eu travel to uk visa

TRAVEL & STUDY

Travel & practical information.

The UK left the EU on 1 February 2020. The transition period ended on 31 December 2020. The fact that the UK is now a third country vis-à-vis the EU brings significant changes to daily life for citizens and businesses.

This page tries to bring in one place practical information and external links. The EU Delegation cannot take responsibility for such third-party content. Please always check with the relevant national authorities. 

Travel and practical information

EU citizens may need a visa to come to the UK and should  check if they need one  before travelling. General rules applicable to EU visits are found  here . 

EU citizens are allowed to travel to the UK visa-free for up to six months, if they do not intend to work in the UK or study. An EU citizen may enter the UK multiple times during six months, but may not in effect live in the UK by means of repeated or continuous visits. Business travel between the EU and the UK is also more restricted than under Single Market rules. TCA facilitates some aspects of the mobility of professionals for business purposes (so called “mode 4” under GATS rules) relating to intra-corporate transferees, contractual service suppliers or independent professionals as well as business visitors. 

New rules also apply to the type and validity of travel documents that the UK accepts – as from October 2021  most EU citizens will need a valid passport  to enter the UK. However, citizens under the EU Settlement Scheme  can still continue to use their national identity cards  and they have this right for life.  

Some products of animal origin are prohibited for introduction in the EU. Mutual recognition of driving licences is not always automatic. Pets travelling from the UK to the EU and to Northern Ireland need an animal health certificate by an official veterinarian. 

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Do I need a visa to enter the EU? Rules for UK travellers explained

By Abigail Malbon

Since the  UK left the EU in January 2021 , the rules on travel have changed – but do British travellers need to have a visa to enter EU countries now? Here’s what you need to know about the current rules, and what to expect in future.

Do I need a visa to enter the EU?

At the time of writing (June 2022), if you’re travelling from the UK you will not need a visa to enter any country within the EU.

UK travellers are able to spend a maximum of 90 days in every 180 within the European Union without a visa – for longer stays, you will be required to apply for a separate visa for the country you intend to be in.

However, the rules are set to change, and UK travellers will be required to have a visa waiver to enter the EU in the future.

Will I need a visa to enter the EU in future?

Yes and no – technically it's a visa waiver. British citizens no longer enjoy the freedom of movement throughout the EU due to Brexit, and will therefore have to follow the same system that applies to residents from other countries in the world, including the  USA  and  Australia .

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is set to come into force at the end of 2022, which means that UK travellers will need an official ETIAS visa waiver in order to visit countries within the European Union. This will apply to anyone entering or transiting through an EU country on a British passport between the ages of 18 and 70 and will cost €7. It will be required for trips of up to 90 days for both tourists and business travellers and will need to be obtained at least 96 hours before departure.

The good news is, once you have the ETIAS visa waiver it will last for three years, so you won’t need to keep renewing every time you travel; just when it runs out, or if you get a new passport.

Do I need a visa to move to an EU country?

If you’re a British citizen, yes. The type of visa you need and the application process for long stays will depend on the country’s own rules – there is no blanket long-stay visa for anyone entering from outside the EU. If you intend to move to a country within the European Union it’s best to search online for your visa options; here you will find the requirements to do so.

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Everything you need to know about travel to Europe after Brexit

Do you need a visa to travel to the EU after Brexit? Here’s how the rules are looking in 2024

Way back in 2020, the UK left the EU and Brexit took effect. Since then, a hell of a lot has changed about how we travel. There’s now plenty of extra stuff to think about when planning a trip overseas to Europe (especially if it’s for longer periods). So, we ’ve rounded up all the changes to the rules that we’ll have to follow, now that we’re no longer EU citizens. Here is everything you need to know.

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You should probably check your passport

Up until January 2021, all UK citizens with a valid passport were able to travel freely throughout Europe. Now, though, you may need to renew your passport much earlier than you might think. On the day you travel, your passport must have at least six months left before it expires, or you might not be able to travel to any EU countries, or the EEA states of Iceland , Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland . (The old rules still apply for travel to Ireland.)

You can check if you need to renew your passport before travelling using this tool from the British government, and you can apply for a new one here . Make sure you renew it at least a couple of months before you’re planning to travel, as it may take several weeks to process applications in busy times (including right now).

You can no longer apply for an EHIC

Your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will remain valid until its expiry date, but you can no longer apply for a new one. In 2021, the UK government launched a replacement scheme, the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) , which will entitle you to necessary state healthcare for free or at reduced cost in Europe and other countries with reciprocal arrangements such as Australia and New Zealand . You can apply for one on the official GHIC website .

