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What are you looking for, see things differently, welcome to britain.

Discover inventive new experiences and captivating stories in 2024, brought together with a dose of British flair. From exploring film settings and pioneering cultural spaces to countryside trails and relaxing wellness retreats, it’s all happening on our shores and you’re invited!

Join immersive exhibitions as the National Gallery celebrates a landmark anniversary or get a taste for chocolate as Birmingham’s Cadbury World also marks its 200th birthday. Venture off the beaten track for new coastal adventures, exploring new trails and walking routes, or take in sporting action as the world’s best compete in everything from athletics to the Premier League.

Whether it’s getting a feel for our vibrant cultural cities, embarking on a coastal adventure, or discovering locations made famous by film and TV, it’s time to experience Britain differently.

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Glen Coe, Scotland

Spilling the tea on GB

We’re spilling the tea on the hottest experiences – and it’s not just a good old brew that we’re mad about.

Cardiff, Wales

Key sporting moments in 2024

Grab your tickets, or a spot by a screen, and join the atmosphere of brilliant British sport.

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Day trips from London

Britain packs a punch when it comes to the eclectic range of destinations within close proximity to London.

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Parc national de Sowdonia (Eryri), Pays de Galles

How to see Britain differently

From gastronomic adventures to eco-friendly stays, there’s always more to explore on Britain’s shores.

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Providing you with inspirational activities and experiences, from those in the know.

Your guidance and information about travelling to Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Helping the travel industry showcase the best of Britain.

Cultural hotspots

An unmissable destination for travellers, London is a melting pot of history, culture and green spaces.

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From palaces to cobbled alleys and even a dormant volcano, this city is a real show-stopper.

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World-class football and a music scene that brought Oasis to centre stage – there’s lots to love about Manchester.

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A quirky seaside city filled with diverse cuisine, vintage shopping and adrenaline fuelled adventure.

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From The Beatles to Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Liverpool is a UNESCO City of Music with seriously cool credentials.

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Cool creative Bristol is a must-see for art, culture and action-packed adventure.

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Step into a land of castles, world-renowned rugby and a whole host of myths and legends.

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Pushing the boundaries of art and culture, with a heart that beats through its people.

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An industrial hub with a vibrant, creative heart and a whole host of quirky adventures.

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Newcastle upon Tyne

Linked by no fewer than seven bridges, it's one vibrant place to visit.

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Newcastle, England

A hotbed for shopping and the arts, you’ll find lots to explore in Leeds.

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Packed with lively pubs, an eclectic food scene and a myriad of immersive experiences.

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Celebrate in Britain

Find out what’s happening across the nations with our round-up of annual events.

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Your trip to england is just around the corner.

Discover the land of Big Ben, Banksy and bangers and mash. From its bustling cities to its blooming beautiful gardens, it doesn’t disappoint.

Discover Great Britain’s northern reaches

Imagine a country where ancient castles guard mysterious lochs and emerald glens, and where the local spirit is as warm as the welcome.

Discover a land of adventure and mythical creatures

Delve into a world of dragons, renowned choirs, championship rugby, and some of the most spellbinding scenery Britain has to offer.

Your trip to Northern Ireland has never looked more magical

Get swept up in a world of ancient myths and modern-day legends, from the Giant’s Causeway and Game of Thrones to the vibrant buzz of Belfast.

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Best sim card for UK travel (and other WiFi options for your trip)

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated: May 26, 2024

Travelling to the UK and wondering what the options are for connecting to the internet? Do you want to use your smartphone but avoid a huge bill when you get home? In this article, we have researched all the options so you don’t have to – read on to find out!

We have all become more and more dependent on our smartphones for just about every aspect of life. Whether it’s writing emails, using apps (we recommend downloading these 16 apps for UK travel) or getting driving directions, smartphones give us instant information at our fingertips.

So what happens when you travel to the UK?

Will your smartphone even work there?

The answer is yes, it can absolutely do all the things you need it to do, but you have to do a little research and make a plan prior to leaving.

Failure to do so could result in a nonworking smartphone on your trip, or even worse, a future bill with astronomical international roaming charges. Never fear, however, because the research has been done for you.

