Visa requirements for British nationals

The visa requirements for overseas travel by British nationals depend on the type of British nationality they possess and whether they have right of abode in the UK. The most common classes (British Citizen and British National (Overseas)) can travel more widely without a visa, as shown in the tables below. For British Overseas Territories Citizen (BOTC) passport holders the requirements also depend on which of the British Overseas Territories the national is connected with. As all BOTC also are eligible to become British Citizens they can then travel on a British citizen passport.

Visa requirements for British citizens and British nationals (overseas)

According to the "Henley Visa Restrictions Index August 2011," holders of a British citizen passport can visit 171 countries visa-free or with visa on arrival.

Countries and territories with visa-free entries or visas on arrival for holders of regular British passports

Asia & Oceania

Country	British Citizen Passport	British National (Overseas) Passport
American Samoa	30 days [1]	visa prior to arrival required [2]
Armenia	21-day visa issued upon arrival for £5 or 120-day for £30 [3]	21-day visa issued upon arrival for £5 or 120-day for £30 [4]
Australia	90 days, pre-arrival eVisitor (Subclass 651) (free of charge) [5] required	90 days, pre-arrival ETA (Subclass 976) through travel agent or airline required [6] [7]
Norfolk Island	permits issued upon arrival [8]	permits issued upon arrival [9]
Azerbaijan	advance visa required [10]	advance visa required [11]
Bangladesh	90-day visa issued upon arrival for US$50 (available at Dhaka ZIA airport) [12] [13]	90-day visa issued upon arrival for US$50 (available at Dhaka ZIA airport) [14] [15]
Brunei	90 days [16]	visa prior to arrival required [17]
Cambodia	30-day visa issued upon arrival for US$20 (tourist), US$25 (business) [18][19]	30-day visa issued upon arrival for US$20 (tourist), US$25 (business) [20]
People's Republic of China	visa prior to arrival required [21]	The Home Return Permit is issued to Hong Kong & Macau residents who are also Chinese Citizen that allows free entry and free movement in mainland China for tourism or business purposes before the expire date. Otherwise, visa prior to arrival is required.
Hong Kong	180 days	Right of abode [22][23]
Macau (Macao)	6 months [24][25]	1 year [26][27]
Fiji Islands	4 months [28]	4 months [29]
French Polynesia	unlimited [30]	90 days [31]
Guam	90 days (ESTA - $14 fee) or 45 days (Guam-CNMI VWP - no fee)[32]	45 days [33][34]
India	visa required [35]	visa required [36]
Indonesia	30-day visa issued upon arrival for US$25 [37]	30-day visa issued upon arrival for US$25 [38] [39]
Japan	90 days [40]	90 days [41]
Kazakhstan	advance visa required [42]	advance visa required
Kiribati	1 month [43] [44]	1 month [45] [46][47]
Kyrgyzstan	1-month visa issued upon arrival at Manas International Airport: US$36 ~ 70 (business), US$35 (single tourist), US$55 (multiple tourist) [48]	visa prior to arrival required [49]
Laos	30-day visa issued upon arrival for US$35 [50]	30-day visa issued upon arrival for US$35 [51]
Malaysia	3 months [52]	3 months [53]
Maldives	30 days [54]	30 days [55]
Marshall Islands	30 days [56]	visa required [57]
Federated States of Micronesia	30 days [58]	30 days[59]
Nauru	30 days [60]	3 days [61]
Nepal	Visa issued upon arrival for US$25 (15 days), US$40 (30 days), US$100 (90 days) [62]	Visa issued upon arrival for US$25 (15 days), US$40 (30 days), US$100 (90 days)
French New Caledonia	unlimited [63]	90 days [64]
New Zealand	6 months (see below for more information) [65]	3 months [66]
Cook Islands	31 days [67]	31 days [68]
Niue	30 days [69]	30 days [70]
Tokelau	1-Month Visitor's Permit can be issued by Tokelau Apia Liaison Office in Samoa [71]	1-Month Visitor's Permit can be issued by Tokelau Apia Liaison Office in Samoa [72]
Northern Mariana Islands	90 days (ESTA - $14 fee) or 45 days (Guam-CNMI VWP - no fee) [73][74]	45 days [75] [76][77]
Pakistan	visa required [78]	visa required [79]
Palau	30 days [80]	30 days [81]
Papua New Guinea	60-day visa issued upon arrival for PGK100 (tourist), PGK500 (business) [82]	60-day visa issued upon arrival for PGK100 (tourist), PGK500 (business) [83] [84]
Philippines	21 days [85]	7 days [86]
Pitcairn Islands	2 weeks[87]	2 weeks[88]
Samoa	60 days [89]	60 days [90]
Singapore	90 days [91]	14 days if entering over land or sea 30 days if entering by air [92]
Solomon Islands	3 months [93]	3 months [94]
South Korea	3 months [95]	3 months [96]
Sri Lanka	30 days [97]	30 days [98]
Taiwan	90 days [99]	30-days electronic entry permit issued prior to arrival for those were born in Hong Kong free of charge; 30-days entry permit issued upon arrival for NT$200. See here. In other cases, visa/entry permit prior to arrival required.
Tajikistan	advance visa required [100]	advance visa required
Thailand	30 days 15days if entering by land [101]	30 days 15 days if entering by land [102]
Timor-Leste (East Timor)	30-day visa issued upon arrival for US$30 [103]	30-day visa issued upon arrival for US$30 [104]
Tonga	31-day visa issued upon arrival (free of charge) [105]	31-day visa issued upon arrival (free of charge) [106]
Turkey	3-month with multiple entry visa issued upon arrival for US$20, £10 or €15 [107],[108]	3-month with multiple entry visa issued upon arrival for US$20 or €15 (for Hong Kong permanent residents only.)[109][110][111]
Turkmenistan	advance visa required [112]	advance visa required
Tuvalu	1 month [113][114]	1 month [115]
Uzbekistan	advance visa required [116]	advance visa required
Vanuatu	30 days [117]	30 days [118]
Vietnam	Various visas with consular application and visa on arrival with prior approval	Various visas with consular application and visa on arrival with prior approval
Wallis and Futuna	unlimited [119]	90 days [120]

