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Travelling with a UK passport offers numerous opportunities to venture into various global destinations, each having its own visa rules. Of the 195 countries worldwide, there are multiple UK passport visa free countries. For the rest of the countries not falling under this category, however, UK passport holders are required to complete a visa application process.
This article provides a comprehensive list of countries that allow visa-free travel or with e-visa, those where visas can be obtained upon arrival, and where an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) is applicable.
With this write-up, UK passport holders can equip themselves with the necessary knowledge to navigate and explore the foreign nations they can travel to without worrying about visa documentation.
So if you are wondering which countries are visa free for UK citizens, keep on reading!
Types of Visas for United Kingdom Passport Holders
Depending on the destination, individuals holding a United Kingdom passport may enjoy visa-free access, visa-on-arrival arrangements, or an eTA entry option.
Before moving onto UK passport visa free countries, let's explore the details of these different entry options.
Type of Visa
Meaning
Visa-free
Visa-free travel allows passport holders from certain countries to enter another country without a visa or prior authorisation. UK passport holders benefit from visa-free access to more than 140 countries.
Visa on arrival
As the name suggests, a visa on arrival grants travellers permission to enter a country directly at the airport or border entry point. This privilege extends to around 36 countries for United Kingdom citizens.
In most cases, travellers can apply for and receive their visa upon arrival at the airport or border crossing. It's important to remember that the associated fees, visa duration, and allowed length of stay may vary as per the specific regulations of each country.
E-visa
An electronic visa is a digital visa that can be quickly obtained through online applications. Currently, 16 countries require UK nationals to obtain an electronic visa before travelling.
Electronic Travel Authorisation
An eTA is a digital travel document that travellers must secure before their scheduled flight to select countries. UK passport holders are eligible to acquire an eTA when planning trips to 10 specific countries.
List of UK Passport Visa Free Countries
Before covering UK visa holder visa free countries, it is important to understand that visa policies may differ for each country, including variations in permitted stay duration and the purposes of travel allowed for citizens.
With that clear, let’s look at the table below for a list of the UK permanent resident visa free countries -
Country Name
Maximum Time Duration
Albania
90 days
American Samoa
60 days
Andorra
NA
Anguilla
90 days
Antigua and Barbuda
6 months
Argentina
90 days
Armenia
180 days
Aruba
90 days
Australia
90 days
Austria
Unrestricted travel access
Bahamas
21 days
Barbados
6 months
Belarus
30 days
Belgium
Unrestricted travel access
Belize
NA
Bermuda
NA
Bolivia
90 days
Bosnia and Herzegovina
90 days
Botswana
90 days
Brazil
90 days
British Virgin Islands
Visa-free stay
Brunei
90 days
Bulgaria
Unrestricted travel access
Canada
6 months
Cape Verde
30 days
Cayman Islands
Visa-free stay
Chile
90 days
Colombia
90 days
Cook Islands
31 days
Costa Rica
3 months
Croatia
Unrestricted travel access
Curacao
90 days
Cyprus
Unrestricted travel access
Czech Republic
Unrestricted travel access
Denmark
Unrestricted travel access
Dominica
6 months
Dominican Republic
90 days
Ecuador
90 days
El Salvador
3 months
Estonia
Unrestricted travel access
Falkland Islands
30 days
Fiji
4 months
Finland
Unrestricted travel access
France
Unrestricted travel access
French Guiana
Indefinite duration
French Polynesia
Indefinite duration
Gambia
