travelling to Yemen.
Zambia	Visa not required		30 days	British citizens are eligible for a universal visa allowing access to Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe	Visa on arrival		30 days	British citizens are also eligible for a universal visa allowing access to Zambia.

Common Travel Area

Main article: Common Travel Area

The United Kingdom, together with its Crown Dependencies of Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland make up a Common Travel Area where:

• No ID is required for travel by land for British or Irish citizens
• Only photographic ID is required for travel by air or sea for British or Irish citizens (but some airlines - such as Ryanair - may mandate passports for all)

However, there are occasionally checks on coaches and trains moving between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. British citizens living in Ireland have many of the same rights and entitlements as an Irish citizen. Citizens of third countries must have passports and, if required, visas to travel between the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.

British visas don't enable travel to Ireland for people without agreement with Ireland, and vice versa. Passengers travelling between the Common Travel Area and the Schengen Area are subject to systematic passport/identity checks.

British Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories

Visitor to	Visa requirement	Allowed stay	Notes
Akrotiri and Dhekelia	Visa not required
Anguilla	Visa not required	3 months	British citizens with a connection to the territory have right of abode.
Bermuda	Visa not required	6 months	British citizens with a connection to the territory have right of abode.
British Antarctic Territory	Special permit required
British Indian Ocean Territory	Special permit required
British Virgin Islands	Visa not required	1 month	Extension of stay possible. British citizens with a connection to the territory have right of abode.
Cayman Islands	Visa not required	6 months	British citizens with a connection to the territory have right of abode.
Falkland Islands	Visa not required	1 month	A visitor permit is normally issued as a stamp in the passport on arrival. Visitors who have a connection with the Falkland Islands have right of abode.
Guernsey	Visa not required	90 days	Anyone working and/or living in Guernsey requires a Permit/Certificate to do so. In Alderney, a work or employment permit is required for persons without Guernsey (Alderney) status.
Isle of Man	Visa not required		Work or employment permit is required for persons without "Isle of Man worker" status.
Jersey	Visa not required		Work or employment permit is not required.
Gibraltar	Visa not required		British citizens have right of abode in Gibraltar.
Montserrat	Visa not required	6 months	British citizens with a connection to the territory have right of abode.
Pitcairn Islands	Visa not required	14 days	Landing fee applies.
Ascension Island	eVisa	3 months	3 months within any year period
Saint Helena	Entry permit on arrival	183 days	The entry permit costs £25 and is issued on arrival.
Tristan da Cunha	Permission required		Permission to land required: £15 for ship and £30 for yacht passengers for Tristan da Cunha Island; £20 for Gough Island, Inaccessible Island or Nightingale Islands unless there is a connection with Tristan da Cunha, in which case right of abode.
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands	Permit required		Pre-arrival permit from the Commissioner required (72 hours/1 month for £110/160).
Turks and Caicos Islands	Visa not required	90 days	British citizens with a connection to the territory have right of abode.

