Cross-border travelers usually need to apply for a visa in advance before visiting another country. To make international travel more convenient, some countries have signed an agreement on visa-free journeys which allows individuals to enter without a pre-approved entry permit. According to the Henley Passport Index, the UK passport ranks 3rd in the world with hundreds of visa-free destinations. In this passage, we are going to introduce the benefits of a British passport, UK passport visa-free countries, visa-on-arrival countries, eTA countries, visa-required countries, and other related issues.
Benefits of British Passport
Before heading to learn about the traveling advantages of UK passport holders, let’s see what a British citizen can benefit from a British passport.
● Live and Work in the UK
All foreigners must apply for a visa to live and work in the UK while UK citizens do not. In this case, you don’t need to worry about visa validity, types of work you can apply for, etc.
● Study in the UK
The UK is home to many famous tertiary education institutions, attracting millions of international students around the world who have to spend lots of time dealing with documentation and money to study in this country. However, if you have a UK passport, you don’t need a student visa and might enjoy educational subsidies.
● Travel Freely Around the World
A UK passport is an easy travel pass to 153 countries without visas, 26 countries with visa-on-arrival (VoA), and 10 countries with Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).
● Prove British Citizenship
It is an officially certified identification document that can be used to prove residency in the UK and eligibility for citizenship privileges, such as voting.
● Enjoy Public Benefits
UK passport holders are qualified for free healthcare and high-quality schooling. Moreover, extra sponsorship and funding programs are accessible.
Visa-Free Countries for UK Passport Holders
As of March 2024, UK citizens can travel to the following 153 UK passport visa free countries and territories without visas for short-term stays, such as tourism or friend/family visit. Please note that there might be extra entry requirements although visas are not required, such as a ticket for returning or onward trip, proof of sufficient funds, proof of accommodation, travel insurance, etc. It is suggested to check the official rules before setting out.
| Countries | Duration of Stay | General entry requirement |
| Albania | 90 days | Passport valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Andorra | 3 months | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Angola | 30 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months and 2 blank pages on arrival |
| Anguilla | 3 months | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Antigua and Barbuda | 90 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Argentina | 3 months | Passport valid for estimated duration of stay |
| Armenia | 180 days | Passport valid for estimated duration of stay |
| American Samoa | 60 days | Passport valid for duration of stay |
| Aruba | 3 months | Passport valid for estimated duration of stay |
| Austria | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Australia | 90 days | Passport valid for duration of stay |
| Bahamas | 30 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Barbados | 6 months | Passport valid for the duration of stay and at least 1 blank page |
| Belarus | 30 days | Passport valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Belgium | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Belize | 30 days | Passport valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Bermuda | 90 days | Passport valid for estimated duration of stay |
| Bolivia | 90 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Bonaire; St. Eustatius and Saba | 3 months | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 90 days | Passport valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Botswana | 90 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months and 3 blank pages on arrival |
| Brazil | 90 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| British Virgin Islands | 6 months | Passport valid for estimated duration of stay; |
| Brunei | 90 days | Passport in good condition and valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Bulgaria | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Canada | 6 months | Passport valid for the duration of stay |
| Cape Verde Islands | 30 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Cayman Islands | 6 months | Passport valid for estimated duration of stay; |
| Chile | 90 days | Passport valid for estimated duration of stay; |
| Colombia | 90 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Cook Islands | 31 days (extendable) | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Costa Rica | 180 days | Passport valid for at least 1 day after leaving the country |
| Croatia | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Curacao | 90 days | Passport valid for the duration of stay |
| Cyprus | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Czechia | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Denmark | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Dominica | 6 months | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Dominican Republic | 30 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Ecuador | 90 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| El Salvador | 180 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Estonia | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| eSwatini | 30 days | Passport valid for at least 3 months and 2 blank pages on arrival |
| Falkland Islands | 30 days | Passport valid for the duration of stay |
| Faroe Islands | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Fiji | 4 months | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Finland | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| France | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| French Guiana | 3 months | Passport valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| French Polynesia | 3 months | Passport valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| French West Indies | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Georgia | one year | Passport valid for the duration of stay |
| Germany | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Gibraltar | 90 days | Passport valid for the duration of stay |
| Greece | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Greenland | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Grenada | 3 months | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Guatemala | 90 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months and 2 blank pages on arrival |
| Guam | 45 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Guyana | 30 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Haiti | 90 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Honduras | 30 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months and 2 blank pages on arrival |
| Hong Kong (SAR China) | 6 months | Passport valid for at least 1 month after the date of leaving Hong Kong |
