Visa Requirements for British Citizens
Do you need a visa, an electronic travel authorization or nothing at all? This page gives British citizens travelling on a full British citizen passport a quick answer for each destination we cover: the visa rule, the passport rule, what to do before you fly and a link to the official source. The details come from the UK government's foreign travel advice for each country, which in turn comes from local authorities. Rules can change at any time, so confirm with the official source and your airline before you book.
Last checked: 28 October 2026. Each card also shows when the UK government last updated its advice for that country. Blue labels mean no tourist visa is needed, amber means an electronic travel authorization is required and rose means a visa is required.
This is a guide, not official advice. Entry rules change often and the border officer has the final say, so please check the official government source linked on each card, and your airline, before you book or travel.
Three Kinds of Entry Rules
Visa-free. You can enter without applying in advance, usually for a limited stay such as 90 days.
Electronic travel authorization. An online approval linked to your passport, such as the US ESTA. It is not a visa, but you need it before you travel.
Visa or e-visa. Permission to enter that you apply for first, often online as an e-visa and, for a few destinations, on arrival at certain entry points.
Europe
France
No tourist visa for up to 90 days
How long: up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The limit covers all Schengen countries together.
Passport: issued less than 10 years before you arrive, and valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area.
Before you fly: there is nothing to apply for yet. ETIAS is planned but not open, and the Entry/Exit System records your fingerprints and photo at the border. Officers may ask for proof of travel insurance, funds and accommodation, and a return or onward ticket.
Official source: UK government · Our France guide
UK government advice updated 22 October 2026.
Germany
No tourist visa for up to 90 days
How long: up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The limit covers all Schengen countries together.
Passport: issued less than 10 years before you arrive, and valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area.
Before you fly: there is nothing to apply for yet. ETIAS is planned but not open, and the Entry/Exit System records your fingerprints and photo at the border. Officers may ask for a return or onward ticket and proof of funds.
Official source: UK government · Our Germany guide
UK government advice updated 11 August 2026.
Greece
No tourist visa for up to 90 days
How long: up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The limit covers all Schengen countries together.
Passport: issued less than 10 years before you arrive, and valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area.
Before you fly: there is nothing to apply for yet. ETIAS is planned but not open, and the Entry/Exit System records your fingerprints and photo at the border. You may be asked for a return or onward ticket and proof of funds.
Official source: UK government · Our Greece guide
UK government advice updated 11 August 2026.
Ireland
No visa needed under the Common Travel Area
How long: no time limit. The Common Travel Area lets British citizens visit, live, work and study in Ireland without a visa.
Passport: not legally required to enter, but carry one. Airlines and ferries may ask for it, and officers can ask for proof of nationality.
Before you fly: there is nothing to apply for. Ireland is in the EU but not in the Schengen area, so you do not register for the Entry/Exit System there.
Official source: UK government · Our Ireland guide
UK government advice updated 4 September 2026.
Italy
No tourist visa for up to 90 days
How long: up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The limit covers all Schengen countries together.
Passport: issued less than 10 years before you arrive, and valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area.
Before you fly: there is nothing to apply for yet. ETIAS is planned but not open, and the Entry/Exit System records your fingerprints and photo at the border. Officers may ask for proof of accommodation and travel insurance, a return or onward ticket and proof of funds.
Official source: UK government · Our Italy guide
UK government advice updated 28 October 2026.
Portugal
No tourist visa for up to 90 days
How long: up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The limit covers all Schengen countries together.
Passport: issued less than 10 years before you arrive, and valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area.
Before you fly: there is nothing to apply for yet. ETIAS is planned but not open, and the Entry/Exit System records your fingerprints and photo at the border. Officers may ask for a return or onward ticket and proof of funds.
Official source: UK government · Our Portugal guide
UK government advice updated 11 August 2026.
Spain
No tourist visa for up to 90 days
How long: up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The limit covers all Schengen countries together.
Passport: issued less than 10 years before you arrive, and valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area.
Before you fly: there is nothing to apply for yet. ETIAS is planned but not open, and the Entry/Exit System records your fingerprints and photo at the border. Officers may ask for a return or onward ticket, travel insurance, proof of funds and proof of accommodation.
Official source: UK government · Our Spain guide
UK government advice updated 28 October 2026.
Asia
Indonesia
Visa required: on arrival or online
Visa: British citizens need a visa. You can get a 30-day visa on arrival at most main airports and seaports, or apply online at least a week before you leave for longer or multiple-entry options.