Territories and disputed areas

Visitor to	Visa requirement	Notes (excluding departure fees)
Europe
Abkhazia	Visa required
Kosovo	Visa not required	90 days
Mount Athos	Special permit required	Special permit required (4 days: EUR 25 for Orthodox visitors, EUR 35 for non-Orthodox visitors, EUR 18 for students). There is a visitors' quota: maximum 100 Orthodox and 10 non-Orthodox per day and women are not allowed.
Brest and Grodno	Visa not required	Visa-free for 10 days
Northern Cyprus	Visa not required	Visa free access for 3 months. Passport required.
UN Buffer Zone in Cyprus	Access Permit required	Access Permit is required for travelling inside the zone, except Civil Use Areas.
Faroe Islands	Visa not required
Jan Mayen	Permit required	Permit issued by the local police required for staying for less than 24 hours and permit issued by the Norwegian police for staying for more than 24 hours.
Svalbard	Visa not required	Unlimited Stay (Indefinite Stay).
Closed cities and regions in Russia	Special authorisation required	Several closed cities require special authorisation.
South Ossetia	Visa not required	Visa free, however an invitation from a South Ossetian citizen or organisation must be provided. Multiple entry visa to Russia and three-day prior notification are also required to enter South Ossetia.
Transnistria	Visa not required	Visa free. Registration required after 24 hours.
Africa
Eritrea outside Asmara	Travel permit required	Visa covers Asmara only; to travel in the rest of the country, a Travel Permit for Foreigners is required (20 Eritrean nakfa).
Mayotte	Visa not required	90 days within 180-day period Valid ID or Passport Required.
Réunion	Visa not required	90 days within 180-day period Valid ID or Passport Required.
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic	Visa not required	Visa not required up to 3 months in the Western Sahara controlled territory.
Somaliland	Visa on arrival	Visa issued on arrival (30 days for USD 30, payable on arrival).
Sudan outside Khartoum	Travel permit required	All foreigners travelling more than 25 kilometers outside of Khartoum must obtain a travel permit.
Darfur	Travel permit required	Separate travel permit is required.
Asia
Hainan	Visa on arrival	Visa on arrival for 15 days. Available at Haikou Meilan International Airport and Sanya Phoenix International Airport. Visa not required for 21 days for travelling as part of a tourist group (5 or more people)
Hong Kong	Visa not required	180 days
Protected and restricted areas of India	PAP/RAP required	Protected Area Permit (PAP) required for whole states of Nagaland and Sikkim and parts of states Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh. Restricted Area Permit (RAP) required for all of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and parts of Sikkim. Some of these requirements are occasionally lifted for a year.
Iraqi Kurdistan	eVisa
Kazakhstan	Special permission required	Special permission required for the town of Baikonur and surrounding areas in Kyzylorda Oblast, and the town of Gvardeyskiy near Almaty.
Kish Island	Visa not required	Tourists for Kish Island do not require a visa.
Macau	Visa not required	180 days
Sabah and Sarawak	Visa not required	These states have their own immigration authorities and passport is required to travel to them, however the same visa applies.
Maldives outside Malé	Permission required	With the exception of the capital Malé, tourists are generally prohibited from visiting non-resort islands without the express permission of the Government of Maldives.
North Korea outside Pyongyang	Special permit required	People are not allowed to leave the capital city, tourists may only leave the capital with a governmental tourist guide (no independent visits)
Palestine	Visa not required	Arrival by sea to Gaza Strip not allowed.
Mecca and Medina	Special access required	Non-Muslims and those following the Ahmadiyya religious movement are strictly prohibited from entry.
Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province	OVIR permit required	OVIR permit required (15+5 Tajikistani Somoni) and another special permit (free of charge) is required for Lake Sarez.
Tibet Autonomous Region	TTP required	Tibet Travel Permit required (USD 10).
Closed cities of Turkmenistan	Special permit required	A special permit, issued prior to arrival by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is required if visiting the following places: Atamurat, Cheleken, Dashoguz, Serakhs and Serhetabat.
Korean Demilitarized Zone	Restricted zone
UNDOF Zone and Ghajar	Restricted zone
Yemen outside Sana’a or Aden	Special permission required	Special permission needed for travel outside Sana’a or Aden.
Caribbean and North Atlantic
Aruba	Visa not required	Visa not required for 30 days, extendable to 180 days.
Caribbean Netherlands	Visa not required	Visa not required up to 3 months
San Andrés and Leticia	Tourist Card on arrival	Visitors arriving at Gustavo Rojas Pinilla International Airport and Alfredo Vásquez Cobo International Airport must buy tourist cards on arrival.
Curaçao	Visa not required	Visa not required for 3 months.
French West Indies	Visa not required	French West Indies refers to Martinique, Guadeloupe, Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy.
Greenland	Visa not required
Margarita Island	Visa not required	All visitors are fingerprinted.
Puerto Rico	Visa not required	Visa not required under the Visa Waiver Program, for 90 days on arrival from overseas for 2 years. ESTA required.
Saint Pierre and Miquelon	Visa not required	Visa not required for 90 days.
Sint Maarten	Visa not required	Visa not required for 3 months.
US Virgin Islands	Visa not required	Visa not required under the Visa Waiver Program, for 90 days on arrival from overseas for 2 years. ESTA required.
Oceania
American Samoa	Electronic authorisation	30 days
Ashmore and Cartier Islands	Special authorisation required	Special authorisation required.
Clipperton Island	Special permit required	Special permit required.
Cook Islands	Visa not required	Visa not required for 31 days.
Lau Province	Special permission required	Special permission required.
French Polynesia	Visa not required	Visa not required.
Guam	Visa not required	45 days
New Caledonia	Visa not required	Visa not required for 3 months.
Niue	Visa on arrival	Visa on arrival valid for 30 days is issued free of charge.
Northern Mariana Islands	Visa not required	45 days
Tokelau	Entry Permit required
United States Minor Outlying Islands	Special permits required	Special permits required for Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Atoll, Palmyra Atoll and Wake Island.
Wallis and Futuna	Visa not required	Visa not required.
South America
French Guiana	Visa not required
Galápagos	Pre-registration required	Online pre-registration is required. Transit Control Card must also be obtained at the airport prior to departure.
South Atlantic and Antarctica
Antarctica	Special authorisation required	Special permits required for French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Argentine Antarctica, Australia Australian Antarctic Territory, Antártica Chilena Province Chilean Antarctic Territory, Australia Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norway Peter I Island, Norway Queen Maud Land, New Zealand Ross Dependency.