SIM options – quick guide

1. the first step is to understand each of the 5 available options, 2. the second step is understanding which is the best option for your needs., why you need a vpn, 2. a portable wi-fi device, 3. check with your telecommunications provider, option 1 – purchase at home before you travel, option 2 – purchase after you arrive in the uk, 5. use esim technology, choosing the right wi-fi option for you – the best sim card for uk travel.

🏆 What do I use? I use an Airalo eSIM these days and have used them in the UK (and, in fact, all over the world) – so my NUMBER 1 choice is an Airalo eSIM

A quick overview of the options available in the United Kingdom

Most hotels in the UK have free Wi-Fi. You could also plan on using hotspots, those public locations offering free Wi-Fi, like museums , coffee shops or fast food restaurants.

2. A portable Wi-Fi device such as Skyroam Solis

You can either rent or buy one of these. They are portable, about the size of a drink coaster and very easy to use.

3. Use your mobile provider’s international plan or arrange for day passes

Call your provider to see what their options are. Some have international calling built right in, while others offer international day passes. For the day passes, be sure to make a note of the price, the limits on data and the ability to make calls and texts.

4. Buy a SIM card either before you leave or when you get to the UK

For those folks not so technically minded, a SIM card is the small card inside of your phone that stores data unique to the user and to the phone. When travelling to the UK from abroad, assume you’ll need to swap out your existing SIM card for a UK compatible SIM card.

Many new phones come eSIM enabled which means you don’t need the usual SIM card with a chip embedded in it as a reprogrammable chip is actually present within the smartphone itself. This option is only available if you have a compatible phone so you will need to check first.

Ask yourself these questions

• How much data will you need?
• How often and for what reason will you be using your smartphone?
• Will you be using apps that require a lot of data?
• Will you need to watch videos or download information for work?
• Will you need service for multiple devices?

Perhaps you’ll only need your smartphone to occasionally check email or make a quick social media post. Maybe you’re travelling with family and plan to use smartphones to keep in touch with one another via texts and calls.

Luckily, there are options that work for all of these scenarios.

5 options to access WiFi in the UK

Let’s look at all those options in a little more detail

1. Free Wi-Fi

If your hotel offers free Wi-Fi, you could plan to use that exclusively during your trip.

This would work well for someone who doesn’t use their phone very often and is willing to take care of any smartphone needs while in their room.

Outside of the hotel, there are many free hotspots for wifi in UK attractions or public places that could also be used.

Well, it’s free. Also, connecting to it is simple and convenient.

Disadvantages

Free Wi-Fi can be slow. This may not be an issue if you’ll be using your phone infrequently, but if you plan to visit websites, use apps or download information, slow speeds could be frustrating.

Are your game-playing kids travelling with you? They may not be very pleased with this option.

While slow speed is something to consider, lax security can be a serious problem. Using free Wi-Fi in public spaces is risky. Encryption standards may not be adequate, so anyone sitting near you could gain access to your personal information.

So could hackers who know public Wi-Fi can lead them directly into your phone. Talk about a fast way to ruin your trip! This is why we use (and recommend) a VPN service like SurfShark.

A VPN or Virtual Private Network allows you to create secure connections over the internet. This is essential if you are planning to use free WiFi on your travels as it stops anyone from gaining access to your private information.

If you do choose the free Wi-Fi route, the critical thing to remember is to turn off your international roaming. Depending on your provider, failure to do so could result in staggering charges on your next bill.

Thus, the best thing to do is while in the UK is to put your smartphone into flight mode. This will ensure that you won’t receive or transmit cellular data. Don’t worry — you’ll still have access to Wi-Fi in flight mode. It’s also a great way to save battery power on your phone.

Staying in touch with family and friends will still work with apps like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp — all usable without roaming.

There are also apps that allow you to download information while you have Wi-Fi for later use. These include Google Drive, TripAdvisor and AccuWeather.

The Solis, for example, is a pocket-sized device available for rent or purchase that allows for portable wifi UK. It has 4G LTE mobile Wi-Fi speeds and is easy to use via the Solis app on your smartphone.

You know exactly how much it’s going to cost upfront. You’ll either purchase a device and pay for the data you use or you can rent it and pay per day. Devices like these are also secure, unlike public Wi-Fi.

