BRITISH PASSPORT VISA FREE COUNTRIES: Visa Requirements For UK Citizens; Visa On Arrival, Evisa

UK citizens are probably one of the most well-travelled people I know. In every corner you turn your head, you will hear a Brit. You’ll meet them in a hostel dorm room in Southeast Asia, tour groups in Europe, tourist bars in South America, and even on the top of an African mountain – there is a British traveller.

UK passport is one of the strongest passports in terms of travelling. In this article, you will find out the visa free countries for British citizens – countries they can travel without a visa. This British passport visa-free article will also show the visa-on-arrival and/or evisa and the countries that the UK citizens need a visa to enter or travel to.

Despite the Brexit hanging around the corner, the Brits travel a lot either for holiday, business, or immigration, they bring a lot of businesses to different countries in the world. I know my opinion doesn’t matter, but if we are only talking about visa privileges, I personally think that the UK citizens will be able to work on visa arrangements with other countries one way or another.

RELATED POSTS:

• Visa-free countries for US citizens
• Australian passport visa-free countries
• ​Visa-free countries for Canadian passport holders
• New Zealand passport holders visa-free countries
• Visa free countries for Philippines passport holders
• German passport visa-free countries

HOW MANY COUNTRIES CAN A BRITISH CITIZEN VISIT WITHOUT A VISA

There are 174 countries that British citizens can travel without a visa. While they can receive 45 visas on arrival or evisa, and 35 countries require a British passport holder to apply for a visa beforehand.

RELATED POST: Best books to read when travelling

HOW STRONG IS A BRITISH PASSPORT IN TERMS OF TRAVELLING

If you are planning to travel on a British passport, you are lucky. It’s on the 4th rank most powerful passport in the world on the 21st place together with most European countries, Japan, and Canada.

BRITISH PASSPORT VISA FREE COUNTRIES: Visa-Free, Visa-On-Arrival, & Visa Requirement

Here are the visa-free countries for British passport holders plus visa on arrival, evisa, and which countries require to apply for a visa before entry. It’s all categorised by continent and in alphabetical order.

RELATED POST: Best walking shoes for concrete for travelling

VISA GUIDE FOR AFRICA

There are many countries in Africa that are visa-free access for UK citizens. While others gave limited access, you can easily apply for an extension or a specific visa to prolong your stay depending on the purpose.

RELATED POST: Best travel jacket with hidden pockets for men and women

Central Africa

VISA-FREE:

• Sao Tome and Principe – 15 days

VISA ON ARRIVAL/EVISA:

• Angola – evisa for 30 days, must show an onward ticket and hotel reservation
• Gabon – visa on arrival or evisa for 90 days, evisa must arrive via Libreville International Airport
• Rwanda – evisa or visa on arrival for 30 days, can enter using a valid East Africa Tourist Visa issues by Kenya or Uganda

VISA REQUIRED:

• Burundi
• Cameroon – pre-approved visa can be received on arrival
• Central African Republic
• Equatorial Guinea
• Chad
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Republic of the Congo
• South Sudan

RELATED POST: Best 50L backpacks on the market

East Africa

VISA-FREE:

• Mayotte – freedom of movement, must hold a valid ID or Passport
• Mauritius – 90 days
• Reunion – freedom of movement, must hold a valid ID or Passport
• Seychelles – 90 days free of charge

VISA ON ARRIVAL/EVISA:

• Comoros
• Djibouti – evisa for 31 days – how to apply for Djibouti evisa
• Ethiopia – evisa or visa on arrival from 30 days for up to 90 days which must be obtained or arrive via Addis Ababa Bole International Airport – APPLY FOR AN EVISA HERE
• Kenya – visa on arrival or evisa for 90 days, can enter with valid East African Tourist Visa from either Kenya or Uganda
• Madagascar – visa on arrival or 30 days – find out how you can get an evisa online – or apply now
• Somalia – visa on arrival for 30 days, available at Berbera, Borama, Bosaso, Burao, Erigavo, Galciao, Hargeisa, and Mogadishu airports only
• Tanzania – evisa or visa on arrival for 90 days
• Uganda – visa on arrival or evisa, must get online, you can also enter using East Africa Tourist Visa from Kenya or Rwanda
• Zambia – visa on arrival or evisa, can apply for Universal Visa to use for Zambia and Zimbabwe – APPLY FOR AN EVISA HERE
• Zimbabwe – evisa or visa on arrival, and apply for Universal Visa to use for Zimbabwe and Zambia

