Passports & entry

For Europe, on the day you travel your passport must be less than ten years old, and it must have at least three months left on the day you leave. Many other countries, including much of Asia and the Middle East, want six months' validity, so treat six months as the safe rule of thumb worldwide. Check the entry requirements page for your destination on gov.uk, and if renewal is close, do it before you book flights: names on tickets must match the passport you travel on. Read more

For a holiday of up to 90 days in any 180, no visa. Two changes are worth knowing about. The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) now registers you digitally at the border, with fingerprints and a photo on first entry, so allow a little extra time. ETIAS, a paid online travel authorisation similar to the American ESTA, has been announced but at the time of writing (September 2026) is not yet in force. We tell every client the current position when they book, and the official source is gov.uk. Read more

Yes, every traveller needs one, including babies. You apply online before you travel, it is valid for two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first, and there is a fee per person. Two warnings from experience: apply on the official US government site, not the copycat sites that charge extra for nothing, and do it as soon as you book rather than the week before, because a refused ESTA is far easier to deal with three months out. If you have visited certain countries or hold certain dual nationalities you may need a full visa instead; tell us and we will point you at the rules. Read more

Yes, every child needs their own passport, whatever their age. A child passport lasts five years rather than an adult's ten. Check the children's passports first when you book, because five years goes quickly and a February renewal queue before an Easter holiday is a stress you can skip. Read more

Usually fine, occasionally questioned, and worth being ready for. Border officers at some destinations, and airlines on occasion, may ask you to show the connection. Carry the child's birth certificate showing the link, and if you are travelling without the other parent, a short signed letter of consent from them with a contact number. It is rarely asked for; when it is asked for, having it saves your morning. Read more