If you would like to connect your iPad and laptop, this would be a great option for you as it allows connection to multiple devices. You can also share it with others who are in close proximity to the person holding the device.

This option does not include phone calls. Also, it may not be the most cost-effective choice if you are travelling by yourself, don’t need much data and only need Wi-Fi on one device.

While this device does allow for multiple users, they all need to be in the same place, so if the family heads in separate directions, someone is going to lose their Wi-Fi.

Finally, you must remember to charge its battery.

Note – the Solis is only available to purchase in the USA at present. An alternative to consider is the TravelWiFi portable device which we recently used during our UK trip in 2022 .

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Some plans include international roaming but if they don’t, they may offer an international day pass.

For residents of the United States, Verizon offers its TravelPass for $10.00, which allows up to 500MB per day and calls within the UK or back home.

T-Mobile’s international day pass works much the same way, but it’s only $5.00 and also has the ability to make your smartphone into a mobile hotspot.

Sprint is a little different. They offer Global Roaming, which allows 25 cents-a-minute calls, free texting and unlimited basic data up to 2G. You’ll need to go to their website, however, and make sure this service will work on your device.

Some Australian providers like Telstra and Optus offer a travel pack that allows for a fixed amount of talk, text, and data for a specific amount of days. This is generally cheaper than using pay-as-you-go roaming.

It’s very easy to call your provider or to use their apps to arrange these services. It’s also a good, secure and reliable method for someone who doesn’t plan on using large amounts of data.

With certain providers, there is a data limit per 24-hour period. If you go over, it can be very expensive. The limited data makes this a poor option for someone planning to use their smartphone for everything while travelling.

4. Purchase a UK Prepaid SIM Card

You can buy a prepaid SIM card online and have it shipped to you before your trip even begins.

Here are the three best options for a UK SIM card for visitors that are available for pre-purchase.

• Orange Holiday Zen

This card comes with 8GB of data. You’ll get 30 minutes of calling and 200 minutes of SMS use.

Once you begin using your SIM card, it is good for 14 days. The Orange Holiday Zen might be the ideal choice for someone who won’t use their phone very often during their trip.

For more data, upgrade to the Orange Holiday Europe . You get 20GB of data, 120 minutes of calls worldwide and 1,000 SMS messages. This also lasts for a fortnight after activation.

• 3 Data Pack 8GB

This card also offers 8GB. Unlike the Orange Holiday SIM range, it offers unlimited calls and SMS use within Europe. It works for 30 days after you begin using it.

This card can be used in 71 Go Roam countries worldwide, including some outside of Europe such as Australia and the US. It gives you a UK phone number, and works with any unlocked device. Receiving messages and calls is free with this SIM card. 

For more data or a longer duration, you can also buy the 3 PAYG 12GB card that’s valid for a year, or the 24GB option that lasts for two years after activation. Both also work in 71 Go Roam countries. 

This is our third choice as it’s more basic, but the price tag does match that. It covers all European countries and gives you 10GB of data.

Once activated, it’s good for 30 days of use, so longer than the Orange SIM cards.

The primary advantage is that you can begin using your smartphone as soon as your plane lands in the UK.

Swapping your SIM card ahead of time will give you peace of mind in knowing that all of your data, text and call needs have been taken care of. You will also be guaranteed fast, consistent data speeds throughout your trip.

Once the new SIM card is inside your smartphone, you won’t be able to use it until you get to the UK. If you have multiple phones, this may work for you. If not, it could be a problem.

You also won’t know if the new SIM card has been properly installed and is working until you get to the UK.

Some people may choose to wait until arriving in the country to buy a UK prepaid SIM card. If you don’t mind paying a little more, you can pick one up at the airport as soon as you get off the plane.

You can also find them more reasonably priced at a provider’s store. There are four main providers of UK SIM cards for tourists. Their stores can be found throughout the country.

As long as your phone can be unlocked, they will install it for you without requiring you to show identification or your passport, which had been a past requirement.

SIM cards are also available at convenience stores, grocery stores and tobacconists.

Here are the four main providers who offer a UK prepaid SIM card for tourists.

EE is one of the largest internet service providers and mobile network operators in the UK. They offer several pay-as-you-go packages at different price points depending on the amount of data and call minutes you need.