Free mobile roaming is a thing of the past

The guarantee of free mobile roaming throughout the EU, the Schengen area and the Norway, Iceland and Liechenstein, came to an end on December 31, 2020. It ’s best to c heck with your phone operator to find out about any charges you may incur in the country you’re travelling to.

Border checks may feel a little different

At border control, you will now need to use separate lanes from EU citizens when queuing. Officials may also be more inquisitive than before, asking you to provide a return or onward ticket and prove that you have enough money for the length of your initial stay.

Your driving licence will still be valid – but you’ll need a ‘green card’ proving you have insurance too

Despite reports British drivers would soon have to apply for an ‘international driving permit’ before travelling to the Continent, according to the terms of the Brexit deal, UK licences will still be valid within the EU.

According to this advice by the Foreign Office , you do not need a ‘green card’ (proving you have car insurance cover when driving abroad) when driving in the EU. However, countries where they do apply include Albania, Azerbijan, Moldova, Türkiye and Ukraine. 

Welcome page

System for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay in 29 European countries (starting in the second half of 2024)

Travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers to enter 30 European countries (starting in mid-2025)

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New requirements for Americans traveling to Europe postponed until 2025

Visitors who now travel visa-free will need to get approval prior to departure.

Americans eyed upcoming travel to European destinations slightly differently due to news of a requirement that was set to start in 2024 for U.S. passport holders. But now, EU officials have postponed the European Travel Information and Authorisation System ( ETIAS ) launch until spring of 2025.

SchengenVisaInfo.com, a website dedicated to the world's largest visa-free zone where 27 European countries abolished their internal borders known as the Schengen Area, first reported that an EU official confirmed ETIAS won't go live until May 2025, "due to continued delays with the introduction of the related Entry-Exit System (EES), which needs to be operational before ETIAS can be implemented."

An official for the European Union did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment.

What to know about ETIAS for US travelers

If you previously traveled to Europe without a visa, you will now need to apply for authorization through the ETIAS , before visiting.

Today, American travelers have visa-free access to 184 global destinations, according to the Henley Passport Index . And while the U.S. passport is currently ranked eighth-most powerful passport to own, that could be set to shift when the European Union adds its new documentation requirements for U.S. visitors.

The application form, which will be available on the official ETIAS website as well as a mobile application, has a fee of 7 euros or $7.79 U.S. dollars. All communication is done by email.

Once you are approved for travel, the authorization entitles visitors to stay in European countries that require ETIAS for up to 90 days within any 180-day period and travelers must be in possession of a valid ETIAS during their entire stay.

MORE: New warning issued for rebooking air travel after delays, cancellations

According to ETIAS, most applications should be processed within minutes, but in case an application takes longer, decisions will be sent within four days or up to 14 days if the applicant is asked to provide additional documentation.

The European Union encourages travelers to apply for an ETIAS authorization "well in advance of your planned journey."

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Confirmation of application submission will be sent on email with a unique number that is needed for future reference.

Upon receiving ETIAS travel authorization, travelers are to ensure that their name, passport number and other information is correct because any mistake will prevent them from crossing the border.

If an application is refused, the email will include the reasons for the decision along with information about how to appeal.

ETIAS travel authorization is valid for three years, according to the EU, or until the travel document you used in your application expires, whichever comes first.

MORE: European heat wave breaking records with little relief in sight

The ETIAS authorization is linked to a person's travel document -- such as a U.S. passport -- and both documents will be needed to board a flight, bus or ship to enter any of the European countries that require ETIAS.

Similar to international border requirements with a passport, the ETIAS authorization doesn't guarantee automatic right of entry. "Border guards will verify that you meet the entry conditions" and anyone who does not meet the conditions "will be refused entry," according to the EU.

Click here to learn more about the process from the European Union.

An earlier version of this story was originally published on July 21, 2023.

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Travel after brexit/ information for uk nationals and their families.

We are pleased to confirm that British citizens do not require a visa for the Schengen Member States, if the duration of their stay does not exceed 90 days within any 180-day period.

Visa-free short term visits up to 90 days

Entry requirements for visa-free short stays, economic activities/ employment on short term visits.

• Non-EU family members of British citizens

Long stay national visas (D visas)/ residence permits for more than 90 days

Please note that you may not pursue any economic activity in Germany unless such activity has been explicitly authorised by a visa or a residence permit issued by the local immigration office (“Ausländerbehörde”) in Germany.

The following information applies to British citizens only.

Beneficiaries of Part Two (“citizens’ rights”) of the Withdrawal Agreement, particularly UK nationals resident in Germany prior to 1 January 2021, enjoy privileges in addition to those described here.