New Zealand

All holders of British passports who produce evidence of the right to reside permanently in the United Kingdom (including full British citizens) are eligible to enter New Zealand visa-free for six months.

However, British citizens who are from the Pitcairn Islands enjoy preferential entry conditions. They can still enter New Zealand without a passport, in which case they are given a certificate of identity at border control allowing them to stay for six weeks as a visitor. If they meet health and character requirements, they can also apply for a residence permit as long as they have been offered employment of at least 30 hours per week in New Zealand.

Europe

Country	British Citizen Passport	British National (Overseas) Passport
European Union
Austria	Freedom of movement	90 days per half year [121]
Belgium	Freedom of movement	90 days per half year [122]
Bulgaria	Freedom of movement	90 days per half year [123]
Cyprus	Freedom of movement (See Northern Cyprus below)	90 days per half year [124]
Czech Republic	Freedom of movement	90 days per half year [125]
Denmark	Freedom of movement	90 days per half year [126]
Estonia	Freedom of movement	90 days per half year [127]
Finland	Freedom of movement	90 days per half year [128]
Aland Islands	Freedom of movement	90 days per half year [129]
France	Freedom of movement	90 days per half year [130]
Germany	Freedom of movement	90 days per half year [131]
Greece	Freedom of movement	90 days per half year [132]
Hungary	Freedom of movement	90 days per half year [133]
Ireland	Common Travel Area	3 months [134]
Italy	Freedom of movement	90 days per half year [135]
Latvia	Freedom of movement	90 days per half year [136]
Lithuania	Freedom of movement	90 days per half year [137]
Luxembourg	Freedom of movement	90 days per half year [138]
Malta	Freedom of movement	90 days per half year [139]
The Netherlands	Freedom of movement	90 days per half year [140]
Poland	Freedom of movement	90 days per half year [141]
Portugal	Freedom of movement	90 days per half year [142]
Romania	Freedom of movement	90 days per half year [143]
Slovakia	Freedom of movement	90 days per half year [144]
Slovenia	Freedom of movement	90 days per half year [145]
Spain	Freedom of movement	90 days per half year [146]
Sweden	Freedom of movement	90 days per half year [147]
United Kingdom	Right of abode	6 months [148]
Gibraltar	Right of abode or Freedom of movement [149]	6 months [150]
European Economic Area
Iceland	Freedom of movement [151]	90 days per half year [152]
Liechtenstein	Freedom of movement [153]	90 days (same as Switzerland) [154]
Norway	Freedom of movement [155]	3 months [156]
European Free Trade Association
Switzerland (Swiss Confederation)	Freedom of movement [157]	3 months [158]
Common Travel Area
Isle of Man	Right of abode (work/employment permit required for person without "Isle of Man worker" status) [159] [160]	6 months [161]
Jersey	Right of abode (work/employment permit not required)[162]	6 months [163]
Guernsey	Right of abode (work/employment permit not required) [164]	6 months [165]
Alderney	Right of abode (work/employment permit required for persons without Guernsey (Alderney) status) [166] [167]	6 months [168]
Sark	Right of abode	6 months [169]
Nordic Passport Union
Faroe Islands	3 months (residence and work/employment permits required) [170]	3 months [171] [172]
Greenland	90 days	90 days [173]
Non-EU
Albania	90 days [174]	1 month with entry tax : €10
Andorra	3 months	3 months [175]
Belarus	visa required	visa required
Bosnia and Herzegovina	90 days in a 6 month period [176] [177] [178]	90 days in a 6 month period [179]
Croatia	90 days [180]	90 days [181]
Georgia	360 days [182][183]	Visa issued upon arrival for US$10 ~ 200 [184]
Kosovo	90 days[185]	90 days [186]
Republic of Macedonia	90 days [187]	visa required [188]
Moldova	90 days [189]	90 days [190]
Montenegro	90 days [191]	90 days [192][193]
Monaco	3 months [194]	3 months (same as Schengen Area)
Northern Cyprus	6 months[195]	Unknown
Russia (Russian Federation)	visa required [196]	visa required [197]
San Marino	90 days	90 days [198]
Serbia	90 days [199]	90 days [200] [201]
Turkey	3-month with multiple entry visa issued upon arrival for US$20, £10 or €15 [202],[203]	3-month with multiple entry visa issued upon arrival for US$20 or €15 (for Hong Kong permanent residents only.)[204][205][206]
Ukraine	90 days [207] [208]	visa required [209]
Vatican City (to the Holy See)	Freedom of movement (unlimited de jure, same as Italy de facto)	90 days (unlimited de jure, same as Italy de facto) [210]

