Can you travel from UK to Europe without a visa?

You do not need a visa for short trips to the EU or countries in the Schengen area if both of the following apply: you're staying for 90 days or less in a 180-day period. you're visiting as a tourist or for certain other reasons.



Yes, British citizens can still travel to the EU without a traditional visa in 2026, but they must now comply with the ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System). Launched fully in 2025, ETIAS is a mandatory electronic travel authorization for visa-exempt visitors entering the Schengen Zone. It costs €7 for adults (free for those under 18 or over 70) and is valid for three years. While it is not technically a "visa," you cannot board a flight, ferry, or the Eurostar without it. Additionally, you must adhere to the 90/180-day rule, which limits your stay to 90 days within any 180-day period. Your passport must also be a biometric version and have at least three months of validity remaining beyond your intended departure date. For 2026 travelers, the process is entirely digital and usually approved within minutes, but it is no longer as simple as just "turning up" with a passport like it was in the pre-Brexit era.

People Also Ask

British citizens do not require a visa if spending up to 90 days over a 180 days period in the Schengen area. You may however be asked like any other third country nationals to justify your travel by the Immigration Officer (means of living, address of stay, medical travel insurance…).

MORE DETAILS

As an EU national, you have the right to travel to any EU country with a valid passport or ID card. Your non-EU family members may need an entry visa, depending on their nationality.

MORE DETAILS

Requirements for British Citizens Travelling to the EU
  1. Valid passport.
  2. Health insurance (such as private travel insurance or an EHIC/GHIC).
  3. Enough money to cover your stay in the EU.
  4. Return or onward travel ticket.


MORE DETAILS

Schengen started in 1985 with just six countries. The UK opted out of the initiative, having much less interest in scrapping border controls because of its island geography.

MORE DETAILS

British citizens do not need a visa to enter Italy as it is part of Schengen visa free zone. However, it should be noted that all foreign nationals residing in the United Kingdom should obtain a Schengen visa to enter Italy.

MORE DETAILS

Do you need your passport to go from London to Paris? Yes, you need your passport to go from London to Paris or vice versa. You will go through immigration. This goes for EU residents too, as due to Brexit the UK is no longer in the EU.

MORE DETAILS

Of the 27 EU member states, 23 participate in the Schengen Area. Of the four EU members that are not part of the Schengen Area, three—Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania—are legally obligated to join the area in the future; Ireland maintains an opt-out, and instead operates its own visa policy.

MORE DETAILS