Do I need visas?
Your visa situation is extremely important and should be thoroughly checked out well before departure.

Here is a list of visa requirements for UK and most EU passport holders. Please note that visa restrictions change regularly so it is extremely important that you check with your travel agent or preferably direct with the embassy.

Country

Validity of visa                       

Afghanistan

Entry prohibited for UK passport holders

Argentina

-

Up to 90 days without a visa

Australia

Visa required (3 Months to 1 year)

Bangladesh

Visa obtained on arrival for up to a 90 days

Barbados

-

Up to 6 months without a visa

Belize

-

Up to 6 months without a visa

Bhutan

Pre-arranged travel itinerary compulsory

Bolivia

-

Up to 90 days without a visa

Botswana

-

Up to 90 days without a visa

Brazil

-

Up to 90 days without a visa

Brunei

-

Up to 90 days without a visa

Cambodia

-

On arrival 1 month $US20, 3 months $US30

Canada

-

Up to 6 months  - decided on arrival.

Chile

-

Up to 90 days without a visa

China

Must enter within 3 mths of obtaining visa

Colombia

-

Up to 90 days without a visa

Cook Islands

-

Up to 31 days without a visa

Costa Rica

-

Up to 90 days without a visa

Cuba

Tourist card obtained prior to departure

Dominican Rep.

-

Up to 90 days without a visa

Ecuador

-

Up to 90 days without a visa

Egypt

Or 7 day visa can be obtained on arrival

El Salvador

-

Up to 3 months without a visa

Fiji

-

Up to 4 months without a visa

Greece

-

Up to 3 months without a visa

Guatemala

-

Up to 90 days without a visa

Honduras

-

Up to 30 days without a visa

Hong Kong

-

Up to 6 months without a visa

India

Up to 4 months, multiple entry possible

Indonesia

-

Up to 60 days without a visa

Jamaica

-

Up to 6 months without a visa

Japan

-

Up to 90 days without a visa

Kenya

-

Can be obtained on arrival

Korea 

-

Up to 90 days without a visa

Laos

15 day visa can be obtained on arrival

Madagascar

90 day visa can be obtained on arrival

Malawi

-

Up to 90 days without a visa

Malaysia

-

Up to 2 months without a visa

Maldives

30 day visa can be issued on arrival

Mexico

-

Up to 180 days without a visa

Mongolia

Pre arranged travel itinerary compulsory

Morocco

-

Up to 3 months without a visa

Myanmar

Pre arranged travel itinerary compulsory

Namibia

-

Up to 3 months without a visa

Nepal

Obtained on arrival, 30 days $30.

New Zealand

-

Up to 6 months without a visa

Paraguay

-

Up to 90 days without a visa

Peru

-

Up to 90 days without a visa

Philippines

-

Up to 59 days without a visa

Tahiti

-

Up to 3 months without a visa

Qatar

Sponsor required

Russia

Pre arranged travel itinerary compulsory 

Western Samoa

-

Up to 30 days without a visa

Singapore

-

Up to 14 days without visa (extendable)

South Africa

-

Up to 90 days without a visa

Sri Lanka

30 day visa available on arrival

Surinam

-

Up to 90 days without a visa

Taiwan

15 and 30 day visas available on arrival

Tanzania

-

Can be obtained on arrival

Thailand

-

Up to 30 days without a visa

Tonga

-

Up to 30 days without a visa

Uganda

Single / multiple entry obtainable on arrival

U.A.E

-

Up to 60 days without a visa

Uruguay

-

Up to 3 months without a visa

U.S.A

-

Up to 90 days without a visa

Venezuela

-

Up to 90 days without a visa

Vietnam

Passport photo also required on arrival

Zambia

Or arranged on arrival with 3 photos

Zimbabwe

-

Up to 3 months without a visa

Check your requirements as far ahead as you can as you will have enough on your plate as you approach your departure date.

The best place to get your relevant visas are either through the embassy directly or through a visa processing company. Some travel agencies will arrange certain visas for you if you are lucky.

Most pre-departure visas can only be applied for up to 3 months before you enter that country and then the validity starts from that date. Examples of these are the Russian, Mongolian, Chinese and Vietnamese.

Working visas are even more important to obtain and should be looked into well before you purchase your flight tickets in case there are any complications.

The ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) for Australia is a god-send for travellers as it can now be done over the phone or email and costs next to nothing (free if arranged directly through the embassy but very time consuming to get hold of them). There is no paperwork (don't worry you still get a paper confirmation!) and gives you 3 months to stay as a tourist only (no work). For clients we arrange this ETA visa free of charge.

Passports

You need a passport to travel anywhere. This is how each country knows if you are staying within the restrictions of your visa. Most people already have a passport, but if you do not or you need to extend your current one, you need to contact the authorities in your hometown to get one. 

Onward tickets

Not only must you check your visa requirements, you must also make sure you have satisfied your onward ticket requirements as well.

Most countries insist that you hold a ticket out from their country which must be presented on arrival at immigration. If you do not have this you may be turned away with little choice but to get back on the next plane home.

If you think that this may be a problem, you must contact the relevant embassies to double check. There are however ways around this. If you do find yourself in an awkward situation where you wish to travel overland through countries which demand onward tickets you can do the following:

Example:

Travelling on the Trans-Siberian from Russia into Beijing and then wanting to travel overland down through China into Vietnam. If you can not pre-book the train down before you leave the UK you can buy a one-way ticket from China to another country and not use it. One of the cheapest on this route is from Kunming - Chiang Mai for about £70. You will then be able to claim about £50 back by canceling your flight when you are in the country and sending your ticket back to the UK for a refund. Obviously this can be a bit tricky but it is a possibility.

Other countries are more relaxed. If you do not have an onward ticket from their country they will often admit entrance if you hold an onward ticket from a neighbouring country. Travelling overland from Bangkok to Singapore is a classic example. Again this must be checked before you travel.

In the Clients Area of this website you find more details on immigration requirements (only accessable for clients with confirmed reservations)