UK Passport Visa Free Countries

The British passport stands strong at 26th place on the Enhanced Mobility Index, securing its position as one of the top passports globally for its visa free and visa on arrival access. A British passport is a valid option if you’re a frequent traveler seeking a second passport providing travel freedom to various countries.

Visa Free Countries for UK Passport Holders

The table below lists the countries that allow visa free entry to British passport holders:

Albania	Germany	Peru
Andorra	Greece	Philippines
Antigua and Barbuda	Grenada	Poland
Argentina	Guatemala	Portugal
Armenia	Haiti	Romania
Austria	Honduras	Saint Kitts and Nevis
Bahamas	Hong Kong	Saint Lucia
Barbados	Hungary	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Belarus	Iceland	San Marino
Belgium	Israel	Sao Tome and Principe
Belize	Italy	Seychelles
Bolivia	Jamaica	Singapore
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Japan	Slovakia
Botswana	Kazakhstan	Slovenia
Brazil	Kosovo	Solomon Islands
Brunei	Kyrgyzstan	South Africa
Bulgaria	Latvia	Spain
Cabo Verde	Liechtenstein	Sweden
Chile	Lithuania	Switzerland
Colombia	Luxembourg	Taiwan
Costa Rica	Malaysia	Tanzania
Croatia	Marshall Islands	Timor-Leste
Cyprus	Mauritius	Tonga
Czech Republic	Mexico	Trinidad and Tobago
Denmark	Micronesia	Tunisia
Dominica	Monaco	Turkey
Dominican Republic	Mongolia	Tuvalu
Ecuador	Montenegro	Uganda
El Salvador	Morocco	Ukraine
Estonia	Mozambique	United Arab Emirates
Eswatini	Netherlands	Uruguay
Finland	Nicaragua	Uzbekistan
France	North Macedonia	Vanuatu
Fiji	Palau	Vatican
Gabon	Palestine	Venezuela
Gambia	Panama	Zambia
Georgia	Paraguay

Passport Free Countries for UK Passport Holders

The table below lists European Union countries that allow British citizens to enter with only an ID card:

Ireland

Visa on Arrival Countries for UK Passport Holders

The table below lists the countries that allow visa on arrival access to British passport holders:

Bahrain	Iraq	Pakistan
Bangladesh	Jordan	Qatar
Burkina Faso	Kuwait	Rwanda
Burundi	Lao	Saudi Arabia
Cambodia	Lebanon	Sierra Leone
Comoros	Madagascar	Somalia
Djibouti	Malawi	Tajikistan
Egypt	Maldives	Thailand
Ethiopia	Mauritania	Togo
Guinea-Bissau	Nepal	Zimbabwe
Indonesia	Oman

eTA Countries for UK Passport Holders

The below table lists the countries that allow British passport holders entry with an eTA (Electronic Travel Authority/Authorization):

Australia

New Zealand

South Korea

United States

Countries that Require an eVisa for UK Passport Holders

The table below lists the countries that allow British passport holders entry with an eVisa:

Angola	Guinea	South Sudan
Azerbaijan	India	Sri Lanka
Benin	Kenya	Suriname
Bhutan	Myanmar	Vietnam
Ethiopia	Papua New Guinea

Countries with Visa Requirements for UK Passport Holders

The table below lists the countries that require British passport holders to obtain a visa:

Afghanistan	Equatorial Guinea	Nauru
Algeria	Eritrea	Niger
Bhutan	Ghana	Nigeria
Burundi	Guyana	North Korea
Cameroon	Iran	Russia
Central African Republic	Kiribati	Sudan
Chad	Lesotho	Suriname
China	Liberia	Syria
DR Congo	Libya	Turkmenistan
Congo	Mali	Yemen
Cuba	Namibia	Yemen

Other requirements for British passport holders

1. Destination countries and territories have unique requirements. British citizens may be required to submit additional documentation to a destination country’s embassy, such as a letter of invitation, proof of employment, proof of a clean criminal record, or travel insurance.
2. Entry to specific countries may require a British passport holder to prove they have sufficient financial means to support themselves for their duration of stay.

It’s worth noting that the visa requirements for visa required and visa free countries in the above list are subject to change, and it’s crucial to check the latest travel advisories before planning your trip.

Overview of the UK Passport

A United Kingdom passport identifies holders as British citizens. A British passport serves as a form of identification for British citizens, providing essential information such as their name, photograph, and date of birth.

His Majesty’s (HM) Passport Office is the government entity that issues British passports to British nationals. A United Kingdom passport is issued to British citizens living in Great Britain and Northern Ireland and UK citizens of British Overseas Territories.

The UK’s official language is English, and its official currency is the pound sterling.

The United Kingdom was a member of the European Union for nearly five decades, but with Brexit, its membership ended in January 2020. This resulted in the end of unrestricted travel freedom in European Union countries and territories for British passport holders.

However, the British passport maintains an extensive visa free countries list, and a British passport holder can travel visa free or with a visa on arrival to most countries worldwide. Visa free destinations include Australia, United States, Canada, and New Zealand.