90 days
Georgia
1 year
Germany
Unrestricted travel access
Gibraltar
Unrestricted travel access
Greece
Unrestricted travel access
Grenada
6 months
Guam
45 days
Guatemala
90 days
Guyana
3 months
Haiti
90 days
Honduras
3 months
Hungary
Unrestricted travel access
Iceland
Unrestricted travel access
Indonesia
30 days
Ireland
Unrestricted travel access
Israel
3 months
Italy
Unrestricted travel access
Jamaica
6 months
Japan
90 days
Kazakhstan
30 days
Kosovo
90 days
Kiribati
120 days
Kyrgyzstan
60 days
Latvia
Unrestricted travel access
Lesotho
14 days
Liechtenstein
6
Lithuania
Unrestricted travel access
Luxembourg
Unrestricted travel access
North Macedonia
90 days
Malaysia
3 months
Malta
Unrestricted travel access
Marshall Islands
90 days
Martinique
Indefinite duration
Mauritius
90 days
Mayotte
Indefinite duration
Mexico
180 days
Micronesia
30 days
Moldova
90 days
Monaco
NA
Montenegro
90 days
Montserrat
6 months
Morocco
90 days
Namibia
3 months
Netherlands
Unrestricted travel access
New Caledonia
Indefinite duration
New Zealand
6 months
Nicaragua
90 days
Northern Mariana Islands
45 days
Norway
Unrestricted travel access
Oman
10 days
Panama
180 days
Paraguay
90 days
Peru
183 days
Philippines
30 days
Poland
Unrestricted travel access
Portugal
Unrestricted travel access
Puerto Rico
90 days
Qatar
30 days
Reunion
Indefinite duration
Romania
Unrestricted travel access
Saint Kitts and Nevis
3 months
Saint Helena
183 days
Saint Lucia
6 weeks
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
1 month
Samoa
60 days
San Marino
NA
Sao Tome and Principe
15 days
Scotland
NA
Senegal
90 days
Serbia
90 days
Singapore
90 days
Sint Maarten
90 days
Slovakia
Unrestricted travel access
Slovenia
Unrestricted travel access
South Africa
90 days
South Korea
90 days
Spain
Unrestricted travel access
Eswatini
30 days
Sweden
Unrestricted travel access
Switzerland
Unrestricted travel access
Thailand
30 days
Trinidad and Tobago
NA
Tunisia
3 months
Turkey
3 months
Turks and Caicos
90 days
Ukraine
90 days
United States
90 days
Uruguay
90 days
Uzbekistan
30 days
Vanuatu
30 days
Venezuela
90 days
Vietnam
15 days
U.S. Virgin Islands
90 days
Wallis and Futuna
Indefinite duration
Features of UK Passport Visa Free Countries
UK passport holders can enjoy several benefits on their visit to visa-free countries -
Wide international access: The British passport is well known for its extensive global reach, allowing holders to travel to around 190 countries and territories without requiring a visa or easily obtaining one upon arrival.
Simplified travel process: Holding a UK passport enables travellers to smoothly navigate international borders, encountering minimal bureaucratic obstacles and often benefiting from shorter immigration lines.
Flexible itinerary: Travellers have the freedom to adjust their itineraries effortlessly, modifying plans or prolonging their stays in visa-free countries without the limitations imposed by visa validity.
Enjoy shorter airport wait times: Visa-free access allows for shorter queues and faster processing at immigration checkpoints, relieving the visa holder from travel-related stress.
Save money: If you travel frequently, visa fees and processing costs can quickly add up. With a UK passport, however, you can avoid these expenses and save money while visiting any of the UK visa holder visa free countries.
Visa Options for UK Citizens: eVisas, Visa-on-Arrival, and eTAs
In the section above, we answered the query of which countries are visa free for UK citizens. However, it’s worth remembering that several nations have specific entry requirements for UK nationals, which can include eVisas, visa-on-arrival, and eTAs.
As a UK citizen, you must first confirm if a visa is required for extended stays or for purposes not covered under the Visa Waiver Policy of the destination country. The fees, validity, and duration of stay allowed may vary depending on the country.
