There has been a lot of confusion and noise around travelling to Europe this summer. With Covid rules changing, and the UK’s departure from the EU causing further frustrations with passport validity.

We answer some of the most common questions to help ensure you have everything in place for your holiday to go as smoothly as possible!

Passports

How many months can you travel before passport expires?

To travel within the EU at the time of writing your passport must:

• Be issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check the date of issue)
• Valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the expiry date)

You can find out further information in our “How do I know if my passport is valid?” blog 

Visa’s

Do I need a Visa for Greece?

No. You can travel to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. If your visit exceeds 90 days within the Schengen area, you will need to apply for a visa. You can find more information on Gov.uk.

Visit our dedicated Greece page in our Destination centre for more handy hints and tips

Do I need a Visa for Spain from UK?

No. You can travel to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. If your visit exceeds 90 days within the Schengen area, you will need to apply for a visa. You can find more information on Gov.uk.

Visit our dedicated Spain page in our Destination centre for more handy hints and tips.

What documentation do I need for travel to Spain?

Over the summer the FCDO updated it’s travel advice for Spain, this included three potential documents you would need to show border control:

1. Show a return or onward ticket
2. Show you have enough money to stay
3. Show proof of accommodation.

You can find out more information on the documentation by visiting the FCDO or in our “Spain’s 3 essential documents you may require upon entry” blog.

ETIAS

What is ETIAS?

ETIAS is a new visa waiver system that the EU is aiming to bring into effect by the end of 2023. This will be similar to how the ESTA works for travel to the USA. Once this has been introduced all British passport holders will need to apply and pay for an ETIAS via an online system before travelling to the EU.

EHIC and GHIC

What is the difference between EHIC and GHIC?

A GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) replaces the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card). Both are free of charge and can be obtained on the NHS Website. The card can be used to access medically necessary state-provided healthcare when visiting an EU Country. The healthcare provider in the country you’re visiting will decide whether treatment is deemed as necessary.

Does an EHIC/GHIC cover me for medical treatment abroad?

You can use your card to access medically necessary state-provided healthcare in an EU country. This includes things such as emergency treatment and visits to A&E and treatment for long-term or pre-existing medical condition. As the healthcare provider in your destination country deems what is classed as necessary treatment, we always recommend an adequate Travel Insurance policy to provide peace of mind. You can find more information on EHIC/GHIC cards on the NHS Website or get a Travel Insurance quote here.

COVID-19

What is an EU Covid digital certificate?

It is digital proof that a person has either:

• Been vaccinated against COVID-19
• Received a negative test result or
• Recovered from Covid-19

Any vaccination, recovery or negative test certificate issued within the UK, will be accepted. These can be found on the NHS app. More information on the EU Covid Digital Certificates can be found here.

Which countries no longer have Covid restrictions?

There are 24 in total within the EU, these are:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Ireland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Malta
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Sweden

What vaccines are approved by the European Medical Association?

• Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech)
• Spikevax (Moderna)
• Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca)
• Janssen (Johnson & Johnson)

Data Roaming

Will I be charged to use my mobile phone abroad?

As the UK is no longer part of the EU, majority of mobile phone providers now have roaming charges to use your phone abroad. Check with your network provider for further details including any additional costs involved.

Our partner Broadband.co.uk explains more on data roaming in our “Your guide to data roaming within the EU” blog.

We strongly advise to check the Foreign Travel Advice page for the latest travel advice before you commence your holiday.