They are the UK branch of Telefonica which is one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world. They offer 5 types of SIM cards for UK tourists, varying in available data and minutes.

Their name reflects that they were the first telecommunication company to offer a 3G connection to their customers.

They have six different UK tourist SIM cards, all offering unlimited minutes and texts. The only difference is in the amount of data and, of course, the price.

They also offer a variety of prepaid SIM cards, so again, which one you get would depend on how you plan to use your smartphone. They have a variety of SIM-only deals and pay-as-you-go SIM plans that are ideal for travellers.

There are many options for data or calling with these cards, so you could tailor your purchase to your exact needs. Getting your SIM changed when you arrive will allow for a consistent and fast data speed throughout your stay in the UK.

You may need to unlock your phone. In order to do that you would have to visit one of the providers’ stores. This could potentially cost you time and is probably not how you want to spend your precious vacation minutes.

Also, some smartphones will not unlock if you have had them for less than 12 months, so you would need to contact your provider before you travel to make sure this wouldn’t be an issue.

If you’re not familiar with this yet, then you’re far from alone! An eSIM may already actually be there within your phone, though you’d be forgiven for not knowing it. 

eSim is an entirely online system, so you don’t need the usual SIM card with a chip embedded in it. Set-up is fast, it’s simple to use and it’s all done online. 

Many of the latest smartphones are already eSIM enabled. This especially applies to the top selling brands like Apple, Google and Samsung. For example, compatible devices include the Apple iPhone 11, the Google Pixel 3 and the Samsung Galaxy S20, plus all subsequent models in each range.

With an eSIM, a reprogrammable chip is actually present within the smartphone itself. Before using an eSIM, all you normally need to do is scan a QR code to begin the download. It’s a quick and convenient way to get a SIM without a physical card. 

You can find the right eSIM for your UK trip at airalo.com . Prices start at just $5, and the eSim lasts for anything from a week upwards. 

An eSIM costs from just USD $5, so it’s a very affordable way to stay connected and in touch with your loved ones. 

As it’s solely online, eSIMs are far more eco-friendly than traditional SIM cards. You don’t need to wait for a new SIM to be delivered either. 

You can switch to any mobile network more or less instantly too. Sometimes, you can also use a SIM card in your phone at the same time. This means you can use each for different purposes – such as work and leisure. 

eSIMS are still relatively new, and not offered by all phone networks. You usually need a contract, rather than a Pay As You Go plan, to use this technology via your usual phone network. 

Not all smartphones are compatible with eSIM technology. If you have a phone that’s more than a couple of years old, or is made by certain brands, then you may not be able to use an eSIM. 

So that’s basically all there is to mastering the art of picking which smartphone Wi-Fi option is right for you while travelling in the UK . Whew!

It’s really not such a complicated puzzle when all the information is laid out. You know how you will use your smartphone and how much data you will need, so just pick the option that works best for you. Then enjoy a surprise-free trip to the UK!

More practical planning articles:

• How to get around the UK (Complete Guide to Transportation in the United Kingdom)
• Best booking sites for UK travel
• Best UK Travel Books for 2021 (Travel Guides & maps)
• How much does it cost to visit the UK? A budget planning guide
• When in the best time to visit the UK?
• UK Packing list for all seasons (+ free printable checklist)
• Renting a car? Read our complete guide to car hire including tips and information about driving in the UK

• Travel Sims

Best Tourist Sim Cards in UK in 2024

If you plan on visiting the UK, having a SIM card is essential. Having internet access while traveling allows you to easily navigate new cities, discover the best restaurants, find directions to your accommodation, book taxis, and share photos with your family on the go.

While roaming is an option, the international fees can quickly accumulate. That’s why we recommend either an eSIM or a local SIM card to access local phone rates. Thankfully, obtaining an eSIM or local SIM card in the UK is incredibly straightforward, but it’s beneficial to know which option is most suitable for you.

This comprehensive guide provides all the information you need to purchase a SIM card in the UK, including current pricing and the absolute best SIM card to meet your needs.

Table of Contents

Best sim card in uk for tourists.