Middle East & North Africa

Country	British Citizen Passport	British National (Overseas) Passport
Bahrain	3-month visa issued upon arrival for BHD5 [211]	3-month visa issued upon arrival for BHD5 [212]
Egypt	Visa required[213]	Visa required[214]
Iran	visa prior to arrival required [215]	visa prior to arrival required [216]
Iraqi Kurdistan	visa issued upon arrival (free of charge)	visa issued upon arrival (free of charge) [217]
Israel	3 months [218]	3 months [219]
Jordan	1 month visa issued upon arrival for JOD20 [220] [221]	1 month visa issued upon arrival for JOD10 [222] [223]
Kuwait	3-month visa issued upon arrival for KWD5 [224]	3-month visa issued upon arrival for KWD5 [225]
Lebanon	1-month visa issued upon arrival (free of charge) [226]	visa prior to arrival required [227]
Morocco	3 months [228]	3 months [229]
Oman	Visa issued upon arrival : 1 month (OMR20), 1 year multiple entries stay up to 3-week per visit (OMR10) [230]	Visa issued upon arrival : 1 month (OMR20), 1 year multiple entries stay up to 3-week per visit (OMR10) [231]
Qatar	1 month visa issued upon arrival for QAR100 [232]	visa prior to arrival required
Tunisia	3 months [233]	3 months [234][235]
United Arab Emirates	30 days [236]	visa prior to arrival required [237] (landing visa arrangement cancelled in 2002)