VISA REQUIRED:

• Eritrea – pre-approved visa can be received upon arrival

North Africa

VISA-FREE:

• Morocco – 90 days
• Tunisia – 90 days

VISA ON ARRIVAL/EVISA:

• Egypt– evisa or visa on arrival for 30 days – get your evisa here or read this guide in filling out Egypt visa application form

VISA REQUIRED:

• Algeria
• Libya – if you have a pre-approved visa, it  can be picked up upon arrival
• South Sudan

South Africa

VISA-FREE:

• Botswana – 90 days
• Eswatini (Swaziland) – 30 days
• Gambia – 90 days
• Lesotho – 14 days
• Namibia – 90 days in a calendar year
• Senegal – 90 days
• South Africa – 90 days

VISA ON ARRIVAL/EVISA:

• Malawi – 90 days visa on arrival or evisa – check this guide on how you apply for an evisa or apply here
• Mozambique – visa on arrival for 30 days

RELATED POST: Best quick dry towels for backpacking

West Africa

VISA-FREE:

• Gambia – 90 days

VISA ON ARRIVAL/EVISA:

• Benin – visa on arrival for 8 days and evisa for 30 days, must show an international vaccination certificate
• Burkina Faso – visa on arrival for 30 days
• Cape Verde – visa on arrival
• Cote d’Ivoire – evisa for 90 days, must enter through Port Bouet Airport – APPLY HERE – Ivory Coast visa application guide
• Guinea-Bissau – evisa and visa on arrival for 90 days
• Mauritania – visa on arrival on Nouakchott-Oumtounsy International Airport only
• Togo – visa on arrival for 7 days

VISA REQUIRED:

• Ghana – you can pick up your pre-approved visa when you land
• Guinea
• Liberia – it’s ok to pick up your pre-approved visa when you land
• Mali
• Niger – you can pick up your pre-approved visa when you land
• Nigeria
• Sierra Leone – it’s ok to pick up your pre-approved visa when you land

VISA GUIDE FOR ASIA

Asia is a great destination for British travellers especially East and Southeast Asia where most countries do not require a visa to enter and travel. Some of them even give a lot of free visa days. Plus, nowadays, there are many direct flights from the UK or Europe to Asia which makes travelling easier.

ALSO READ: Fun and educational trips to add on your Asia bucket list and Eco-friendly travel accessories to pack

East Asia

VISA-FREE:

• Hong Kong – 180 days in a calendar year
• Japan – 90 days, can be extended once – things to know before travelling to Japan
• Macau – 180 days
• South Korea – 90 days
• Taiwan – 90 days – things to know before travelling to Taiwan

VISA REQUIRED:

• China – 72-hour transit is free via Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Guilin, Harbin, Kunming, Qingdao, Wuhan, Xi’an and Xiamen. Can transit for 144-hours via Beijing Capital International Airport,Dalian, Hangzhou, Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport in Hebei, Nanjing, Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Shanghai Railway Station and the Port of Shanghai) ; Shenyang and Tianjin Binhai International Airport. – apply online (only for groups and business visa)

• Mongolia

• North Korea – a special permit is required and must be with an approved tour agency only

Central Asia

VISA-FREE:

• Kazakhstan – 30 days
• Kyrgyzstan – 60 days
• Uzbekistan – 30 days

VISA ON ARRIVAL/EVISA:

• Tajikistan – evisa for 45 days – check how to get an evisa

VISA REQUIRED:

• Turkmenistan

South Asia

VISA-FREE:

• Maldives – 30 days

VISA ON ARRIVAL/EVISA:

• Bangladesh – visa on arrival for 30 days, must enter through Dhaka International Airport
• India – evisa for 180 days, evisa can only be used twice in a calendar year and must be used via 26 international airports or 3 seaports – check this Indian visa online guide or get your evisa now
• Nepal – visa on arrival for 90 days and can be extended
• Pakistan – evisa for 30 days, single entry – you can apply here
• Sri Lanka – evisa/visa on arrival for 30 days, can be extended once you are in the country for a maximum of 90 days – APPLY FOR AN EVISA