| Hungary | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Iceland | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Ireland | 90 days | Passport not required |
| Israel | 3 months | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Italy | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Jamaica | 90 days | Passport valid for the duration of stay and at least 2 blank pages |
| Japan | 90 days | Passport valid for the duration of stay |
| Kazakhstan | 30 days | Passport valid for at least 30 days on arrival |
| Kenya | 90 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months and 2 blank pages on arrival |
| Kiribati | 1 month | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Kosovo | 90 days | Passport in good condition and valid for the duration of stay |
| Kyrgyzstan | 60 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Latvia | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Lesotho | 90 days | Passport valid for at least 90 days on arrival |
| Liechtenstein | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Lithuania | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Luxembourg | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Macao (SAR China) | 6 months | Passport valid for at least 90 days on arrival |
| Madagascar | 15 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months and 2 blank pages on arrival |
| Malaysia | 90 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Malta | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Marshall Islands | 90 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Mauritius | 60 days | Passport valid for the duration of stay and at least 1 blank pages |
| Mayotte | 3 months | Passport valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Mexico | 180 days | Passport valid for the duration of stay |
| Micronesia | 90 days | Passport valid for at least 120 days on arrival |
| Moldova | 90 days | Passport valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Monaco | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Mongolia | 30 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Montenegro | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Montserrat | 180 days | Passport valid for the duration of stay |
| Morocco | 90 days | Passport valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Mozambique | 30 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Namibia | 90 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Netherlands | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| New Caledonia | 3 months | Passport valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| New Zealand | 6 months | Passport valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Nicaragua | 90 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Niue | 30 days | Passport valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| North Macedonia | 3 months | Passport valid for at least 90 days on arrival |
| Northern Mariana Islands | 45 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Norway | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Oman | 14 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Pakistan | 30 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Palestinian Territory | 3 months | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Panama | 3 months | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Paraguay | 90 days | Passport valid for the duration of stay |
| Peru | 30 days (extendable) | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Philippines | 30 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Poland | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Portugal | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Puerto Rico | 90 days | Passport valid for the duration of stay |
| Reunion | 3 months | Passport valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Romania | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Rwanda | 30 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| San Marino | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Sao Tome and Principe | 15 days | Passport valid for the duration of stay |
| Senegal | 3 months | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Serbia | 90 days | Passport valid for at least 90 days on arrival |
| Singapore | 90 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Slovakia | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Slovenia | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| South Africa | 90 days | Passport valid for at least 30 days and 2 blank pages on arrival |
| South Korea | 90 days | Passport valid for the duration of stay |
| Spain | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Sri Lanka | 30 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| St. Kitts and Nevis | 6 months | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| St. Lucia | 6 weeks | Passport valid for the duration of stay |
| St. Maarten | 3 months | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| St. Vincent and the Grenadines | 6 months | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Suriname | 90 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Sweden | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Switzerland | 90 days | Passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Taiwan (Chinese Taipei) | 90 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Thailand | 30 days | Passport in good condition and valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| The Gambia | 28 days (extendable) | Passport valid for the duration of stay |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 90 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Tunisia | 90 days | Passport valid for the duration of stay |
| Turkey | 90 days | Passport valid for at least 150 days and 1 blank pages on arrival |
| Turks and Caicos Islands | 90 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Ukraine | 90 days | Passport valid for the duration of stay;Completed an immigration card;Fingerprints submission |
| United States | 90 days | Passport valid for the duration of stay |
| Uruguay | 90 days | Passport valid for the duration of stay; |
| US Virgin Islands | 90 days | Passport valid for the duration of stay |
| Uzbekistan | 30 days | Passport valid for at least 3 months on arrival |
| Vanuatu | 30 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Vatican City | 90 days | Passport valid for at least 3 months and 2 blank pages on arrival |
| Venezuela | 90 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival |
| Vietnam | 45 days | Passport in good condition, valid for at least 6 months on arrival, and with 2 blank pages |
| Zambia | 90 days | Passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival and 2 blank pages |
📣Also Read: What Countries Can I Visit Visa Free with UK ILR
Visa on Arrival Countries for UK Passport Holders
Visa on Arrival (VoA) is a visa that you can obtain at the arrival airport of your destination instead of the embassy or consulate in your home country. Requirements are generally the same as those for a regular visa and you might be denied entry. UK citizens can apply for a VoA when traveling to the following 26 countries.