Non-ordinary passports

Holders of exclusive categories of British passports have this visa-free access, to: China (diplomatic passports), Kuwait (diplomatic or official passports), Mongolia (diplomatic passports), Qatar (diplomatic or official passports and British Diplomatic Messenger or Queen's Messenger Passports) and the United Arab Emirates (diplomatic or official passports).
Holders of diplomatic or service passports of any country have visa-free access to Ethiopia, and Zimbabwe. Holders of British official and diplomatic passports require a visa for South Africa.

Non-visa restrictions

Many countries have entry restrictions on foreigners that go beyond the common requirement of having either a valid visa or a visa exemption. Such restrictions may be health related or impose additional documentation requirements on certain classes of people for diplomatic or political purposes.

Blank passport pages

Many countries require a minimum number of blank pages to be available in the passport being presented, typically one or two pages. Endorsement pages, which often appear after the visa pages, are not counted as being valid or available.

Vaccination

Main articles: Vaccination requirements for international travel, International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, and Vaccine passports during the COVID-19 pandemic

Cover of the new International Certificate of Vaccination issued by the Bureau of Quarantine in the Philippines since 2021

Many African countries, including Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo, South Sudan, Uganda, and Zambia, require all incoming passengers older than nine months to one year to have a current International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, as does the South American territory of French Guiana.

Some other countries require vaccination only if the passenger is coming from an infected area or has visited one recently or has transited for 12 hours in those countries: Algeria, Botswana, Cabo Verde, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Lesotho, Libya, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Passport validity length

Very few countries, such as Paraguay, just require a valid passport on arrival.

However many countries and groupings now require only an identity card – especially from their neighbours. Other countries may have special bilateral arrangements that depart from the generality of their passport validity length policies to shorten the period of passport validity required for each other's citizens or even accept passports that have already expired (but not been cancelled).

Some countries, such as Japan, Ireland and the United Kingdom, require a passport valid throughout the period of the intended stay.

In the absence of specific bilateral agreements, countries requiring passports to be valid for at least 6 more months on arrival include Afghanistan, Algeria, Anguilla, Bahrain, Bhutan, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Curaçao, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Gabon, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tokelau, Tonga, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, Venezuela, and Vietnam.

Countries requiring passports valid for at least 4 months on arrival include Micronesia and Zambia.

Countries requiring passports with a validity of at least 3 months beyond the date of intended departure include Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Honduras, Montenegro, Nauru, Moldova and New Zealand. Similarly, the EEA countries of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, all European Union countries (except Ireland) together with Switzerland also require 3 months validity beyond the date of the bearer's intended departure unless the bearer is an EEA or Swiss national.

Countries requiring passports valid for at least 3 months on arrival include Albania, North Macedonia, Panama, and Senegal.

Bermuda requires passports to be valid for at least 45 days upon entry.

Countries that require a passport validity of at least one month beyond the date of intended departure include Eritrea, Hong Kong, Lebanon, Macau, the Maldives and South Africa.