North America, Central America and Caribbean Countries

Country	British Citizen Passport	British National (Overseas) Passport
Anguilla	3 months (Unless connection with Anguilla, in which case right of abode) [238]	3 months [239]
Antigua and Barbuda	6 months [240]	6 months [241] [242]
Aruba	180 days [243]	30 days [244] [245]
Bahamas	8 months [246]	3 months [247]
Barbados	6 months [248]	6 months [249] [250]
Belize	30 days [251]	30 days [252]
Bermuda	6 months - Normally 21 days given as matter of course (unless connection with Bermuda, in which case right of abode) [253])	21 days
Bonaire	3 months [254]	3 months [255]
Canada	6 months[256][257]	6 months[258][259]
Cayman Islands	6 months[260]	6 months[261]
Costa Rica	90 days [262]	90 days [263]
Cuba	30 days visa or tourist card prior to arrival [264][265]	30 days visa or tourist card prior to arrival
Curaçao	3 months [266]	3 months [267]
Dominica	6 months	6 months [268]
Dominican Republic	30-day Tourist Card issued upon arrival for US$10 [269] [270]	visa required; however, BN(O)s can apply for a landing tourist card if holding a valid visa to enter the United States, Canada or any European Union country [271][272]
El Salvador	3 months [273]	visa required [274]
Grenada	6 months [275]	6 months [276] [277]
Guadeloupe	Freedom of movement [278]	90 days [279]
Guatemala	90 days [280]	visa required [281]
Haiti	3 months [282]	3 months [283]
Honduras	3 months [284]	visa prior to arrival required[285]
Jamaica	90 days [286]	90 days [287]
Martinique	Freedom of movement [288]	90 days [289]
Mexico	180 days [290][291]	180 days [292][293]
Montserrat	3 months, unless connection with Montserrat, in which case right of abode [294]	3 months [295]
Nicaragua	90 days [296]	90 days [297]
Panama	180 days [298]	180 days, Extension not possible[299]
Saba	3 months [300]	3 months [301]
Saint-Barthélemy	Freedom of movement [302]	90 days [303]
Saint Kitts and Nevis	3 months, unless connection with Montserrat, in which case 6 months [304]	3 months [305]
Saint Lucia	6 weeks [306]	6 weeks [307]
Saint-Martin	Freedom of movement [308]	90 days [309]
Saint-Pierre and Miquelon	unlimited [310]	90 days [311]
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	1 month [312]	1 month [313]
Sint Eustatius	3 months [314]	3 months [315]
Sint Maarten	3 months [316]	3 months [317]
Trinidad and Tobago	90 days [318]	90days [319]
Turks and Caicos Islands	30 days [320]	30 days [321]
United States of America	90 days (ESTA - $14 fee) [322]	visa prior to arrival required [323]
Puerto Rico	90 days (ESTA - $14 fee)	visa prior to arrival required [324]
Virgin Islands of the United States	90 days (ESTA - $14 fee) [325]	visa prior to arrival required
British Virgin Islands	30 days (Unless connection with British Virgin Islands, in which case right of abode)[326]	30 days

South America & South Atlantic Islands

Country	British Citizen Passport	British National (Overseas) Passport
Argentina	90 days [327]	30 days [328] [329]
Ascension Island	entry permit prior to arrival required [330] [331] [332] [333]	entry permit prior to arrival required [334] [335] [336] [337]
Bolivia	90 days [338]	90 days [339]
Brazil	90 days [340]	90 days [341] [342]
Chile	90 days [343]	30 days [344]
Colombia	90 days [345]	90 days [346]
Ecuador	90 days [347]	90 days [348]
Falkland Islands	visa-free access (unless connection with the Falkland Islands, in which case right of abode) [349]	visa-free access [350]
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands	Visitor's fee of GBP £100 required [351] [352]	Visitor's fee of GBP £100 required [353] [354]
French Guiana (Guyane)	Freedom of movement [355]	90 days [356]
Guyana	3 months [357]	visa required [358]
Paraguay	90 days [359]	90 days [360]
Peru	183 days [361]	90 days [362]
Saint Helena	90 days (unless connection with Saint Helena, in which case right of abode) [363]	90 days[364]
Tristan da Cunha	Landing fee required (unless connection with Tristan da Cunha, in which case right of abode) [365] [366]	Landing fee required [367] [368]
Uruguay	3 months [369]	3 months [370]
Venezuela	90 days [371]	90 days [372]

