USEFUL INFORMATION/TRAVEL ADVICE WHEN TRAVELLING ABROAD

 

• Government Travel Advice
  

  You can view the very latest government information at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice or visit gov.uk/travelaware for country-specific information. You can also find the FCDO on Twitter and Facebook.

 

• Worldwide Travel Requirements
  

  You can check real-time information on travel restrictions and documentation required for travel, by visiting the Sherpa website.

 

• Visa & Passport Information
  

  You will require a valid passport for your holiday when travelling to Europe. For details on how to obtain a passport, visit the  UK Government Passport Office website.
  
  PLEASE NOTE: if you have previously renewed your passport before the expiry date you may have extra months added to your expiry date. These months are not counted a 10 year passport expires 10 years after the issue date, we recommend you have at least 6 months left on your passport taking into account 10 years from your issue date not expiry date.
  
  Please visit the Government Foreign Advice website for country specific information relating to entry requirements (including whether your passport needs to be valid beyond the return date of your holiday).
  
  For further details regarding passports and the requirements for traveling abroad/please visit: www.gov.uk/browse/abroad/travel-abroad / www.gov.uk/browse/abroad/passports

 

• ETIAS – European Travel Information & Authorisation System
  

  You may have heard that a new system for travel to Europe is being implemented. This will be very similar to the visa waiver system used when travelling to the USA. Basically, everyone travelling to Europe from the UK will be required to obtain this visa-waiver before they travel. You will be required to apply online and there will be a charge (€7.00 per person), however this will not be payable by anyone under 18 or over 70 years of age.
  
  The system is not due to be launched until 2025 and we will provide all customers with more information closer to the time/prior to your departure, however if you would like further information now, please refer to the ETIAS website www.etias.com.

 

• EES – Entry/Exit System
  

  From November 2024, the EU plans to introduce the Entry/Exit system (EES). This is a new digital border system that will change requirements for British nationals travelling to the Schengen area
  
  If you are travelling to a country in the Schengen area using a UK passport, you will be required to register your biometric details, such as fingerprints or a photo, when you arrive. EES registration will replace the current system of manually stamping passports when visitors arrive in the EU.
  
  For further information, please visit: www.gov.uk/guidance/eu-entryexit-system

 

• Health information
  

  Although we are sure you will have obtained travel insurance, please also ensure that you have a valid UK Global Health Insurance Card. As previously with the EHIC, the GHIC entitles you to free or reduced cost emergency medical treatment during a temporary stay in European countries. Please note the GHIC is only valid in the 27 EU countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are not included). For further information on the GHIC and how to obtain one, please visit:  www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/apply-for-a-free-uk-global-health-insurance-card-ghic/.
  
  We would suggest that you bring the name, address and telephone number of your GP as this is usually required by insurance companies if you become unwell.
  
  Please refer to  www.travelhealthpro.org.uk/factsheet/43/medicines-and-travel for specific information relating to customers who need to carry medication and the differing laws/legal requirements relating to medication when crossing international borders.
  
  Travel health advice (and country specific information), may often change and it is advisable to check the following websites:
  www.travelhealthpro.org.uk/
  www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations.aspx

 

• Further information
  

  For more general travel advice, such as passport information and advice on money abroad, you can find out more information at https://travelaware.campaign.gov.uk