The best sim card in the UK is the Vodafone Pay as you go Sim deal. For just 10 GBP you will get 7 GB of data, unlimited minutes and unlimited texts valid for 30 days. On top of this, Vodafone often runs promotions, you can check the current pricing here .

Vodafone, Three and O2 all have very extensive mobile networks across the UK so it is highly unlikely you will experience not having internet connection, so any of these three will be fine.

If you are a very heavy data users then check out Three as their plans offer good value for large amounts of data. For 15 GBP you will get 50GB of data valid for 30 days which is a great deal if you need the extra data.

The Airalo UK eSim is also a great option for travellers who appreciate the extra convenience of using an eSim. The prices are not quite as good as the local sim cards but I consider them to be still pretty reasonable. For $10 USD you will get 3GB of data, or for $15 USD you will get 5GB.

This is not quite as good as the local sim cards, but you won’t need to visit a store, buy a sim card, buy a plan and install the sim card. Instead, you can buy the [Airalo eSim]( http://The best sim card in the UK is the Vodafone Pay as you go Sim deal. For just 10 GBP you will get 7 GB of data, unlimited minutes and unlimited texts valid for 30 days. On top of this, Vodafone often runs promotions, you can check the current pricing here. Vodafone, Three and O2 all have very extensive mobile networks across the UK so it is highly unlikely you will experience not having internet connection, so any of these three will be fine. If you are a very heavy data users then check out Three as their plans offer good value for large amounts of data. For 15 GBP you will get 50GB of data valid for 30 days which is a great deal if you need the extra data. The Airalo UK eSim is also a great option for travellers who appreciate the extra convenience of using an eSim. The prices are not quite as good as the local sim cards but I consider them to be still pretty reasonable. For $10 USD you will get 3GB of data, or for $15 USD you will get 5GB. This is not quite as good as the local sim cards, but you won’t need to visit a store, buy a sim card, buy a plan and install the sim card) before you go and it will begin working when you arrive in the UK. It’s much easier and I consider it worth the extra cost but it depends on your budget and data requirements.

If you are planning to visit the EU, then it is a good idea to ask in store whether their plan includes EU roaming for free. Currently, only O2 offer EU roaming for free whilst the other providers cancelled this post-Brexit.

UK Sim Card Prices

A Tourist Sim Card in UK costs 10 GBP in August 2024, however, the exact price will often depend on the store you visit and the plan you choose.

Alternatively, an eSim in UK will cost between $5 USD and $36 USD. This, again, depends on how much data you require and which eSim provider you choose.

I generally recommend this Airalo plan for most tourists visiting UK which includes 5GB of data which is valid for 30 days and costs $15 USD.

UK Sim Card Providers

The UK is home to several main SIM card providers, offering a wide range of plans and services. Three (3), known for its competitive prices and generous data allowances, is a popular choice among customers. With its strong network coverage and affordable international roaming options, Three attracts frequent travelers. Vodafone, one of the largest telecommunications companies worldwide, offers reliable coverage and a variety of plans tailored to different lifestyles. Additionally, Vodafone provides excellent customer service, making it highly regarded among consumers. O2, known for its wide-reaching network and attractive perks such as O2 Priority, appeals to customers seeking additional benefits and access to exclusive events. With these providers, customers have plenty of options to suit their specific needs and preferences.

Three (3) Tourist Sim

Three is a popular telecommunications company in the UK offering tourist sim cards. Their tourist sim card provides unlimited data usage and offers fast internet speeds across the country. With competitive pricing, Three’s sim cards are an excellent option for tourists. Additionally, they provide extensive coverage, ensuring a seamless experience for travelers exploring different parts of the UK. Three’s tourist sim cards also come with additional perks such as free calls and texts, making it a convenient choice for visitors.

Three (3) UK Tourist Sim Price

The price of a Three (3) tourist sim card in UK is 15 GBP.

The plan offered by Three (3) stores includes 50GB data + unlimited minutes & texts valid for 1 month.

Vodafone Tourist Sim

Vodafone is a renowned telecommunications company offering convenient tourist sim cards in the UK. Their sim cards provide international visitors with exceptional connectivity and affordable rates for calls, texts, and data. Travellers can enjoy seamless communication and internet access throughout their stay, allowing them to explore and share their experiences without any worries. Vodafone’s reliable network and user-friendly packages make it a preferred choice for tourists visiting the UK.