Passport: valid for at least 6 months after the day you arrive, with at least 2 blank pages.
Before you fly: fill in the free All Indonesia arrival card online within 72 hours of arrival, and avoid sites that ask for payment. A visa on arrival needs proof of onward or return travel, and a visa approved after you arrive is not valid.
Official source: UK government · Our Indonesia guide
UK government advice updated 18 September 2026.
Japan
No tourist visa for up to 90 days
How long: up to 90 days. The visa is granted on arrival, so you do not apply before you travel. You can ask an immigration office for a further 90 days.
Passport: valid for the length of your stay, with a blank page for the visa stamp.
Before you fly: there is nothing to apply for. Ask the immigration officer on arrival if you need a multiple-entry visa. Overstaying risks arrest, detention and a heavy fine.
Official source: UK government · Our Japan guide
UK government advice updated 28 August 2026.
South Korea
No tourist visa for up to 90 days
How long: up to 90 days for tourism or short business, with a return or onward ticket. British citizens are exempt from the Korea Electronic Travel Authority (K-ETA) only until 31 December 2026, so check the rule again if you travel after that.
Passport: valid beyond the date you leave South Korea.
Before you fly: there is nothing to apply for during the exemption. If you later need a K-ETA, apply only on the official Korean government site, because other sites are generally scams. Working while visa-free is illegal.
Official source: UK government · Our South Korea guide
UK government advice updated 14 May 2026.
Thailand
No tourist visa for up to 30 days
How long: from 15 September 2026, visa-free entry lasts up to 30 days and is for tourism only, not business. Entries through land borders are normally limited to 2 a calendar year.
Passport: valid for at least 6 months after the day you arrive, with at least 1 blank page.
Before you fly: complete the digital arrival card online before you arrive, at every point of entry. You may be asked for proof of enough money and onward travel, and British nationals have been refused entry without it.
Official source: UK government · Our Thailand guide
UK government advice updated 12 October 2026.
Vietnam
No tourist visa for up to 45 days
How long: up to 45 days for tourism or business. Check the exit date stamped in your passport, because it cannot be changed after you leave the airport or border. For up to 90 days and multiple entries, apply for an e-visa.
Passport: valid for at least 6 months after the day you arrive, with at least 2 blank pages and no damage. You must enter and exit Vietnam on the same passport.
Before you fly: a digital arrival card is encouraged at Ho Chi Minh City airport but not mandatory yet, and that could change at short notice. E-visas limit you to the entry and exit points you choose.
Official source: UK government · Our Vietnam guide
UK government advice updated 21 September 2026.
North America
Canada
eTA needed if you fly in
How long: no visa for short visits, normally up to 6 months. Most British citizens flying in need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) instead.
Passport: valid for the length of your stay.
Before you fly: apply for the eTA on the Government of Canada's official site. You do not need one if you arrive by land or sea. British-Canadian dual citizens need a valid Canadian passport instead. Officers may ask for a return or onward ticket and proof of funds.
Official source: UK government · Our Canada guide
UK government advice updated 2 June 2026.
Costa Rica
No tourist visa for up to 180 days
How long: up to 180 days under the tourist visa waiver, with the immigration officer setting the exact period. Overstaying can bring a fine and refusal of future entry.
Passport: valid until at least 1 day after the day you plan to leave Costa Rica.
Before you fly: there is nothing to apply for. You need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you arrive from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission.
Official source: UK government · Our Costa Rica guide
UK government advice updated 19 May 2026.
Mexico
No tourist visa needed
How long: no visa for tourism. You get a passport stamp showing how many days you can stay, up to 180.
Passport: valid for the length of your stay. The Mexican Embassy recommends at least 180 days of validity.
Before you fly: if you enter by land, fill in the immigration form online. Tourists cannot do paid or voluntary work, and some adventure or ecotourism activities may need a visa.
Official source: UK government · Our Mexico guide
UK government advice updated 20 October 2026.
United States
ESTA or visa required
How long: the Visa Waiver Program lets eligible British citizens visit without a visa, for stays of up to 90 days, but you must hold an approved ESTA before you travel.
Passport: valid for the length of your planned stay.
Before you fly: apply for the ESTA on the official ESTA website or app, including for entry by land or sea. An approved ESTA does not guarantee entry, and some travellers are not eligible and need a visa instead. Dual British-American citizens must enter on their US passport.
Official source: UK government · Our United States guide
UK government advice updated 18 August 2026.
South America
Argentina
No tourist visa for up to 90 days
How long: up to 90 days for tourism. Ask the Argentine Migration Office before your stay ends if you want another 90 days.