VISA REQUIRED:

• Afghanistan
• Bhutan – visas must be processed via the Embassy, Consulate, or approved tour operators only
  

Southeast Asia

RELATED POSTS: Backpacking in Southeast Asia, 2 weeks up to 6 months itineraries, travel budget for Southeast Asia, and when is the best time to visit,  vaccinations for Southeast Asia, visas for Southeast Asia

VISA-FREE:

• Brunei – 90 days
• Indonesia – 30 days – read this Indonesia tourist visa
• Malaysia – 90 days – check this Malaysia visa guide
• Philippines – 30 days, can be extended once you are in the country – here is the Philippines visa guide or retire in the Philippines
• Singapore – 90 days – read my Singapore tourist visa guide
• Thailand – 30 days, if arriving via land, you are only allowed to enter Thailand twice in a year – check out this Thailand visa guide
• Vietnam – 15 days or can apply for evisa for 30 days or longer visa (up to 90 days) – more information on Vietnam visa guide

VISA ON ARRIVAL / EVISA:

• Cambodia – evisa/visa on arrival for 30 days, can be extended for another 30 days – find more details on Cambodia visa guide
• Laos – visa on arrival for 30 days – read this Laos visa guide or apply for an evisa
• Myanmar – evisa for 28 days, must enter through a specific point depending on what you place on your application – APPLY FOR AN EVISA – here is my Myanmar visa guide
• Timor-Leste – visa on arrival for 30 days via Dili Seaport or Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport
• Vietnam – evisa for 30 days or longer – check your visa options

West / Middle East

VISA-FREE:

• Armenia – 180 days
• Georgia – 365 days – read my article about Georgia visa guide
• Israel – 90 days – how to extend your Israel tourist visa
• Palestine
• Qatar – 30 days

VISA ON ARRIVAL / EVISA:

• Azerbaijan – evisa for 30 days – get your evisa or read how to apply for Azerbaijan visa
• Bahrain – visa on arrival for 90 days, evisa for 14 days can be extended once
• Iraq – visa on arrival for 15 days at Erbil and Sulaymaniyah Airport
• Jordan – visa on arrival for 30 days – read this how to apply for Jordan pass which is best for the value of money, you can also check the prices here
• Kuwait – evisa/visa on arrival for 90 days – a guide on how to get Kuwait evisa or look at the fee
• Lebanon – visa on arrival for 30 days, can be extended for two additional months for free at Beirut International Airport
• Oman – evisa for 30 days – apply for an evisa
• Turkey – evisa for 90 days -check for evisa price – Turkey visa guide
• Saudi Arabia – evisa, you can use up to 90 days in 1-year validity – see how to apply
• United Arab Emirate – visa on arrival for 30 days for free

VISA REQUIRED:

• Iran
• Syria
• Yemen – a single tourist visa can be obtained upon arrival for 60 days

VISA GUIDE FOR EUROPE

Europe is definitely the number one holiday destination for a British. It’s easy to get around to, borders almost do not exist, and the flights are crazy cheap and short – even just a weekend trip is possible.

RELATED POST: Best filtered water bottle

European Union Member

The United Kingdom started the process of withdrawing from the European Union until the final steps are done, the British citizens still have the right to enter, travel, and live in the Schengen State/European Union member countries.

* – non-member of EU but British passport holders and citizens can move freely

RELATED POST: Best 40L backpack for men and women

Austria	Denmark	Hungary	Malta	Slovakia
Belgium	Estonia	Ireland	Netherlands	Spain
Bulgaria	Finland	Italy	Poland	Sweden
Croatia	France	Latvia	Portugal	Iceland*
Cyprus	Germany	Lithuania	Romania	Switzerland
Czechia	Greece	Luxembourg	Slovenia	Norway
Liechtenstein*

Non-European Union Member

Here are the non-EU member countries but still offer great visa policies for British passport holders.