Vodafone UK Tourist Sim Price

The price of a Vodafone tourist sim card in UK is 10 GBP.

The plan offered by Vodafone stores offers 7GB data + unlimited minutes + unlimited texts valid for 30 days.

O2 Tourist Sim

O2 is a renowned telecommunications company in the UK, offering tourist sim cards for international travelers. These sim cards provide convenience and connectivity while exploring the country, with extensive coverage and high-speed data options. O2’s tourist sim cards come with various prepaid plans, allowing visitors to stay connected, make calls, send texts, and access the internet seamlessly. With O2, tourists can enjoy a hassle-free and reliable communication experience throughout their visit to the UK.

O2 UK Tourist Sim Price

The price of a O2 tourist sim card in UK is 10 GBP.

The plan offered by O2 stores includes 7GB data valid for 1 month.

How to Get a Sim Card in UK

Identify mobile providers: Three (3), Vodafone and O2 are your best options in UK.

Find your nearest store: Locate a store or retailer by searching on Google Maps for your nearest store or asking at your hotel reception. I’ve never had issues finding a store as they can usually be found in major cities, shopping centers, or tourist areas. If possible, I always recommend to to avoid airports and head in to an official store in the city.

Bring the necessary documents: It is always a good idea to carry your passport or identification documents for sim card registration purposes. We’ve found most providers will need to confirm your identity to provide a sim card and it can be a major hassle to head to a store only to have to come back again later with your passport.

Choose your plan: Either request the plan you are after or consult with the staff in the store to select the right plan for you. My recommendations at the beginning of this guide are a good starting point, but the staff will usually be able to suggest the best option.

Pay and activate your card: Pay for the SIM card and plan, and the staff will activate it for you.

Test: It’s always a good idea to check that you can access the internet before you leave the store. I always search for something on Google then refresh my Instagram feed to check it’s working fine.

Where to Get a Sim Card in UK

At the airport.

Buying a prepaid sim card for UK at the airport is usually considered the most convenient option for travellers arriving by plane.

However, airport stores selling sim cards are almost guaranteed to charge inflated prices, so if you are a cost-conscious traveller then you should definitely buy your sim card from a store in the city center.

In addition to this, we would argue that buying physical sim cards at all aren’t particularly convenient now that most people use esim compatible phones. If you are looking for the most convenient option, then buying an esim before you arrive or with the airport wifi is much easier and will save you having to queue up or communicate with staff.

If you must purchase a sim card at the airport in UK then you will be in luck. All major international airports in UK have stores selling sim cards. Despite the prices being higher than normal, the staff are knowledgable and will be able to get you set up with the correct sim card relatively quickly.

If you want to avoid the inflated sim card prices you’ll find at the airport and your phone isn’t esim compatible, then you’re going to need to head in to a store to buy your sim card.

I recommend visiting one of the official retail stores of the mobile internet operators such as Three (3), Vodafone and O2. Your best option is to enter their names into Google Maps and find the branch closest to your hotel or accommodation. Typically the staff in the official stores in UK are knowledgable and helpful which means you can ensure you’ll walk away with a functioning sim card.

Despite this, it’s always a good idea to check your internet is working before you leave the store by loading a Google search results page and your preferred social media app. You should also ensure you always bring your passport with you when purchasing a sim card in case they need to register it.

If you like to be prepared and would prefer to arrive in UK with your sim card all sorted and your phone ready to connect to the internet immediately then you should look into purchasing a sim card online.

The first option is to buy your sim card in advance via SimOptions, which is a company that will prepare and ship a sim card directly to your door. It’s a reliable and effective service, but with the invention of eSims it’s becoming obsolete.

The better option is to purchase an eSim online. We’ve written more on that below!

An eSim is a digital version of a traditional sim card and is most likely the future of connectivity for mobile devices. The convenience of no longer visiting a store, handing over your passport and purchasing a physical sim card is quickly making physical sim cards obsolete in favour of eSims.

We recommend Airalo’s eSim when travelling to UK. The Airalo UK eSim offers fast internet speeds, wide coverage and extremely competitive prices making it a far more compelling option than purchasing a physical sim card from any of the local sim card providers.

