Travel Documents
Obtaining required travel documents is your sole responsibility. Requirements vary by country and are subject to change at any time. Please check with the government agencies of the countries you will be visiting for the most recent information.
For countries that require a visa, guests can obtain one through the embassy of that country or through a visa processing service. We partner with CIBT. CLICK HERE to visit CIBT's website.
Please note that some countries have the option to purchase a visa on arrival at a low cost, however we recommend obtaining all required documents in advance whenever possible.
UPDATED: 1 MAY 2024
PASSPORTS POST BREXIT
ABTA's travel checklist
Wherever you’re heading to on your next overseas adventure, some pre-holiday preparation is absolutely essential to travelling with confidence.
ABTA’s handy checklist highlights the most important things to add to your to-do list in the weeks running up to your trip.
1. Read the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice for the destination you’re visiting.
Make sure you visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find the latest advice for the country you’re visiting.
This includes the latest entry requirements such as rules around passport validity and visas, advice on health such as any recommended travel vaccinations, and guidance on safety and security.
You can sign up to receive country specific email alerts to get important updates straight into your inbox.
2. Check your passport
Check your passport will be valid for your travel dates and allow time to renew if needed.
Passport validity rules vary from country to country, so check the FCDO travel advice to find out the rules for the country you’re visiting.
If you’re travelling to any country in the EU (except Ireland), the rules for British passport holders are different now that the UK is no longer in the EU. Your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the EU and it must be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave.
Don’t forget that children’s passports are only valid for five years so will need renewing more regularly.
Visit abta.com/passports for extra guidance.
3. Take out travel insurance
As soon as you book your holiday, make sure you take out comprehensive travel insurance that covers your specific needs, including any activities you plan to do or existing medical conditions.
A good insurance policy will cover you for cancellation charges, delays, lost baggage, and medical expenses if you need treatment abroad, so read the policy details carefully to make sure it has the level of cover you want.
Don’t forget to take a copy of your policy details and insurer’s contact info with you and share these details with friends or family back home in case of an emergency.
Visit abta.com/travelinsurance for extra guidance.
EUROPE
The European Union is introducing two important changes for travel to Europe. These are:
- EU Entry/Exit System (EES) which is due to come into force in autumn 2024.
- European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), due in mid-2025.
If you are travelling this summer, these changes won’t yet be in place, so there is nothing you need to do.
However, if you are planning to travel later this year or next year, we’ve provided some guidance on what you need to know about the upcoming changes.
EU Entry/Exit Scheme (EES) – expected autumn 2024
The EU Entry/Exit system is a new electronic system that will replace the physical stamping of passports when you go through passport control on arrival. It will register all entries and exits to and from the participating European countries, which basically means it will register your movements every time you cross a border in or out of the EU/Schengen area.
Once the new system is live, when you go through passport control on arrival, as well as providing your passport you will also need to have a photo of your face taken, and your fingerprints scanned.
EES is due to be introduced in autumn 2024, however an exact date is still to be confirmed.
Who will it apply to?
It will apply to those travelling for a short stay, from what the EU call a ‘third country’. This is people who are not an EU citizen or a citizen of the Schengen area. So it will apply to most people travelling from the UK.
A short stay refers to visits, holidays or business trips that have a duration of up to 90 days and are taken within a 180 day period. The vast majority of travel between the UK and Europe will be classed as a short stay.
Irish passport holders are exempt from EES. If you are a British passport holder but have EU residency, you are also exempt from EES.
Which countries will it apply to?
When EES comes in, these are the countries that will be using it:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
In Cyprus and Ireland, despite being countries of the European Union, passports are still stamped manually.
Travelling via the Port of Dover or international train (London St Pancras and Folkestone)
In most cases, the EES checks will take place in Europe – when you arrive at your destination airport or port.
However, if you are travelling via the Port of Dover or via international train from the UK (London St Pancras and Folkestone), then these checks will happen when going through the passport control in the UK, on your departure.
This is because there is a dual border – both British and French borders – at these locations.
However, you won’t need to do these checks again when you arrive on the other side.
European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) – expected mid-2025
ETIAS is the EU’s new travel authorisation which you will need to apply for ahead of your travels to the 30 European countries listed below once the system is introduced. It is a similar concept to the USA’s ESTA and the UK’s ETA scheme.
It is due to be introduced in mid-2025, but there is not yet an exact date as to when it will come into force. This means you do not need to have a ETIAS for travel to Europe at the moment.
When implemented, travellers will be able to apply for an ETIAS by the official website – www.europa.eu/etias.
As the system is not live, the website itself is not live or taking applications, so you cannot yet get an official ETIAS. Any websites claiming to offer this are false.
Who will it apply to?
When the system is up and running in 2025, visa-exempt travellers from third countries will need to apply for an ETIAS. Put simply, if you are travelling to the EU for a short stay and are not a citizen of an EU or Schengen country, then you will need an ETIAS.
A short stay refers to visits, holidays or business trips that have a duration of up to 90 days and are taken within a 180 day period.
If you are travelling on a visa, you don’t need an ETIAS.
Irish passport holders are exempt from ETIAS. If you are a British passport holder but have EU residency you also don’t need an ETIAS.
Which countries will it apply to?