VISA-FREE:

• Albania – 90 days
• Andorra
• Belarus – 30 days, must arrive in Minsk International Airport and should be registered at the police if staying for more than 5 days
• Kosovo – 90 days
• Macedonia – 90 days
• Moldova – 90 days in 180-day period
• Monaco
• Montenegro – 90 days
• San Marino
• Serbia – 90 days
• Ukraine – 90 days in 180-day period
• Vatican City

VISA REQUIRED:

• Russia – you need an invitation letter from a person in Russia or a travel agency if you are applying for a visa, you can get it online too

VISA GUIDE FOR AMERICA

Travelling to the north, central, and South America is quite easy too. This part of the world gives British passport visa-free countries access. The visas are not a problem while the affordable and direct flights can be found with a little research, these destinations are simply must-travel.

RELATED POST: Long-haul flight essentials and for connection

Central America / Caribbean

VISA-FREE:

• Aruba – 30 days can be extended up to 180 days
• Antigua and Barbuda – 180 days
• Bahamas – 21 days, can be extended up to 8 months
• Barbados – 180 days
• Belize – 30 days
• Bermuda – 180 days
• Cayman Islands – 180 days
• Costa Rica – 90 days
• Curacao – 90 days
• Dominica – 180 days
• Dominican Republic – 30 days
• El Salvador – 90 days
• Guatemala – 90 days
• Grenada – 180 days
• Haiti – 90 days
• Honduras – 90 days
• Jamaica – 180 days
• Nicaragua – 90 days
• Saint Kitts and Nevis – 90 days
• Saint Lucia – 6 weeks
• Turks and Caicos – 90 days
• Panama – 180 days

VISA REQUIRED:

• Cuba

North America

VISA-FREE:

• Canada – 180 days, eTA is required if arriving by air
• Greenland – Schengen visa rule is applied 
• Mexico – 180 days but must have a tourist card – get yours
• United States – 90 days, ESTA is required if arriving via air or sea, not required in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands – travelling to the US checklist

RELATED POST: Travel electric toothbrush to pack for your next trip

South America

VISA-FREE:

• Argentina – 90 days
• Bolivia – 90 days
• Brazil – 90 days, can be extended for another 90 days – things to know before travelling to Brazil
• Chile – 90 days, can be extended
• Colombia – 90 days, can be extended for a total of 180-days in a calendar year, must show Yellow Fever Vaccine if coming from Brazil and Uganda
• Ecuador – 90 days, can be extended
• Guyana – 90 days
• Paraguay – 90 days
• Peru – 183 days, but depends on the immigration officer, normally they give 90 days and you can extend for less than $2 in the immigration office in any major cities in Peru
• Venezuela – 90 days
• Uruguay – 90 days

VISA ON ARRIVAL / EVISA:

• Suriname – tourist card on arrival for 90 days or get it online, you can also read this guide on how to apply for Suriname evisa

VISA GUIDE FOR OCEANIA

Maybe the flights can be long if heading to Oceania, the one thing you can assure is that it’s full of unbeaten and non-touristy destinations. Visas shouldn’t be an issue either.

RELATED POST: Best wheeled backpack

VISA-FREE:

• Australia – evistor permit for 90 days for free, valid for 1 year
• Fiji – 120 days
• Kiribati – 30 days
• Marshall Islands – 90 days
• Micronesia – 30 days
• New Zealand – 180 days – must get an Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) prior to arrival starting October 10th 2019
• Palau – 30 days
• Samoa – 60 days
• Solomon Islands – 90 days
• Tonga – 31 days
• Tuvalu – 30 days
• Vanuatu – 30 days

VISA ON ARRIVAL / EVISA:

• Papua New Guinea – evisa or free visa on arrival for 60 days – read our Papua New Guinea evisa guide or apply now

VISA REQUIRED:

• Nauru​​​​

OTHER BRITISH TERRITORIES

Being part of the Commonwealth nation also helps British citizens to travel to current and old member of the Commonwealth nations. Today, there are 14 British territories that a UK passport holder can enter, travel, and some of them even allow freedom of movement Check the list here and their visa policies.

I really hope that you found this guide about visa requirements for UK citizens useful and helped you plan your next holiday or backpacking trip. If you have any questions or I missed or made a mistake, let me know in the comment section and I’ll correct it right away.

DISCLAIMER

A Mary Road is not responsible for any situation where the reader was denied admittance to the above-listed countries. Please refer to our Disclosure. We advise you to always double-check visa information as they change quite often to avoid any hassles.

ARE YOU ON PINTEREST? SAVE THIS TO READ LATER: