Travelling to the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland)
Visitors to the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) require a valid passport. ID Cards from European countries are no longer sufficient.
In addition, since 2025 most foreign visitors to the United Kingdom who travel there for tourism or transiting the UK have to apply for electronic travel authorisation (ETA). You usually need an ETA rather than a visa if you’re from Europe, the USA, Australia, Canada or certain other countries.
To receive an ETA, travellers must apply online or use the UK ETA app. The cost is £16 (approximately US $21 or €18). After you apply, you get a decision by email from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), usually within a day. The email will contain your 16 digit ETA reference number. The authorisation is valid for multiple entries to the UK for stays of up to six months and is valid for a two-year period or until the traveller’s passport expires – whichever comes first.
To underscore, this is a major change to the UK’s travel regulations. For example, all non-resident US citizens in Ireland, including children, will be required to have a valid ETA when traveling to UK, even when traveling by land between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Full up-to-date information on who is required to obtain an ETA and how to apply before coming to the UK can be found here: www.gov.uk/eta
Travelling to Ireland
Foreign visitors to Ireland require a valid passport.
For European travelers, ID Cards from their European home country may be sufficient.
Note that while Ireland is a member of the European Union, it is not part of the Schengen Area, the region of Europe without border checks between countries. This means that if you travel to Ireland from another part of the Schengen Area (i.e. most countries in mainland Europe), you will pass through an immigration checkpoint and have to show your passport or national identity card.
For travel requirements to Ireland from different countries check https://www.irishimmigration.ie/.
Travelling to Portugal or Spain
Foreign visitors to EU Countries such as Portugal & Spain require a valid passport.
For European travelers, ID Cards from their European home country may be sufficient, or you may not have to pass through immigration at all if you are travelling within the Schengen Area.
Note: Please read the information below and familiarise yourself with the requirements for the new EES, and also the ETIAS which is scheduled for 2026. When fully launched, they will impact non-EU visitors travelling to Portugal & Spain.
EES & ETIAS
Entry/Exit system (EES)
Starting from 12 October 2025, the EU is introducing a new automated registration system, called Entry/Exit system (EES), for UK and other non-EU travellers who don’t require a visa to enter the EU. The Entry/Exit system (EES) is being introduced gradually over a period of 6 months at countries’ external borders. This means that data collection will be gradually introduced at border crossing points with full implementation by 10 April 2026.
The EES applies to travellers not holding the nationality of any European Union country or the nationality of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.
It will apply when entering all EU member states, with the exception of Ireland and Cyprus.
Travellers who are not legal EU citizens or residents will need to scan their passports or other travel documents at a self-service kiosk each time they cross an EU external border. The system will register the traveller’s name, biometric data, and the date and place of entry and exit. Facial scans and fingerprint data will be taken every three years and are valid for multiple trips within that period.
Full up-to-date information on the EES and how it is going to work can be found here: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees_en
European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS)
From the last quarter of 2026, the EU is also planning to introduce a new travel authorisation for visa-exempt foreigners from 60 nations (including the UK, US, Canada and Australia) before they are allowed to enter most EU nations, including Spain and Portugal. However, as with the EES, the ETIAS is not going to apply if you are travelling to Ireland.
Similar to the ETA in the UK, this new programme, called the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), requires short-term travellers to apply online, pay a small fee (around €7 – roughly US $7.40 or £5.80) and then wait up to 96 hours for applications to be approved.
https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en
At the time of writing, no exact starting date for the ETIAS had been provided and we recommend you check the above link before you commence your journey.
Please Note:
Your passport, visa, and other immigration requirements are your responsibility. Please confirm these with the relevant embassies or consulates. We do not accept any responsibility if you are unable to travel due to non-compliance with these requirements.
Useful Links:
Below is a list of helpful websites and resources for planning and checking visa requirements and regulations. Please note that we have no affiliation with these websites and cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information. It is advised to always confirm any visa or travel regulations with your relevant embassy or consulate.