| Kuwait | Laos | Lebanon | Malawi |
| Maldives | Mauritania | Myanmar | Nepal |
| Palau Islands | Qatar | Samoa | Saudi Arabia |
| Seychelles | Sierra Leone | Solomon Islands | Somalia |
| St. Helena | Tajikistan | Tanzania | Timor-Leste |
| Togo | Tonga | Tuvalu | United Arab Emirates |
| Zimbabwe | Iraq |
eTA Countries for UK Passport Holders
eTA, referring to Electronic Travel Authorization, is an entry permit that is electronically linked to the traveler’s passport and used to gather their personal information and travel history. Among all British passport visa free countries, UK citizens should request eTA when entering the 10 countries and territories below.
| American Samoa | Australia | Canada | Kenya |
| New Zealand | Pakistan | Puerto Rico | Sri Lanka |
| United States | US Virgin Islands |
📣Read Also: What Is the Difference Between an eTA and an eVisa?
Countries That Require Visa for UK Citizens
The following 35 countries and territories required UK passport holders to apply for a pre-approved visa in an embassy or consulate in the UK.
| Afghanistan | Congo (Dem. Rep.) | Iran | Russian Federation |
| Algeria | Congo (Rep.) | Liberia | South Sudan |
| Azerbaijan | Cote d’Ivoire | Libya | Sudan |
| Benin | Cuba | Mali | Syria |
| Bhutan | Equatorial Guinea | Nauru | Turkmenistan |
| Cameroon | Eritrea | Niger | Uganda |
| Yemen | Ghana | Nigeria | Central African Republic |
| Chad | Guinea | North Korea | Gabon |
| China | India | Papua New Guinea |
Among these visa-required countries, the following ones issued e-visa which can be applied and issued online.
● Azerbaijan
● Benin
● Guinea
● India
● Papua New Guinea
● Uganda
● Gabon
General Visa Requirements for UK Passport
When traveling to visa-required countries, the immigration officers will require a variety of documents to prove your citizenship, identity, traveling purpose, and travel itinerary depending on the visa type you apply for. Let’s see the common documents required for tourist visa applications.
● A passport in good condition, with sufficient remaining validity and blank sheets for visa stamps;
● Air ticket for returning or onward trip;
● Proof of accommodation reservation;
● Proof of sufficient funds to support your expenses during your stay;
● Proof of no criminal record;
● Letter of invitation or proof of employment.
Where Can British Citizens Live and Work Without Visa
British citizens used to reside in most European countries without immigration restrictions. However, many countries terminated the benefits after Brexit. Currently, only five of them are left and listed below.
● Common Travel Area (Jersey, Guernsey, Man, Ireland)
● The Isles (Guernsey, Man)
● Gibraltar
● Paraguay
● Belize
These places were previously under the British Empire. Therefore, UK citizens can live, work, and study without a visa in these places.
FAQ:
Q: Do British passport holders need visas for USA?
A: No, USA is one of the British passport visa free countries for tourism.
Q: Do British passport holders need visa for Canada?
A: No, Canada is one of the countries that are visa free for UK tourists, but an eTA is required.
Q: Do UK citizens need a visa to travel to Europe?
A: No, if they take a 90-day trip for the purpose of traveling, studying, medical treatment, business, and journalism.
Q: Which countries can you travel to with a UK Refugee Travel Document without visa?
A: Armenia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Maldives, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Switzerland, Tunisia, and Vatican City. Please check the specific entry requirements before traveling.
Summary
After reading this passage, you must have been clear about UK passport visa free countries. UK passport holders can travel to 153 countries that are visa free for UK citizens, 26 countries that issue visas on arrival to UK citizens, and 35 countries and territories that require pre-approved visas. Whether you are allowed to travel with visas or without visas with a British passport, it is suggested to check the specific entry requirements of your destinations and prepare the required documents in advance.
Erin Lo