Start with your passport and itinerary
Use your nationality, passport type, residence, transit airports, destination and trip purpose when checking entry rules. Requirements for a British visitor do not establish the rules for an EU, US or Chinese passport holder. Match the passenger name to the passport and check both its issue date and expiry date.
There is no universal six-month passport rule. For many non-EU short-stay visitors to Schengen, the passport must have been issued within the previous ten years on arrival and remain valid for at least three months after intended departure. Short stays generally share a 90-days-in-180 allowance across the area. Consult Your Europe for the applicable rules and exceptions.
Dated entry checks: 15 September 2026
- United Kingdom: eligible visitors need an ETA unless exempt; EU nationality alone is not an exemption. The Home Office's April 2026 factsheet lists a GBP 20 fee. Check eligibility and exemptions before applying.
- United States: ESTA is for eligible Visa Waiver Program travellers. The official portal lists USD 40.27 at this check, replacing the old USD 21 figure. Apply through CBP's ESTA portal; approval is not a visa or a guarantee of admission.
- European travel: ETIAS is separate from a visa and from the Entry/Exit System. The EU currently schedules ETIAS for the last quarter of 2026; check its official launch information for your departure date before paying anyone.
- China: exemptions depend on nationality and purpose. For example, the Chinese Embassy's notice covers eligible UK and Canadian ordinary passport holders for visits of up to 30 days from 17 February through 31 December 2026. Transit exemptions have separate route and port conditions. Check the embassy's current instructions.
- Other destinations: check the relevant immigration or consular website. A regional label such as “Southeast Asia” is not a visa policy.
Compare coverage, not a generic insurer ranking
Obtain quotes for your residence, age, itinerary and activities. Read the actual policy for medical expenses, evacuation, cancellation, pre-existing conditions, excesses and exclusions. Trekking altitude, scooter riding, diving and paid work may require specific cover. Confirm these in writing if the wording is unclear. This page does not endorse an insurer or promise a fixed premium.
Save the policy number and emergency-assistance contact offline. Understand when you must contact the insurer and which receipts or reports a claim requires. Insurance can have exclusions for destinations covered by travel advisories: compare the policy with the FCDO advice and advice relevant to your nationality.
Arrange health advice for your route
Discuss vaccination history, medicines, pregnancy, children's needs and planned activities with a travel-health professional before departure. A country grouping cannot establish that no additional precautions are needed. Check the CDC destination pages and destination rules for health documentation.
Keep useful copies securely
Keep an offline copy of essential bookings, entry permissions, policy details and emergency contacts, with a second secure copy accessible if your phone is lost. Protect identity documents with strong account security. If a passport is lost, contact the issuing country's consulate and follow local reporting requirements; replacement times and onward-travel permission vary.
Use our packing guide, budget worksheet and solo planning checklist for the next steps.