Passport: valid for the length of your stay.
Before you fly: there is nothing to apply for. Immigration no longer stamps passports on entry, so contact the Argentine Migration Office if you need proof of entry or exit.
Official source: UK government · Our Argentina guide
UK government advice updated 7 May 2026.
Brazil
No tourist visa for up to 90 days
How long: up to 90 days for tourism. Contact the Federal Police before your stay ends if you want to extend it. Overstaying brings a daily fine.
Passport: valid for at least 6 months after the day you arrive.
Before you fly: there is nothing to apply for. Make sure the border officer stamps your passport, or you may be fined when you leave. Dual British-Brazilian citizens are often required to travel on a Brazilian passport.
Official source: UK government · Our Brazil guide
UK government advice updated 28 October 2026.
Colombia
No tourist visa for up to 90 days
How long: up to 90 days for tourism, at the officer's discretion, and you must show a return or onward ticket. You can extend at a migration office, up to 180 days in any 12 months.
Passport: valid when you enter. Colombia recommends at least 6 months of validity after you plan to leave.
Before you fly: complete the free Check-Mig form online between 72 hours and 1 hour before you travel. The UK government calls it optional but faster, while the Government of Canada calls it required, so treat it as required. An entry fee may apply on arrival, so check the official Migración Colombia site.
Official source: UK government · Our Colombia guide
UK government advice updated 15 October 2026.
Peru
No tourist visa for up to 90 days
How long: normally up to 90 days in a 180-day period for tourism, counted from your first entry. Officers can grant up to 183 days in 365.
Passport: valid for at least 6 months after the day you arrive.
Before you fly: there is nothing to apply for. Airports register your entry digitally, so check your authorized stay on Peru's immigration site, and get a stamp if you enter by land. Overstaying means a fine and possible detention.
Official source: UK government · Our Peru guide
UK government advice updated 9 October 2026.
Oceania
Australia
eVisitor or ETA needed before you travel
How long: British citizens need a visa to visit Australia, but it is electronic. You can usually get a free eVisitor visa or an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) before you travel.
Passport: valid for the length of your planned stay. British-Australian dual citizens must enter and leave Australia on their Australian passport.
Before you fly: apply through the Australian Department of Home Affairs, either for the eVisitor visa or with the official Australian ETA app. The eVisitor visa has no application charge or service fee. The ETA has no application charge, but there may be a service fee.
Official source: UK government · Our Australia guide
UK government advice updated 19 March 2026.
New Zealand
NZeTA needed before you travel
How long: no visa for visits of up to 6 months, but you need a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) first.
Passport: the expiry date must be at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave New Zealand.
Before you fly: apply for the NZeTA, which is valid for up to 2 years and can take up to 72 hours to process. You also pay the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy when you apply. At the border you may need to show a return or onward ticket and proof of funds, and everyone completes the free New Zealand Traveller Declaration.
Official source: UK government · Our New Zealand guide
UK government advice updated 19 March 2026.
Four Checks Before You Book
Passport validity. Countries count it in different ways: from the day you leave, from the day you arrive, or for your whole stay. Your airline can also be stricter than the country, so check both.
Onward ticket and proof of funds. In many of these countries, border officers may ask to see a return or onward ticket and proof that you can pay for your stay. Keep both easy to show.
A second passport. If you are also a citizen of another country, the rules can change. US law requires dual British-American citizens to enter the United States on their US passport, and dual British-Canadian citizens need a valid Canadian passport to enter Canada. Brazil often requires dual British-Brazilian citizens to use a Brazilian passport, Colombia requires dual British-Colombian citizens to enter and leave on their Colombian passport, and Vietnam requires you to enter and exit on the same passport.
Official websites only. Fake visa and travel-authorization sites exist, and some unofficial agents charge extra fees. Apply only through the official government site linked from the UK government page, and never hand your passport to someone offering visa services.
How We Keep This Page Current
We check each country against the UK government's foreign travel advice and, where that advice links to them, the official immigration or e-visa websites. We show the date we last checked and the date of the government's own latest update. This is general information for British citizens on a full British citizen passport, not legal or immigration advice. Other passports, including other British nationalities and overseas territories passports, can have different rules. If this page ever differs from an official source, trust the official source, and please tell us so we can fix it.
Keep Planning
Once your entry papers are sorted, browse our country travel guides or pick a day-by-day plan from our trip itineraries. New to planning? Start with How to Plan a Better Trip.