In order to get set up with an Airalo eSim , all you need to do is visit Airalo here and purchase the eSim online (the $15 USD plan is suitable for most travellers). Once you’ve purchased the sim card Airalo will email you instructions and a QR code. Following these instructions should take just a couple of minutes, then you’ll have a sim card in UK without having to venture outside.

Our preferred eSim provider in UK is Airalo . We used them, alongside a local sim card on another device, for our most recent trip to UK and found the service to be equal to the local sim card but without the hassle of acquiring a sim card in a store.

Airalo’s UK eSim uses the O2 UK and Three UK networks to provide data and connect users to the internet. You can expect very good coverage and reliability with the O2 UK and Three UK networksnetwork as they are amongst the best mobile internet operators in UK.

Here are the plans and prices for Airalo’s UK eSim:

1GB data valid for 7 days – Price: $5 USD 2GB data valid for 15 days – Price: $7.50 USD 3GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $10 USD 5GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $15 USD 10GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $22.50 USD 20GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $36 USD

For most travellers we recommend the 5GB data plan for $15 USD which is valid for 30 days. Some travellers may prefer a larger plan, whilst travellers visiting for just a couple of days may be fine with a smaller plan.

An alternative eSim provider we can recommend is Holafly.

Holafly’s eSim is a suitable option for travellers who require large amounts of data, such as digital nomads and people who work online while they travel. All of Holafly’s UK eSims offer unlimited data.

Holafly’s UK eSim uses the Vodafone UKnetwork to provide data and connect users to the internet. This network will provide reliable speeds and coverage while in UK

Here are the plans and prices for Holafly’s UK eSim:

Unlimited data valid for 5 days – Price: $19 USD Unlimited data valid for 7 days – Price: $27 USD Unlimited data valid for 10 days – Price: $34 USD Unlimited data valid for 15 days – Price: $47 USD Unlimited data valid for 20 days – Price: $54 USD Unlimited data valid for 30 days – Price: $64 USD Unlimited data valid for 60 days – Price: $84 USD Unlimited data valid for 90 days – Price: $99 USD

What is an eSim?

An eSIM is a digital SIM card that is permanently installed in a device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or smartwatch. Unlike traditional SIM cards, it does not need to be physically inserted or removed.

Instead, the eSIM is integrated into the device’s hardware and can be remotely activated and programmed by a mobile network operator. This allows users to easily switch between different mobile networks or plans without the hassle of swapping physical SIM cards.

eSIM technology offers convenience, flexibility, and simplicity, especially for frequent travelers or those who frequently switch between different mobile networks or travel internationally. It eliminates the need to purchase and insert physical SIM cards, making it much easier to manage multiple mobile connections on a single device.

To activate an eSIM, users can scan a QR code provided by their mobile network operator or manually enter the activation details. Once activated, the device can connect to the chosen mobile network and access voice, data, and messaging services just like with a traditional SIM card.

Why Use an eSim?

One reason why using an eSIM can be beneficial is the convenience it offers. Unlike traditional SIM cards, eSIMs eliminate the need for physically inserting or removing a SIM card when switching between mobile networks or plans. This is especially useful for frequent travelers who may need to switch networks or use local SIM cards in different countries.

Another benefit of eSIMs is the dual SIM functionality they provide. With an eSIM, users can have two active mobile numbers on the same device. This feature can be helpful for separating personal and work numbers or for managing multiple phone lines.

Additionally, eSIMs offer a space-saving advantage. Since they are embedded within the device, there is no need for a physical SIM card slot. This allows manufacturers to make devices smaller or utilize the extra space for other components.

The remote provisioning capability of eSIMs is also noteworthy. Activation and management of mobile plans can be done remotely over the air, eliminating the need for a physical SIM card or visiting a store. This offers greater flexibility and convenience in managing mobile connectivity.

Furthermore, eSIM technology ensures future-proofing. As more mobile networks and service providers begin to support eSIMs, using an eSIM-compatible device allows users to take advantage of new services and offerings as they become available.