British citizens do not require a visa for the Schengen Member States, if the duration of their stay does not exceed 90 days within any 180-day period.

This exemption does not extend to non- EU family members of British citizens. Depending on their nationality, non- EU family members may be subject to visa requirements .

Please note that you may not take up any employment or pursue any economic activity in Germany unless such activity is explicitly authorised by a visa or a residence permit issued by the local immigration office ( Ausländerbehörde ) in Germany.

If you are unsure how many days you have left out of your visa-free 90 days, check the Short-stay Visa Calculator .

British citizens travelling to the Schengen Member States are subject to all entry requirements for third-country nationals. The entry requirements are contained in the Schengen Borders Code and comprise the following:

You need to be in possession of a valid travel document entitling you to cross the Schengen borders. UK regular, official and diplomatic passports identifying the holder as a British citizen are recognised for visa-free travel. On the date of entry into the Schengen member states the travel document must have been issued within the previous 10 years. The passport’s validity must extend at least three months after the intended date of your departure from the territory of the Member States.

Practical examples:

• A non- EU traveller arriving on 1 December 2021 for a 20 days stay in the EU with a passport issued on 2 December 2011 and valid until 2 April 2022 will be allowed entry.
• The same person arriving on 2 December 2021 will NOT be allowed entry.
• You need to be able to justify the purpose and conditions of your intended stay, and you need to have sufficient means of subsistence, both for the duration of the intended stay and for your return to your country of origin or transit to a third country into which you are certain to be admitted, or you must be in a position to acquire such means lawfully.
• You are not a person for whom an alert has been issued in the Schengen Information System for the purposes of refusing entry.
• You are not considered to be a threat to public policy, internal security, public health or the international relations of any of the Member States, in particular where no alert has been issued in Member States’ national databases for the purposes of refusing entry on the same grounds.

As a rule, visa-free short-term visitors may not pursue any economic activity in Germany. However, some professional activities may be carried out without a corresponding visa or residence permit as they are not classed as an economic activity. For details, please click here

Any other economic activity for a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period requires a C visa authorising such activity.

Non- EU family members of British citizens

Holders of British Residence Cards for EU /EEA family members who previously did not require visas now require a visa for travel to Germany unless they are otherwise exempt.

Non- EU family members of British and German citizens holding a visa as a family member under Freedom of Movement rules (“ Familienangehörige/r eines EU -/EWR-Bürgers ”) issued before 31 December 2020 and valid after 1 January 2021 must provide evidence at the point of entry into the European Union that they fulfil all Schengen entry requirements. This includes the possession of a valid travel document (validity of no more than ten years and valid for three months after the intended departure from the Union), proof of accommodation, employment, sufficient means of subsistence, travel health insurance, invitation letter or return ticket, documents proving the family member’s economic situation in the country of residence or the genuine intention to leave the territory of the Member States before the expiry of the visa.

British citizens require a visa and/or residence permit for any stay beyond 90 days within any 180-day period.

British citizens may apply to the local immigration office (“ Ausländerbehörde ”) for their residence permits after arrival in Germany and do not need to have obtained a visa prior to travelling to Germany. Please note that you need to register your new residence (“ Anmeldung ”) with the authorities (“ Meldebehörde ”) within 2 weeks of arrival and apply to the local immigration office (“ Ausländerbehörde ”) for your residence permit within the first 90 days of your stay in Germany.

British citizens also have the option to apply to a German Mission abroad for a visa prior to travelling to Germany.

Please note that some visa categories require approval from other government bodies such as the immigration office (“ Ausländerbehörde ”) at your intended place of residence and/or the Federal Employment Agency. Processing can take up to three months, and in the case of the self-employed and freelancers up to six months.

Information regarding different visa categories is available from our information page on national visas .

Professional activities not classed as economic activities/ work

This page provides an overview as to what professional activities may be carried out without a visa or residence permit as they are not classed as economic activities/ work (“Erwerbstätigkeit”).

Travelling with UK Travel Documents

Third-country nationals holding UK travel documents may travel to Germany subject to the following conditions.

Short-stay Schengen visas (C visas)

A Schengen visa is a short-stay visa allowing its holder to circulate in the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period. Schengen visas (type C) can only be applied for through our external service provider TLScontact.

Long-stay national visas (D visas)/ residence permits for more than 90 days

A national visa (D visa) can be used to obtain a residence permit for stays exceeding 90 days.

FAQ and other important information

Please read the information on our website carefully. We do appreciate that it might be easier for you to ask questions. However, we do not have sufficient staff capacity to respond to every query.

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