Travel documents checker: passport, EES, ETIAS and GHIC
Updated from FCDO travel advice and the NHS
As of 30 October 2026, for a holiday in Spain, Greece, Portugal or any Schengen country, a British passport must have been issued less than 10 years before you arrive and expire at least 3 months after you leave. EES fingerprinting is free at the border, ETIAS has not started, and a GHIC is free from the NHS.
Check your passport for your trip
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What each holiday country asks of a British passport
24 countries we track holiday prices in, 17 of them under Schengen rules. Each row is from that country’s FCDO entry requirements.
| Country | Passport must be | Issued under 10 years | Visa | EES | ETIAS | GHIC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greece | Valid 3 months after you leave | Yes | Not for 90 days | Yes | When it starts | Yes |
| Spain (Balearics) | Valid 3 months after you leave | Yes | Not for 90 days | Yes | When it starts | Yes |
| Spain | Valid 3 months after you leave | Yes | Not for 90 days | Yes | When it starts | Yes |
| Spain (Canary Islands) | Valid 3 months after you leave | Yes | Not for 90 days | Yes | When it starts | Yes |
| Turkey | Valid 150 days after you arrive | No | Not for 90 days | No | No | No |
| Italy | Valid 3 months after you leave | Yes | Not for 90 days | Yes | When it starts | Yes |
| Portugal | Valid 3 months after you leave | Yes | Not for 90 days | Yes | When it starts | Yes |
| Cyprus | Valid 3 months after you leave | Yes | Not for 90 days | No | When it starts | Yes |
| Croatia | Valid 3 months after you leave | Yes | Not for 90 days | Yes | When it starts | Yes |
| France | Valid 3 months after you leave | Yes | Not for 90 days | Yes | When it starts | Yes |
| Morocco | Valid 3 months after you arrive | No | Not for 90 days | No | No | No |
| Egypt | Valid 6 months after you arrive | No | Usually needed | No | No | No |
| Bulgaria | Valid 3 months after you leave | Yes | Not for 90 days | Yes | When it starts | Yes |
| Malta | Valid 3 months after you leave | Yes | Not for 90 days | Yes | When it starts | Yes |
| Poland | Valid 3 months after you leave | Yes | Not for 90 days | Yes | When it starts | Yes |
| Czechia | Valid 3 months after you leave | Yes | Not for 90 days | Yes | When it starts | Yes |
| Montenegro | Valid 3 months after you leave | Yes | Not for 90 days | No | No | Yes |
| Hungary | Valid 3 months after you leave | Yes | Not for 90 days | Yes | When it starts | Yes |
| Iceland | Valid 3 months after you leave | Yes | Not for 90 days | Yes | When it starts | Yes |
| Tunisia | Valid for your whole stay | No | Not for 90 days | No | No | No |
| Jersey and Guernsey | No passport check from the UK | — | Not for 90 days | No | No | Yes |
| Germany | Valid 3 months after you leave | Yes | Not for 90 days | Yes | When it starts | Yes |
| Austria | Valid 3 months after you leave | Yes | Not for 90 days | Yes | When it starts | Yes |
| Denmark | Valid 3 months after you leave | Yes | Not for 90 days | Yes | When it starts | Yes |
How long does my passport need to be valid for Spain, Greece and the rest of Europe?
For Spain, Greece, Portugal, Italy and every other Schengen country, a British passport must have been issued less than 10 years before the day you arrive, and expire at least 3 months after the day you leave. Cyprus and Montenegro use the same two tests. (FCDO, checked 30 October 2026.)
Is the GHIC free?
Yes. The UK Global Health Insurance Card is free from the NHS website and lasts up to 5 years. Unofficial websites may charge a fee to apply on your behalf: you never need to pay. It covers necessary state healthcare in the EU and a few other countries, and it is not a replacement for travel insurance.
Do I need ETIAS to travel to Europe?
Not yet. ETIAS, the EU's €20 travel authorisation for visa-free visitors aged 18 to 70, has not started and the EU has not announced a start date. GOV.UK says any website selling ETIAS now is doing so fraudulently. As of 30 October 2026, you need nothing extra to visit the Schengen area or Cyprus.
What is EES and do I need to do anything before I go?
EES, the EU Entry/Exit System, started on 12 October 2025. On your first entry to a Schengen country you may be asked for fingerprints and a photo at the border. It is free, needs nothing before you travel, and the record lasts 3 years. Cyprus and Ireland are not part of it.
How long does my passport need to be valid for Turkey and Egypt?
Turkey: at least 150 days after the date you arrive, with one blank page; no visa for up to 90 days. Egypt: at least 6 months after the date you arrive, with one blank page, and you normally need a visa, except short Sharm El-Sheikh resort stays. (FCDO, checked 30 October 2026.)
Sources
- FCDO foreign travel advice, “Entry requirements” for each country (linked in the table), read 30 October 2026.
- GOV.UK: EU Entry/Exit System (EES start date, the Schengen list, ETIAS fee and the warning about sites selling it).
- NHS: Get healthcare cover abroad with a UK GHIC or UK EHIC (free, up to 5 years, where it works).
This is a summary for British citizen passports, not legal advice. The destination’s authorities set and enforce the rules and can change them at any time; check FCDO travel advice and your travel provider before you fly.