Countries Requiring eVisa for UK Citizens
Around 31 countries require UK citizens to apply for eVisa for entry -
Country Name
Time Duration of Up to
Angola
NA
Australia
90 days
Azerbaijan
30 days
Bahrain
30 days
Benin
NA
Cambodia
30 days
Christmas Island
NA
Djibouti
NA
Egypt
30 days
Ethiopia
90 days
Gabon
30 days
Guinea
90 days
Guinea-Bissau
90 days
India
30 days
Kenya
90 days
Kuwait
90 days
Laos
30 days
Madagascar
90 days
Malawi
30 days
Myanmar
NA
Pakistan
30 days
Papua New Guinea
60 days
Rwanda
30 days
Saudi Arabia
90 days
Sri Lanka
30 days
Suriname
90 days
Tajikistan
45 days
Tanzania
NA
Uganda
NA
Zambia
90 days
Zimbabwe
90 days
Countries Needing Visa on Arrival for United Kingdom Citizens
Having covered the UK passport visa free countries as well as those requiring eVisas, let’s go through the list of nearly 37 countries that offer visa-on-arrival for UK citizens -
Country Name
Time Duration of Up to
Bahrain
30 days
Bangladesh
30 days
Burkina Faso
90 days
Cambodia
30 days
Comoros
45 days
Egypt
30 days
Gabon
30 days
Guinea-Bissau
90 days
Jordan
NA
Kenya
90 days
Kuwait
90 days
Laos
30 days
Lebanon
30 days
Madagascar
90 days
Malawi
30 days
Maldives
30 days
Mauritania
NA
Mozambique
30 days
Nepal
150 days
Palau
30 days
Papua New Guinea
60 days
Rwanda
30 days
Saudi Arabia
30 days
Seychelles
90 days
Sierra Leone
30 days
Solomon Islands
90 days
Somalia
30 days
Sri Lanka
30 days
Tanzania
NA
Timor-Leste
30 days
Togo
15 days
Tonga
31 days
Tuvalu
30 days
Uganda
NA
United Arab Emirates
30 days
Zambia
90 days
Zimbabwe
90 days
Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) for UK Citizens
United Kingdom passport holders have the option to obtain an eTA before visiting around 10 specific countries. The process of getting an eTA is usually swifter and more straightforward than the traditional visa application process.
Country
Time Duration
American Samoa
NA
Australia
Up to 90 days
Canada
Up to 180 days
New Zealand
Up to 180 days
Norfolk Island
NA
Pakistan
Up to 30 days
Puerto Rico
NA
Sri Lanka
Up to 30 days
United States of America
Up to 90 days
US Virgin Islands
NA
Wrapping Up
The above guide provided a comprehensive list of UK passport visa free countries as well as those requiring eVisa, visa on arrival, or eTA.
Whether travelling for business or leisure, the UK passport opens doors to numerous exciting destinations worldwide and offers opportunities for enriching travel experiences.
Before embarking on a journey, however, it is essential for travellers to verify the current visa requirements and regulations of their intended destination to ensure a smooth and hassle-free travel experience.
Having resolved our main query of which countries are visa free for UK citizens, let’s take a look at some frequently asked questions related to UK visa holder visa free countries -
Q1. What are the popular African countries for UK passport holders to visit?
Ans: Africa offers a variety of travel options for UK passport holders, with popular destinations such as Egypt, Guinea, Benin, and Burkina Faso.
Q2. Is travel health insurance mandatory for United Kingdom visa applications?
Ans: As a general rule, if you need to apply for a visa to visit a country, it is usually mandatory to have travel health insurance that covers the entire duration of your stay. Make sure to check the specific insurance requirements of your destination country.
With that said, whether mandatory or not, getting travel insurance is always advisable as it can financially cover you amidst any unfortunate circumstances. You can find the best travel insurance plans at affordable rates on Policybazaar.ae
Q3. Do UK passport holders qualify for visa-free entry to China?
Ans: No, visa-free entry is not available for UK citizens travelling to China. To visit the country, UK passport holders must obtain a valid visa.
Q4. Can UK passport holders visit European Union (EU) countries without a visa after Brexit?
Ans: Yes, UK passport holders can enjoy visa-free entry to EU countries under the 90/180 rule. Simply put, UK citizens can spend up to 90 days within a 180-day period in the EU without requiring a visa.
Q5. Are there any specific requirements for visa-free travel as a UK passport holder?
Ans: To enjoy visa-free travel, UK passport holders typically need a valid passport, often with a validity of at least 6 months beyond the intended departure date. Additionally, some countries may require travellers to purchase travel health insurance, which makes it necessary to check the specific entry requirements of the destination country.
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