Criminal record

Some countries, including Australia, Canada, Fiji, New Zealand and the United States, routinely deny entry to non-citizens who have a criminal record, while others impose restrictions depending on the type of conviction and the length of the sentence.

Persona non grata

The government of a country can declare a diplomat persona non grata, banning them from entering the country or expelling them if they have already entered. In non-diplomatic use, the authorities of a country may also declare a foreigner persona non grata permanently or temporarily, usually because of unlawful activity.

Israeli stamps

Israeli border control Entry Permit (issued as a stand-alone document rather than a stamp affixed in a passport)

Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Syria, and Yemen do not allow entry to people with passport stamps from Israel or whose passports have either a used or an unused Israeli visa, or where there is evidence of previous travel to Israel such as entry or exit stamps from neighbouring border posts in transit countries such as Jordan and Egypt.

To circumvent this Arab League boycott of Israel, the Israeli immigration services have now mostly ceased to stamp foreign nationals' passports on either entry to or exit from Israel (unless the entry is for some work-related purposes). Since 15 January 2013, Israel no longer stamps foreign passports at Ben Gurion Airport. Passports are still (as of 22 June 2017) stamped at Erez when passing into and out of Gaza.

Iran refuses admission to holders of passports containing an Israeli visa or stamp that is less than 12 months old.

Biometrics

See also: Countries applying biometrics

Several countries mandate that all travellers, or all foreign travellers, be fingerprinted on arrival and will refuse admission to or even arrest travellers who refuse to comply. In some countries, such as the United States, this may apply even to transit passengers who merely wish to change planes rather than go landside.

Fingerprinting countries/regions include Afghanistan, Argentina, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, India, Japan, Kenya (both fingerprints and a photo are taken), Malaysia upon entry and departure, Mongolia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.

Many countries also require a photo be taken of people entering the country. The United States, which does not fully implement exit control formalities at its land frontiers (although long mandated by its own legislation), intends to implement facial recognition for passengers departing from international airports to identify people who overstay their visa.

Together with fingerprint and face recognition, iris scanning is one of three biometric identification technologies internationally standardised since 2006 by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for use in e-passports and the United Arab Emirates conducts iris scanning on visitors who need to apply for a visa.

Travel consequences of Brexit

Main article: Brexit

On 23 June 2016, a majority of the British electorate who voted, did so to leave the European Union in a nationwide referendum.

In March 2017, the UK sent notification of their intention to leave the EU to the European Council through Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty. British citizens ceased to be EU citizens upon the UK's departure from the EU thus forfeiting the rights of citizens.

The UK withdrew from the EU on 31 January 2020, but British citizens retained the right of freedom of movement until the transitional period ended on 31 December 2020.

From 1 January 2021, when EU law ceased to apply to the United Kingdom, British citizens are afforded visa-free visits to the Schengen Area, for 90 days in any 180-day period. British citizens also enjoy visa-free entry to Bulgaria and Romania.

From sometime in 2025, most visa-exempt travellers seeking entry to the EU and EEA must apply and pay for travel authorisation through ETIAS. This was confirmed on 12 September 2018 and has no exception, yet agreed, for British citizens. This excludes British-Irish travel which is governed by laws that pre-date the European Community.

When in a non-EU country where there is no British embassy, British citizens no longer have the right to consular protection from the embassy of any other EU country present in that country.

Consular protection of British citizens abroad

Diplomatic missions of the United Kingdom

When in a country where there is no British embassy, British citizens may get help from the embassy of any other commonwealth country present in that country. There are also informal arrangements with some other countries, including New Zealand and Australia, to help British nationals in some countries.

See also List of diplomatic missions of the United Kingdom.