Sub-Saharan Africa

Country	British Citizen Passport	British National (Overseas) Passport
Botswana	90 days per year [373]	90 days per year [374]
Burkina Faso	1-month visa issued upon arrival for XOF95,000 (single) or XOF122,000 (multiple) [375]	1-month visa issued upon arrival for XOF95,000 (single) or XOF122,000 (multiple) [376]
Cape Verde	visa issued upon arrival [377]	visa issued upon arrival [378]
Central African Republic	7-day visa issued upon arrival for XAF20,000–XAF30,000 [379]	7-day visa issued upon arrival for XAF20,000–XAF30,000 [380]
Comoros	Visa issued upon arrival [381] [382]	visa issued upon arrival
Djibouti	visa issued upon arrival for DJF3,000 (10 days), DJF10.000 (1 month) [383]	visa issued upon arrival for DJF 3000 (10 days), DJF10.000 (1 month) [384]
Ethiopia	3-month visa issued upon arrival for US$40 [385]	visa prior to arrival required [386]
Gambia	90 days [387]	90 days [388]
Kenya	3-month visa issued upon arrival for $50 [389]	3-month visa issued upon arrival for $50 [390]
Lesotho	14 days [391]	14 days [392]
Madagascar	90-day visa issued upon arrival for MGA140,000 [393]	90-day visa issued upon arrival for MGA140,000 [394]
Malawi	90 days [395]	90 days [396] [397]
Mauritius	60 days (tourist), 90 days (business) in a year [398]	60 days (tourist), 90 days (business) in a year [399] [400]
Mayotte	Freedom of movement [401]	90 days [402]
Mozambique	30-day visa issued upon arrival for US$82 [403][404]	30-day visa issued upon arrival for US$82 [405]
Namibia	3 months [406]	3 months [407]
Réunion	Freedom of movement [408]	90 days [409]
Rwanda	90 days [410]	90 days [411]
Senegal	3 months [412]	visa prior to arrival required [413]
Seychelles	1 month [414]	1 month [415][416]
South Africa	90 days [417]	30 days [418]
Swaziland	2 months [419]	2 months [420]
Tanzania	visa issued upon arrival for US$50 [421], [422]	visa issued upon arrival for US$50 [423]
Togo	7-day visa issued upon arrival [424]	7-day visa issued upon arrival
Uganda	visa issued upon arrival for US$50 (single entry), US$100 (6 months multiple entry), US$200 (one year multiple entry) [425], [426], [427]	visa issued upon arrival for US$50 (single entry), US$100 (6 months multiple entry), US$200 (one year multiple entry)
Zambia	visa issued upon arrival for £35 (single entry), £45(multiple entry) [428]	visa issued upon arrival for £35 (single entry), £45(multiple entry) [429][430]
Zimbabwe	3-month (tourist) or 30-day (business) visa issued upon arrival for US$30 ~ 55 [431][432]	3-month (tourist) or 30-day (business) visa issued upon arrival for US$30 ~ 55 [433]

Visa policy of the United States for British passport holders

The United States confers the following reciprocity arrangement for British passport holders in issuance of US visas [434]:

• British Citizens: UK reciprocity and Visa Waiver Program (VWP)
• British subjects with the right of abode in the UK: UK reciprocity but not VWP
• Other British nationals who do not have the right of abode in the UK: reciprocity schedule of country of birth
• British National (Overseas): Hong Kong reciprocity
• British Overseas Territories Citizens by virtue of a connection with Bermuda can enter the United States visa-free for up to 180 days if the person whose name appears upon the Bermudian Status Register, the Passport is issued by the Government of Bermuda and the nationality is stated as British Overseas Territory Citizen with an endorsement that states the holder is registered as having Bermudian Status.
• British Overseas Territories Citizens by virtue of a connection with the Cayman Islands may enter the USA Visa-free with similar requirements and an entrance fee of USD15-25.

Possible inclusion of BN(O) in visa waiver program

British Nationals (Overseas) are not included in the Visa Waiver Program of the United States and a request for inclusion by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom was apparently rejected. The adjusted refusal rate of US B-visas (B1, B1/B2, B2) of BN(O) passport holders in the fiscal year 2008 was 3.3%. That in the fiscal year 2007 was 2.4%, which was lower than the 3% or less requirement for the programme. The refusal rate of HKSAR passport was 3.4% in that year, which was above the 3% requirement.

Until November 27, 2009, British Nationals (Overseas) could enter Guam without a US visa while HKSAR passport holders required one. For student visa applications (F, M and J) (SEVIS), British National (Overseas) passport holders must fill in the nationality field as "Hong Kong" or "China", while British citizens must fill in the nationality field as "United Kingdom".

Common Travel Area

Main article: Common Travel Area

The United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the Republic of Ireland are part of the Common Travel Area (CTA).

• No ID required for British and Irish citizens for travel by land.
• Only Photographic ID required for British and Irish citizens for travel by air or sea.
• Although there are only occasional checks at the land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, a United Kingdom visa does not permit travel to the Republic of Ireland. Nationals requiring visas for travel to the Republic of Ireland must apply for an entry visa in advance. The same applies to travel from the Republic of Ireland to the United Kingdom with Irish visas.
• Although the two sovereign nations in the CTA are members of the European Union, they are not members of the Schengen Area, so Schengen visas are not valid for travel to or within the CTA. Immigration controls exist for people arriving to the CTA from the Schengen Area.

See also

• British passport
• British National (Overseas) passport
• British nationality law
• Visa requirements for British Overseas Citizens