The countries where new visa application rules will soon make it easier to visit
From India to Zimbabwe, via Vietnam, a number of countries around the world have made changes to their visa system, making it easier for British travellers to add them to their holiday hitlist for 2018. Read on for all the details.
The countries that have made getting there easier
Cambodia
Ethiopia
India
Uganda
Vietnam
Zambia
Zimbabwe
All the information below applies to British nationals but is liable to change at short notice - always check with the embassy of the country you are travelling to and Foreign Office advice before travelling or applying for a visa.
Argentina
A visa is not necessary for a tourism visit of less than 90 days. If you wish to extend your stay seek advice from the Argentine Migrations Office.
Australia
British visitors can obtain a free eVisitor visa from the Department of Immigration & Border Protection, or a Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) via a travel agent or online for about A$20 (£12.30). You may be asked to undergo a health examination before a visa can be granted - if you are aged 75 or older, for example - take this into account when timing your application.
Bolivia
British nationals do not require a visa for a tourist stay in Bolivia of up to 30 days. Extensions of up to 60 days can be obtained as long as you apply before the initial 30 days runs out.
Brazil
A visa is not generally needed for British citizens entering Brazil as tourists, however, you may be required to show proof of accommodation, return travel and financial means for your visit on arrival. Ensure your passport is stamped on arrival.
Myanmar (Burma)
You should apply well in advance of travelling at a Burmese Embassy or Consulate or apply online and print your approval letter for travel once received. The country has some restrictions, though partially relaxed, on where you are allowed to enter and exit the country - check with the Burmese Embassy or UK Foreign Office before you travel. There is currently violence being reported in the north of the country - check with the FCO before planning a trip.
Cambodia
A visa on arrival is available but can only be purchased with US dollars (around $30, but check before travelling). An electronic e-visa is available before travelling from the Cambodian Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation website (above). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also has information on border crossings with Laos and Vietnam.
Canada
British nationals do not usually need a visa to travel to Canada. When you arrive you may need to prove that you have sufficient funds to support your stay, even if you're staying with family or friends. The Foreign Office warns against using unofficial websites to obtain visas as they may charge. Since March 2016, all visitors to Canada have been required to have an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) to enter the country by air. You can apply online now through the official website here.
China
A visa is needed to enter China but not Hong Kong or Macao. The Foreign Office advises that you contact your nearest Chinese Embassy or Consulate (there are three in the UK: London, Manchester and Edinburgh) in good time before travelling to ascertain which visa is required and how to apply. If transitting through China, some airports, including Beijing and Shanghai, have visa waiver periods, of up to 144 hours, but conditions apply. Check before travelling.
Colombia
The Foreign Office says British nationals can enter Colombia for up to 90 days as a visitor without a visa "at the discretion of the Colombian Immigration Officer on arrival". Be prepared to show proof of return or onward travel.
Cuba
A tourist visa/card is necessary for travel to Cuba. The FCO advises anyone wishing to travel to Cuba to contact the Cuban embassy or their travel provider to ensure they have the correct documents. Travel is further complicated should you be visiting via the US, as travel is restricted.
Egypt
Visas are available on arrival, with payment in sterling, US dollars or euros (around £19/$25/€20). Buy from an official kiosk in the airport rather than an agent as they may charge more. If you're travelling to Sharm el Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba or Taba, you will receive a free entry permission stamp upon arrival valid for 15 days' stay. If you stay for longer than 15 days you will require a visa.
Ethiopia
British travellers are among 37 nationalities that can take advantage of a new e-visa option, introduced in June, however, you must be arriving via Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. Apply here. The Foreign Office says visas on arrival are also available from the same airport, for approximately $50 for a month or $75 for three months (euros, US dollars and Ethiopian birr all accepted).
Georgia
Tourists do not need a visa to visit Georgia, for stays of up to a year. Georgia has a very strict anti-drugs policy, which can also cover prescription and non-prescription drugs or medicines, otherwise available in Europe. This can cause serious problems for travellers and in some cases lead to administrative and criminal proceedings. You should carry a doctor’s prescription if you intend to travel with prescription medicine and declare the items on arrival, by filling in a customs declaration form.
India
Apply online well in advance - anyone with Pakistani origin, or a Pakistani national, can expect a wait of seven to eight weeks longer than the norm. As of April 2017, the length of stays on e-visas rose from 30 to 60 days, and as of June visitors were able to obtain double-entry visas. Your passport must be machine readable, with two blank pages for your visa and valid for a minimum of 180 days at the time of your visa application. The FCO warns of fake websites selling e-visas.
Indonesia
British nationals are able to enter the country at a number of points, including Jakarta, Bali and Surabaya, and stay for 30 days without a visa - however, the exemption permission must be sought before travelling and stays can not be extended under this visa exemption scheme. If you're travelling for longer or any purpose other than tourism, you should apply for a visa before travelling, or purchase a visa on arrival that can be extended once only. Visit the official website for more information. Overstaying a visa is taken seriously by the authorities.
Iran
Contact the Iranian Consulate in London well in advance of travelling for advice on how to apply for a visa. There is also a consulate in Dublin. The Foreign Office says "the application process for an Iranian visa can be long and unpredictable". It also says if your passport contains an Israeli stamp or stamps from other countries' border crossing points with Israel, you may be refused entry.