The leadership of the UK monarchy presides over 15 other states forming the Commonwealth, allowing British passport holders to seek consular assistance from any Commonwealth government in a country where the British government has no consular presence.

A Closer Look – Popular British Passport Visa Free Countries

British passport holders enjoy visa free, eVisa, and visa on arrival access to 172 travel destinations, making it one of the world’s most powerful passports. These visa free travel privileges mean British passport holders can visit European countries and destinations worldwide without going through a visa application process.

The UK’s passport ranks in the world’s top ten at number 7 out of 197 countries on our Global Passport Index. This ranking is based on:

• Quality of life
• Investment opportunities
• Enhanced mobility

The United Kingdom passport ranks well on all three indexes, with a notably high ranking for quality of life.

European: While the United Kingdom isn’t part of the European Union or Schengen Area, British passport holders can travel visa free to the Netherlands, France, Italy, Spain, and Germany. Furthermore, the United Kingdom’s historical relationship with Ireland allows British citizens to travel to Ireland with just their national ID card.

Americas: British passport holders can travel to most destinations across the Americas with a required visa. Visa free, e-visa, and visa on arrival countries include Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, and Uruguay. Electronic travel authorization (eTA) by paying a nominal visa fee is also available to travel to Canada and the United States.

Asia: Several Asian countries offer visa free, e-visa, visa on arrival, and eTA access to British passport holders, including Israel, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates.

Oceania: Australia and New Zealand have some of the most stringent entry requirements worldwide, and British passport holders can enter both countries with an eTA. UK visa free countries in the Pacific include Fiji, the Marshall Islands, and the US territories of American Samoa and Hawaii.

United Kingdom Passport by Investment

The UK Innovator Founder Visa program is a legitimate path to UK residency and eventual citizenship for foreign entrepreneurs. An appealing aspect of the visa is there is no investment required.

The Innovator Founder Visa grants foreign nationals the opportunity to get a British passport within four to five years of residency. The visa revolved around an innovative business endorsed by a qualifying entity in the UK. The following requirements apply:

• Present a new innovative business idea that is scalable and has potential for growth on a global scale.
• Receive a letter of support for the business idea from an approved endorsing body.

After approval, not only will you have the right to live and work in the United Kingdom, but your family members will also be able to reap the benefits alongside you. The UK government allows family members of valid Innovator Founder Visa holders to apply for family visas, which last the duration of their sponsor’s residence permit.

This family reunification includes spouses and dependent children. Each member will have separate documents confirming their residency in the country, allowing them to move freely inside or outside the United Kingdom.

With an Innovator Founder Visa, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after three years of residency. After an additional 12 months of residency, you are eligible to apply for UK citizenship and a British passport.

The United Kingdom allows dual citizenship, so you can maintain your original citizenship after you obtain British citizenship. Dive deeper into the offline and online application process, documents required, and processing times for UK visas.

How can United Kingdom passport holders travel visa free?

British passport holders can enter visa free or with a visa on arrival to numerous countries worldwide. The specific requirements and restrictions to visa exempt destinations vary depending on the respective nation’s visa regulations.

Here are the standard ways British passport holders can travel to other countries and territories without a visa:

Visa free countries: Visa free countries allow a UK citizen to enter without obtaining a regular travel visa, e-visa, or visa on arrival.

Passport countries: Ireland and specific British Overseas Territories allow British citizens to enter with a UK driver’s license or other legal forms of national ID.

Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA): Some countries with a visa waiver policy with the United Kingdom offer ETA to British passport holders.

Visa on arrival: Visa free travel is possible to visa on arrival (VOA) countries, allowing British passport holders to travel visa free by obtaining a visa after arriving at border control.

British passport holders should remember that visa free countries can change their policies anytime. While certain countries and territories may offer visa free access, an e-visa, or a visa on arrival, they can change their entry requirements and impose temporary travel restrictions to respond to global events. UK citizens should refer to the government website or the destination country for detailed information.

Benefits of a British Passport

Full residency rights

UK citizens have unrestricted residency rights in the UK. Although Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) status (permanent residency) grants individuals the right to reside permanently in the UK, they must return to the UK within two years of leaving or risk losing ILR status. Longer stays outside the United Kingdom require applying for a Returning Resident Visa, which is subject to approval or rejection. UK citizens are not bound by any restrictions on how long they can spend outside the country and maintain citizenship status.

Extensive visa free travel

British passport holders enjoy ultimate visa free travel privileges due to the country’s strategic diplomatic relationships with the European Union and countries and territories worldwide. The British passport consistently ranks among the world’s strongest passports, securing a top position on the Enhanced Mobility Index.

UK citizens benefit from the UK’s extensive network of visa waiver agreements and diplomatic ties, granting them unrestricted access in most cases. This extensive visa-free access is particularly advantageous for business professionals, tourists, and individuals seeking global mobility.

Unrivalled consular assistance

The United Kingdom forms the foundation of Commonwealth nations. The UK monarchy presides over 15 other states forming the Commonwealth, a network of nations that allows UK citizens to seek consular assistance from any Commonwealth government in a country where the British government lacks a consular presence.

Frequently Asked Questions about UK Visa Free Countries