General rules:
If you are an EU national you do not need to show your national ID or passport when travelling within the Schengen zone (i.e. between Schengen agreement countries), even though it's highly recommended to bring a passport or ID card with you so you can prove your identity if needed. An officially issued temporary passport would also be accepted as valid proof of identity.
The Schengen agreement countries are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
When travelling to or from a non-Schengen country you must show a valid national ID or passport.
The European countries that are not part of the Schengen zone are: Albania, Andora, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Georgia, Ireland, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine, The United Kingdom and Vatican City. In addition to these named countries, all other non-European countries are "non-Schengen".
Please note that all national driving licenses, post, bank or tax cards are not considered an approved ID are therefor not accepted as valid travel documents or proof of identity.
It is always you as a customer who is responsible for having the correct documentation for travel. We take no responsibility for the consequences of a passenger not having a visa or other necessary travel documents.
For passengers travelling with foreign passports, other rules might apply. It is the responsibility of the traveller to contact the respective country's embassy or consulate in the country for information.
In some countries, the police issues the passport and national ID card.
The airline requires a valid passport for identification and we will refer to this. For any exceptions to this rule, please contact the airline directly.
Useful information about passport rules:
Check well ahead of your trip that your passport is valid during your entire travel abroad. Most countries have restrictions about the duration of passport validity. For trips to most countries outside the Schengen area, it is required that the passport is valid at least 6 months after the planned return home. Special rules can apply if somebody presents a temporary passport. For further information, please contact the respective embassy.
Note that your passport must not be damaged to be valid. We are not responsible for the consequences if a traveller cannot present a valid ID card, passport or a valid visa upon check-in. It is the traveller's own responsibility to keep track of this.
In some countries, you must also be able to prove your identity and your citizenship when checking in at a hotel or at the request of the police or any other authority. In these cases, passports are usually the only valid document of identity.
There is usually no control of passports between the countries covered by the Schengen Agreement. The national ID card, which applies to trips within the Schengen area, is an acceptable travel document that confirms both the identity and citizenship of the holder. Although passport control only takes place in exceptional cases within the EU, you must always be able to identify yourself during your stay abroad. Therefore, we recommend that you must always travel with your passport, wherever your trip is.
A visa can be required in some cases. See the info below:
Egypt
Check well ahead of your departure whether your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your planned return. You may not be able to enter the country if your passport is valid for a shorter period. We cannot be held responsible when you travel with an invalid passport. Invalid and/or damaged passports are not allowed and can be a reason for denied boarding.
When going on a trip to Egypt, you need a visa. Visas are available for British citizens with a fee upon arrival at the airport in Egypt. Please contact the embassy of Egypt for further information.
United Arab Emirates
Check well ahead of your departure that your passport is valid for at least another 6 months after your planned return. You will not be able to enter the country if your passport is not valid for another 6 months. We take no responsibility for travellers without a valid passport.
A visa will be handed out for free to British citizens upon arrival in the UAE. This visa is valid for 30 days. It is not possible to enter the UAE on a temporary passport. Invalid and/or damaged passports are not valid and will lead to denied boarding. Please contact the embassy of the United Arab Emirates for further information.
China
Check well ahead of your departure that your passport is valid for at least another 6 months after your planned return. You will not be able to enter the country if your passport is not valid for another 6 months. We take no responsibility for travellers without a valid passport. Invalid and/or damaged passports are not valid for entry and will lead to denied boarding.
Please note that a visa is required to travel to China. Please contact the embassy of China for more information.
Morocco
Check well ahead of your departure that your passport is valid for at least another 6 months after your planned return. You will not be able to enter the country if your passport is not valid for another 6 months. We take no responsibility for travellers without a valid passport. British citizens do not require a visa for tourist visits of up to three months in Morocco. Please contact the embassy for further information.
Qatar
For tourist visits, British citizens require a visa and will be approved upon arrival. Check well ahead of your departure that your passport is valid for at least another 6 months after your planned return. You will not be able to enter the country if your passport is not valid for another 6 months. We take no responsibility for travellers without a valid passport.
Russia
Check well ahead of your departure whether your passport is valid for at least another 6 months after your planned return. You will require a visa if you wish to travel to Russia. It is important to know that you have to ask for the visa yourself and this can take more than one week. Please contact the embassy of Russia for further information.
Thailand
Check well ahead of your departure that your passport is valid for at least another 6 months after your planned return. You will not be able to enter the country if your passport is not valid for another 6 months. We take no responsibility for travellers without a valid passport. British citizens do not require a visa for a tourist stay in Thailand of up to 30 days, which can be extended to another 30 days at maximum.
If you are a British citizen of different origin or a citizen of another country, you must contact the Thai embassy for more information. It is always the traveller's responsibility to ensure that he/she is travelling with the right passport and visa for the trip.
Turkey
Check well ahead of your departure! According to the latest information, your passport should be valid for at least another 6 months after your planned return. You will not be able to enter the country if your passport is not valid for another 6 months. We take no responsibility for travellers without a valid passport.
Ukraine
British citizens do not need a visa to enter Ukraine for tourist visits of up to 90 days. If you are a citizen of another country, please contact the Ukraine embassy for further information about the regulations that apply to you.
Your passport must be valid for at least another 6 months after your planned return. For your visit to Ukraine, your passport will get a stamp from the border control upon entering the country.
Check for valid travel insurance because the European health insurance card does not cover Ukraine.
Since December 2013, a new law is in place in Ukraine that demands tourists/visitors to prove that they have sufficient funds (money) upon entering the country. This means that upon entry, you may be asked if you have enough money for your stay in Ukraine. If you cannot prove that, you can be denied entry into the country. The rules apply to all visitors who will travel to Ukraine, regardless of citizenship. For more information:
USA
Check well ahead of your departure that your passport is valid for at least another 6 months after your planned return. You will not be able to enter the country if your passport is not valid for another 6 months. We take no responsibility for travellers without a valid passport or who have forgotten to obtain a valid ESTA.
For British citizens, the visa waiver program applies when entering the USA, so a visa is not required for tourist travel of less than three months. This comes under the presumption that you have a valid British passport that is readable by a machine (two printed lines with names and numbers at the bottom of the personal page). Passports that were issued since 26 October 2006 must contain a digitally-integrated photo. Temporary passports are not accepted. In any other case, you require a visa. Generally, the passport should not have any damage.
Since January 2009, travellers must personally register with the American Department of Homeland Security by filling in a form via the internet ( https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov) no more than (!) three days or less before they depart. Once the application is approved, an electronic entry permit is obtained, which then applies for an unlimited number of trips to the United States for two years, or as long as the passport is valid. On 8 September 2010, a tourist tax of USD 14 was introduced, which is charged upon the application for admission.