Foreign travel statistics

According to the Foreign travel advice provided by the British Government (unless otherwise noted) these are the numbers of British visitors to various countries per annum in 2015 (unless otherwise noted):

Foreign travel statistics

Country	Number of visitors	Lost or stolen passports
Albania	80,000
American Samoa	119
Angola	14,267/12,319 ?
Andorra	150,000
Anguilla	5,021
Antarctica	3,915
Antigua and Barbuda	70,701
Aruba	10,447
Australia	731,900	640
Austria	919,500
Azerbaijan	29,514
Bahamas	28,022
Bangladesh	150,000
Barbados	218,638
Belarus	6,000
Belgium	868,173
Belize	13,342
Bermuda	41,348
Bhutan	3,246
Bolivia	17,528
Bosnia and Herzegovina	12,715
Botswana	41,011
Brazil	185,858
Brunei	18,222
Bulgaria	424,384
Burkina Faso	1,343
Cambodia	159,489
Cameroon	16,008
Canada	819,530
Cape Verde	126,685
Cayman Islands	14,017
Chile	54,714
China	594,300
Colombia	39,715
Congo	6,115
Cook Islands	2,954
Costa Rica	76,173
Croatia	750,675
Cuba	155,802
Curacao	2,806
Cyprus	1,327,805
Czech Republic	470,576
Denmark	150,000
Dominica	4,951
Dominican Republic	177,534
Ecuador	27,126
Egypt	865,000
Ethiopia	20,000
Estonia	58,402
Eswatini	15,503
Fiji	16,925
Finland	232,071
France	12,235,713	1,344
French Polynesia	2,840
Gambia	60,424
Ghana	90,000
Georgia	29,406
Germany	2,551,061	606
Greece	2,397,169
Greenland	1,595
Grenada	25,351
Guadeloupe	<1,000
Hong Kong	555,353
Hungary	376,573
Iceland	297,963
Indonesia	352,017
India	986,296
Ireland	3,547,000
Israel	198,500
Italy	4,922,000	737
Jamaica	217,647
Japan	310,500
Jordan	64,776
Kazakhstan	21,341
Kiribati	173
Kuwait	7,000
Kenya	100,000
Kyrgyzstan	6,900
Laos	27,723
Latvia	95,357
Lebanon	61,994
Lesotho	2,380
Liechtenstein	2,200
Lithuania	58,200
Luxembourg	69,350
Macau	57,121
Madagascar	3,167
Malaysia	358,818
Malawi	51,145
Maldives	103,977
Malta	640,570
Mali	900
Marshall Islands	51
Mauritius	149,807
Mexico	563,099
Moldova	11,555
Mongolia	6,012
Montenegro	37,464
Montserrat	1,380
Morocco	554,000
Myanmar	51,051
Namibia	27,365
Nepal	29,730
New Caledonia	708
Nigeria	117,000
Niue	146
North Macedonia	8,856
Norway	581,000
Netherlands	2,195,000	602
New Zealand	249,264
Nicaragua	16,923
Oman	143,224
Pakistan	275,400
Palau	852
Panama	16,338
Papua New Guinea	6,974
Peru	69,506
Philippines	182,708
Poland	796,900
Portugal	2,600,000	405
Qatar	120,495
Romania	243,991
Russia	193,522
Saba	200
Saint Lucia	68,175
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	17,045
Samoa	1,422
San Marino	5,750
São Tomé and Príncipe	83
Serbia	32,802
Seychelles	21,906
Singapore	518,903
Sint Eustatius	200
Slovakia	77,837
Slovenia	118,508
Solomon Islands	496
South Africa	407,486
South Korea	126,024
Spain	18,502,722	5,605
Sri Lanka	201,879
Suriname	1,077
Switzerland	709,925	430
Sweden	603,000
Taiwan	104,911
Tanzania	67,742
Thailand	994,468	603
Timor-Leste	1,253
Tonga	1,102
Trinidad and Tobago	37,473
Turkey	2,254,871
Turks and Caicos	6,399
Tuvalu	59
Uganda	43,009
Uruguay	20,000
Ukraine	78,603
United Arab Emirates	1,265,000
United States	5,076,167	1,539
Uzbekistan	1,800
Venezuela	20,837
Vietnam	283,537
Zambia	36,997

See also

• British passport
• British National (Overseas) passport
• Passports in Europe
• British nationality law
• Visa requirements for British Nationals (Overseas)
• Visa requirements for British Overseas Citizens
• Visa requirements for British Overseas Territories Citizens
• Visa policy of the United Kingdom

References and notes

References

Notes