Travel advice
A few key things to check before you travel – all simple, all important.
Passports:
- British passport holders should have at least 6 months’ validity left on their passport and it must be less than 10 years old (Ireland is the exception).
- If a traveller renewed a 10-year adult passport before it expired, extra months added to a renewed passport don’t count.
- Passport applications can take up to 10 weeks – longer for postal applications – so check passport validity early.
- British passport holders can no longer use the EU or EEA lanes, which means border control queues may take a little longer than they used to.
- At EU border control, British travellers may be asked to show a return or onward ticket and proof of sufficient funds
- We also recommend that non‑British passport holders have at least 6 months’ validity when re‑entering the UK.
Check the entry requirements of the country you are visiting
Insurance:
Your package includes travel insurance with medical cover. You can read more about the policy here.
Health:
- Existing European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC) cards remain valid until they expire.
- After that, travellers should apply for a free Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC).
- Both cards offer equivalent emergency and medically necessary healthcare cover in the EU on a temporary stay.
Visas:
Visa and entry requirements vary by country. Full details can be found here.
- We recommend completing any visa applications at least two months before departure.
- UK citizens don’t need a visa for short stays (up to 90 days in any 180‑day period) in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.
- Non‑British nationals may require visas or transit visas – it’s the traveller’s responsibility to check with the relevant embassy of the country (or countries) to or through which they are travelling.
ETIAS, EES and ESTA:
ETIAS – European Travel Information and Authorisation System
- Expected to launch in late 2026 for travel to EU member states
- Valid for 3 years
- Costs €20 (free for under‑18s)
- Must be applied for online before departure
- More information here.
EES – Entry/Exit System
- The EU’s Entry/Exit System
- Travellers will register fingerprints, a photo and passport details on first entry
- Valid for 3 years and replaces passport stamping
- More information here.
ESTA – Electronic System for Travel Authorization (USA)
- Eligible passport holders can travel to the USA under the Visa Waiver Program by applying for an ESTA
- The ESTA website has full guidance
- More information here.
ETA – Electronic Travel Authorisation for the UK:
Non‑European visitors who don’t need a short-stay visa and who do not already have UK immigration status will require an ETA to enter the UK.
- Apply via GOV.UK
- Process involves uploading a photo of your passport and yourself, answering questions and paying for the application
- Cost applies
- Valid for 2 years (or until the passport expires)
- Linked digitally to the traveller’s passport
- Approval usually takes around 3 working days
- British and Irish citizens are excluded.
Group applications: Group Leaders can apply on behalf of their group, but decisions may arrive at different times.
French school groups (of 5 or more children aged 18 or under) currently have a temporary exemption from the ETA requirement while the British Government develops a long-term solution. Full details of documents needed, how to fill in the required form, and notes on bringing the form to the UK, can be found here.
Data roaming:
Free EU roaming is no longer guaranteed. Check with your mobile provider before you travel.
Food & drink:
You cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into the EU. More information can be found here.
Useful links:
- Brexit advice for travellers
- Staying safe abroad
- Foreign travel advice by country
- Travel health resources of the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC)
If you have any specific questions, just get in touch.
Information correct as of September 2025