Kenya
A visa is required to enter Kenya. British nationals are able to purchase an e-visa from the official website. Previously, they were available from the Kenya High Commission or on arrival, for £30 cash. Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Kenya. Make sure you have two blank pages in your passport on arrival.
Kazakhstan
Until December 31 2017 British nationals can travel to Kazakhstan without a visa, provided your stay does not exceed 30 days (the day you arrive counts as day one, regardless of arrival time). If you wish to stay longer than 30 days, you’ll need a visa. You should contact your nearest Embassy of Kazakhstan for further information.
Mongolia
Since the start of 2016, tourists have needed a visa to enter the country. A Mongolian visit visa is usually valid for a stay of up to 30 days within six months from the date of issue. You can extend your visa up to 30 days once within six months.
Peru
British nationals do not need a visa for a tourism visit of up to six months. For visits of another purpose, seek advice from the Peruvian Consulate-General.
Russia
To obtain a visa to enter Russia you will need to visit an application centre in London or Edinburgh with a completed visa entry form, your passport, and a stamped and signed "tourist voucher" or "tourist confirmation", obtained through your Russian hotel or an approved travel agent. Leave yourself plenty of time and check the exact requirements for your visa. There are visa exemptions for up to 72 hours for cruise passengers travelling to a number of cities, includign St Petersburg. Russia recently added a series of personal questions to its visa application.
South Africa
Those travelling to South Africa for up to 90 days do not need a visa, however, the country has introduced complex rules governing travelling with children. Anyone arriving in South Africa in the company of a child has to prove parenthood or guardianship - by way of a birth certificate - while lone adults flying in with their offspring have to show that they have the consent of the absent partner. Seek advice from the Foreign Office and your airline or travel agent before travelling as the government may be considering reversing the changes it introduced.
Thailand
Travellers staying in Thailand for 30 days or less do not need a visa, under a visa exemption scheme, however the Thai authorities are strict when it comes to overstaying your welcome and you could be fined up to 20,000 baht (£375), detained or deported. Visit the Royal Thai Embassy website (above) with queries about visas. Passports need six months of validity left from the date of entry.
Turkey
British nationals need a visa to enter Turkey. It is best to purchase an e-visa online ($20; £15) before travelling, as buying one on arrival will be more expensive (£20; and the service is set to be phased out). Istanbul Ataturk Airport may have e-visa kiosks allowing visitors to purchase entry there. Visitors should also be wary to only buy e-visas from the official website as Turkish e-visas have been subject to a number of scams. Cruise passengers do not visas as long as the visit lasts less than 72 hours.
Uganda
British nationals need a visa to enter Uganda, available in the form of e-visa, the price of which has been recently halved from $100 to $50. They are available online and the FCO advises that would-be travellers allow "sufficient time... and make sure when applying that the start date and validity covers the period you wish the travel". Ugandan immigration officers decide how long travellers are permitted to stay in Uganda when they enter the country. This is usually between 2 weeks and 3 months, and the immigration officer will normally enter a handwritten note of this period next to the entry stamp in your passport. You can be fined and/or imprisoned for overstaying your visa.
USA
The Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) allows most British Citizen passport holders to visit the USA for up to 90 days. Those travelling under the VWP should provide details of their visit online at least 72 hours before travel via the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA). You will require an ESTA to enter the country. You do not need an ESTA to arrive by land.
Vietnam
Until June 30, 2018, British citizens are exempt from requiring a visa to enter the country for a period of up to 15 days. If you intend to stay for longer, a visa is required. Applications must be made by post or in person at the Vietnamese embassy in London. The visa-exemption scheme was introduced in 2015 with a view to retaining it for 12 months but has been extended due to its popularity.
Zambia
British nationals need a visa to enter Zambia, obtainable from the Zambian High Commission in London before travel. If you plan to get a visa on arrival, the FCO advises that you have the correct amount of US dollars, as change may not be available. Kenneth Kaunda International Airport now accepts credit and debit card. You should check your visa endorsement for the period of your stay in Zambia. Although you are allowed 90 days per calendar year the immigration officer will not normally endorse the full length of time upon entry and you will be required to extend the stay at the nearest immigration office. On leaving Zambia, all air passengers must pay a departure tax of US$25. Although this is normally included in the cost of an air ticket you will be asked to pay separately in Zambian Kwacha if it is not. A KAZA Univisa is available for travel between Zimbabwe and Zambia and day trips into Botswana. It’s available at Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls airports and at the land borders at Victoria Falls (Zambian border) and Kazungula (Botswana border). It costs US $50 (£38.50) and it is valid for 30 days.
Zimbabwe
Visas can be obtained from the Zimbabwean Embassy in London, online before travelling or purchased on arrival. If intending to purchase on arrival, ensure you have enough cash to buy a visa at the airport. Such a visa should allow you to stay for 90 days but check that the number of days given at the port of entry matches your intended stay. Authorities are strict on the type of visa (do not conduct any business if you are on a tourist visa) and journalistic activity. A KAZA Univisa is available for travel between Zimbabwe and Zambia and day trips into Botswana. It’s available at Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls airports and at the land borders at Victoria Falls (Zambian border) and Kazungula (Botswana border). It costs US $50 (£38.50) and it is valid for 30 days.