These are the countries that travellers will need an ETIAS to enter, once ETIAS comes in:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
You will not need an ETIAS when travelling to Ireland, as this is part of the Common Travel Area.
How much will an ETIAS cost?
ETIAS will only cost €7 (equivalent to around £6). ETIAS is free for those under the age of 18 and aged 70 and over. Once ETIAS is live, certain travellers may be exempt. You can find the list of exemptions here.
How long will it be valid for?
ETIAS lasts for three years. You will be able to travel on multiple trips during this period using the same ETIAS.
However, if your passport expires during the ETIAS validity period, you will need to apply for a new ETIAS.
It will also not be valid if it expires during your stay, in these cases you would need to apply for a new ETIAS in advance of your travels, to cover the duration of your stay.
How to apply
There is one official website to apply for an ETIAS which is – www.europa.eu/etias. However, as ETIAS is not currently operational, applications via the website are not yet live.
You will need to do one application for each traveller, so if you are a parent applying for a child, they would need a separate application to your own.
You do have the option for someone to make an application on your behalf. If you want to do that, you will need to submit a form to show you give permission. More information will be available here – Applying on behalf of others - European Union (europa.eu).
What information do I need to provide?
For each application you will need to provide:
- Personal information including name(s), date and place of birth, sex, nationality, home address, email address and phone number(s);
- Parents’ first name(s);
- Passport/travel document details;
- Level of education and current occupation;
- Details about your intended travel and stay in any of the countries requiring ETIAS;
- Details about any past criminal convictions, past travels to war or conflict zones, and whether you have recently been the subject of an extradition.
You should make sure that the details on your ETIAS match that of your passport, if they don’t your ETIAS will not be valid and you will not be able to travel. If you are applying on behalf of someone else, then there may be additional information you need to provide.
Fake websites offering ETIAS
There are currently more than 60 unofficial websites offering ETIAS, despite the system not yet being live. Don’t use an unofficial website: there’s the risk that you will be overcharged, that you won’t get an ETIAS and that your personal information could be stolen.
The official ETIAS website is www.europa.eu/etias
Additional information, by country, for UK Passport Holders
All information provided below is for reference only and is subject to change. Visa regulations and processes are determined by the countries visited and your local consulates, who may make changes at their discretion. It is your responsibility to confirm any details with your travel agent, visa provider or consulate, and to obtain and carry the correct travel documents.
Egypt
You can get a visa before you travel from the official Visa2Egypt portal or your nearest Egyptian consulate. Tourist visas granted using the e-visa system are valid for a maximum of 3 months. It is advisable to get a visa before you travel, particularly if travelling for work or business.
If you wish to get a visa on arrival, you can do so at approved bank kiosks within airport arrival halls, before reaching immigration counters. The visa fee is US$25, payable in US dollars as the preferred currency, although you may also be able to pay in pounds sterling or euros. Visas granted on arrival are valid for a maximum of 30 days. There’s no need to buy a visa from an agent. In many cases agents will charge more than US$25 for a visa. If you’re harassed by an agent, report the incident to the tourist police in the airport terminal.
If you’re travelling to Sharm el Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba resorts for up to 15 days, you will receive a free entry permission stamp upon arrival. If you intend to travel out of these areas or stay longer than 15 days, you must get a visa.
If you have travelled to one of the South Sinai Red Sea resorts, entered without a visa and your plans have changed, you can normally purchase a visa at Sharm el Sheikh airport to allow you to travel elsewhere.
For further information and enquiries, contact the Egyptian Consulate in London.
India
A single-entry visa is required for our India programs. Most nationalities are eligible for an e-visa and can apply online. Visas cannot be obtained upon arrival.Israel
A visa is not required. Visitors must hold a UK passport that is valid six months from the end of your stay.
Jordan
A single-entry visa is required for our Jordan programs. UK passport holders may obtain a visa on arrival in Jordan under the following circumstances:
- Guests with a scheduled Uniworld transfer will be eligible to be part of a free group visa that our vendor will secure for the group upon arrival at Queen Alia Airport.
- Guests arriving outside of our transfer guidelines can obtain a visa on their own upon arrival at Queen Alia Airport for a cost of JOD 40 per person; this must be paid in Jordanian currency. Credit cards are not accepted. There is a bank in the airport where guests can exchange money to pay for their visa.
Peru
A visa is not required for visitors from the UK who hold valid passports.
Cambodia
Entry and exit occur during the cruise/tour program. Our local team will assist guests with obtaining a visa on arrival.
- For programs beginning in Hanoi, the port of entry for Cambodia will be Siem Reap International Airport (REP). A Uniworld Representative will be on site to assist in fast tracking visa service. Guests must bring $50 USD (cash) to receive a visa.
- For programs beginning in Ho Chi Minh City, the point of entry for Cambodia will be Phnom Penh Port for border crossing. The visa will be issued by an Immigration officer during the cruise/tour. Guests must bring $50 USD (cash) to receive a visa.
Vietnam
The Vietnam Government reintroduced in 2022 the Vietnam visa waiver program for citizens of 13 countries, including the UK. Therefore UK passport holders do not need a visa to enter Vietnam for stays of up to 15 days in the country.
For Uniworld's Vietnam program, UK guests will re-enter Vietnam a second time 8 days after they exit; the visa waiver still applies to UK guests when they re-enter.