Don't forget your passport!
Whenever you go on holiday it is important that you know about any passport and visa requirements, as they can vary greatly depending on your nationality and destination.
Travelling from the UK
UK citizens need a valid passport to travel between the UK and all other countries, but a passport is not required for travel between Great Britain and Ireland, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. However, it is wise to always carry with you a valid form of photographic ID. Babies and children under 16 need to have their own passports, and can no longer be included on someone else’s passport. A child who was already on another passport before 5 October 1998 can continue to travel on this passport, provided the child travels with the main passport holder. However, children have to apply for a passport in their own right when they reach 16, or if the passport expires, or if an amendment to the passport means that it has to be reissued.
Travelling from Abroad
If you are travelling from abroad, from an EU or non-EU country, the passport requirements will not be the same as for UK citizens and they may differ depending on your country of origin. You should check whether or not children/infants need their own passport, and if children are travelling unaccompanied or without their parents, you should check if they need written parental consent. It is advisable to check any passport and visa requirements with your travel agent or contact the relevant consulate or embassy. Passport and visa regulations are subject to constant change so ensure that you check any requirements directly before you travel.
Within the EU
If you are from the UK travelling within the EU (where the free movement of people has been established under the Treaty of Maastricht), you will still need your passport. If you are from one of the other member countries of the EU you can travel to member countries using your identity card instead of your passport. Some countries of the European Union have signed the Shengen Agreement which has effectively removed all barriers between them. It is possible to travel from one country to another without any border controls at all. Passport and custom controls are used when you leave the Shengen Agreement area. Although this sounds simple, the situation for the UK is slightly more complicated. Each member country of the EU has to say which of its citizens are accepted as European citizens. Because the UK has not approved some nationals as full European citizens, you need to be clear on your position before travelling.
Check out our travel section for information on visas and consulates.
