Countries UK Citizens Can Visit Visa-Free
Countries UK Citizens Can Visit Visa-Free.
UK passport holders are amongst the most privileged citizens of the world when it comes to traveling. Currently ranked in the sixth position alongside Norway and the United States in the list of world’s most powerful passports, the UK citizens can, for now, travel to 183 countries, whether visa-free or wish an e-visa or a visa-on-arrival.
Moreover, most of the rest of the world countries for which a traditional sticker visa is needed for Britons to travel there, have created facilities due to reciprocal agreement between the UK and those particular countries.
Yet, there are a few world countries that have stricter entry criteria for foreigners, including Britons. Those wishing to travel to any of these countries will need to carefully check the entry requirements and meet them all, before taking a trip there.
Due to Brexit, probably a no-deal one, some of the travel criteria for Britons traveling abroad are soon about to change, in particular to the member countries of the European Union. Following in this article, you may find several lists of the countries that UK citizens need and do not visas for tourism, business and other similar non-employment activities.
139 Visa-Free Countries for UK Citizens
British citizens holding a valid passport issued by the UK Home Office can travel to the following world countries without the need of getting any kind of visa or authorization, and remain for the specified period:
- Albania – 90 days
- Andorra
- Anguilla – 90 days
- Antigua and Barbuda – 180 days
- Argentina 90 days
- Armenia – 180 days
- Aruba 30 days, extendable up to 180 days
- Austria
- Bahamas 21 days, extendable up to 8 months
- Barbados 180 days
- Belarus 30 days
- Belgium
- Belize – 30 days
- Bermuda – 180 days
- Bolivia 90 days
- Bonaire; St. Eustatius and Saba
- Bosnia and Herzegovina – 90 days
- Botswana 90 days
- Brazil 90 days, can be extended for another 90 days
- British Virgin Islands
- Brunei 90 days
- Bulgaria
- Cape Verde Islands
- Cayman Islands – 180 days
- Chile 90 days, extendable
- Colombia 90 days, can be extended for a total of 180-days in a calendar year
- Cook Islands – 31 days
- Costa Rica 90 days
- Croatia
- Curacao 90 days
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominica – 180 days
- Dominican Republic 90 days
- Ecuador 90 days, extendable
- El Salvador 90 days
- Estonia
- Eswatini (Swaziland) – 30 days
- Falkland Islands
- Faroe Islands
- Fiji 120 days
- Finland
- France
- French Guiana
- French Polynesia
- French West Indies
- Gambia 90 days
- Georgia 365 days a year
- Germany
- Gibraltar British citizens have right of abode in Gibraltar.
- Greece
- Greenland – 90 days within a 180 days period
- Grenada – 180 days
- Guam – 90 days
- Guatemala 90 days
- Guyana 90 days
- Haiti 90 days
- Honduras 90 days
- Hong Kong (SAR China) – 180 days
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Indonesia 30 days
- Ireland
- Israel 90 days
- Italy
- Jamaica – 180 days
- Japan 90 days, can be extended once
- Kazakhstan 30 days
- Kiribati 30 days
- Kosovo 90 days
- Kyrgyzstan 60 days
- Latvia
- Lesotho – 14 days
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macao (SAR China) – 180 days
- Malaysia 90 days
- Malta
- Marshall Islands 90 days
- Mauritius 90 days
- Mayotte freedom of movement, must hold a valid ID or Passport
- Mexico 180 days
- Micronesia 30 days
- Moldova 90 days in 180-day period
- Monaco
- Montenegro 90 days
- Montserrat
- Morocco 90 days
- Namibia 90 days in a calendar year
- Netherlands
- New Caledonia
- New Zealand – 180 days
- Nicaragua 90 days
- Niue
- North Macedonia 90 days
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Norway
- Palestinian Territory
- Panama – 180 days
- Paraguay 90 days
- Peru – 90 to 183 days
- Philippines 30 days
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar – 30 days
- Reunion freedom of movement, must hold a valid ID or Passport
- Romania
- San Marino
- Sao Tome and Principe – 15 days
- Senegal 90 days
- Serbia 90 days
- Singapore 90 days
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Africa 90 days
- South Korea 90 days
- Spain
- Kitts and Nevis 90 days
- Lucia – 6 weeks
- Maarten – 90 days
- Vincent and the Grenadines – 30 days
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan 90 days
- Thailand 30 days, if arriving by land
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia 90 days
- Turkey 90 days
- Turks and Caicos Islands 90 days
- Ukraine 90 days in 180-day period
- Uruguay 90 days
- Uzbekistan 30 days
- Vanuatu 30 days
- Vatican City
- Venezuela 90 days
- Vietnam – 15 days
- Zambia – 90 days
Documents Britons Need to Present at Port of Entry to Enter Visa-Free
Despite the visa-free policy that all these countries apply to citizens of the United Kingdom, travelers from the UK still need to carry at least some sort of identification document for entry.
Aside from the EU countries, who only ask for an ID in order to permit Britons to enter their territory, the rest of the countries listed above also ask for a valid passport. In addition, a few of them also want Britons at their port of entry to present:
Evidence they have traveler’s health insurance.
- Proof of sufficient financial means to support their stay in that particular country.
- Proof of accommodation.
In addition, a few of these countries may require from Britons proof of vaccination for illnesses and diseases that are common in that country. When traveling alone with a child, notarized authorization from the other parent is compulsory.
Note that every country has its specific entry requirements. Thus, Britons traveling to any of these countries should contact the relevant authorities of that country in Britain for further information in this regard.
UK Citizens Travelling to EU Member States After Brexit
In a post-Brexit European Union, the UK travelers will no longer be privileged as they currently are as EU citizens. They will need to join the lines of third-country nationals at airports, and present the following documents:
Valid passport. The passport must not be older than 10 years, and it must have at least 3 months of validity left on the day the traveler plans to leave the EU.
Health Insurance. Valid in the whole territory of the Schengen Area, with a coverage worth minimum €30,000 for health related incidents.
Proof of accommodation and financial means may also be required in several Schengen countries.
7 Countries UK Citizens Can Visit with Travel Authorization
When traveling to any of the following countries, UK passport holders will need to previously get a travel authorization online.
- American Samoa Entry Permit Waiver Program
- Australia Electronic Travel Authority (ETA)
- Canada Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
- Puerto Rico Electronic System for Travel Authorization
- Sri Lanka Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)
- United States – Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)
- US Virgin Islands Electronic System for Travel Authorization
Once the ETIAS comes into force, the EU member states will join this list increasing the number from seven to at least 34.
Britons traveling any of these countries will need to apply for the applicable travel authorization, for which they need to apply online while usually having the following documents:
- Passport.
- Confirmed roundtrip ticket.
- Credit/Debit card to pay the travel authorization fee, when required.