Overall, eSIM technology provides convenience, flexibility, and future-proofing for mobile connectivity, making it an appealing choice for many users.

eSim Supported Phones

eSIM technology is becoming increasingly popular and is supported by a growing number of smartphones and other devices. Here are some examples of eSIM-compatible phones:

Apple iPhone series (iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, etc.): Apple was one of the early adopters of eSIM technology and offers support for eSIM on various iPhone models.

Google Pixel series (Pixel 3, Pixel 4, Pixel 5, etc.): Google’s Pixel smartphones also support eSIM functionality, allowing users to activate and use eSIMs.

Samsung Galaxy series (Galaxy S22, Galaxy Note 20, etc.): Many of Samsung’s flagship devices now come with eSIM support, enabling users to utilize eSIM technology.

OnePlus devices (OnePlus 7, OnePlus 8, etc.): OnePlus has included eSIM support in some of its smartphone models, offering users the flexibility of using eSIMs.

Motorola Razr (2020): The latest iteration of the iconic Motorola Razr features eSIM compatibility, enabling users to use eSIMs for cellular connectivity.

These are just a few examples, and the list of eSIM-compatible phones continues to expand as more manufacturers embrace this technology. There’s a very strong chance your phone supports eSims so if you’re unsure we recommend looking it up on our list of eSim supported phones .

How to Use an eSim

Using an eSim is new for many travellers, however, the good news is it’s surprisingly easy to get set up – even for the technologically challenged!

Here’s a general guide on how to use an eSIM:

Check eSIM Compatibility: Ensure that your device supports eSIM functionality. Many newer smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, and other devices are eSIM compatible including all iPhones produced since 2018.

Obtain an eSIM: There are multiple ways to acquire an eSIM. You can purchase an eSIM online from a provider like Airalo (which we recommend) or directly from a mobile network operator. Some devices also allow you to scan a QR code provided by your carrier to download the eSIM profile.

Activate the eSIM: Your eSim provider will send you instructions to activate the sim. This will usually involve scanning a QR code, entering an activation code, or downloading the eSIM profile directly onto your device.

Set up the eSIM: Once activated, your device will guide you through the eSIM setup process. This typically involves selecting the eSIM as your preferred mobile plan, configuring settings like data roaming, and entering any necessary authentication details.

Enjoy the Connection: Once the eSIM is set up, you can use it as you would with a physical SIM card. Make calls, send messages, browse the internet, and use data services as needed. You can also switch between eSIM profiles if you have multiple eSIMs installed on your device.

Hi, I’m Mitchell. I’m a full-time traveller, explorer and travel blogger. I've travelled all around the world, using and testing countless travel sim cards along the way. I'm the founder of and writer for Travel Sim Expert where I write guides to help travellers stay connected all around the world.

Hi, I’m Mitchell. I’m a full-time traveller, explorer and travel blogger. Travel Sim Expert is a blog dedicated to helping you find the best sim card for you, no matter where you are or what your budget is. 

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Best Prepaid SIM Card for UK Tourists with Data

Last Updated on December 3, 2023

by Michael Rozenblit

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. That means if you click a link and make a purchase, we may make a small commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see our privacy policy.

One of the most popular destinations to visit anywhere in the world is the United Kingdom. And whether you’re planning a city break in London , explore rural Scotland or anything in between, it’s undeniable that finding the best prepaid SIM card for tourists to the UK will make your time in Britain easier to navigate.

Even if you’re planning to combine your trip in the UK with Ireland or many other countries in continental Europe, you’ll still be able to use any of these prepaid SIM cards in many other countries.

So if you’re wondering what the best UK sim card for visitors is and how to best buy them, check out our guide below to ensure you can easily stay connected while in the UK!

Want a quick answer? My choice for the best UK SIM card that can be purchased online is the  Orange Prepaid SIM with 30GB Data (eSIM available)  or the  Three Prepaid SIM with 12GB data

Table of Contents

Prepaid SIM Card for UK Visitors Comparison

How to purchase a travel sim card for the uk.

If you’re used to buying SIM cards in the USA , you might be pleasantly surprised to know that you can actually buy a local SIM card in many arrival ports of the UK such as Heathrow or Gatwick Airport. However, while this might seem like a convenient option, there are a few disadvantages to taking this approach.

The first and perhaps most obvious one is that if you’re coming to the UK after a long flight, you probably prefer to get as quickly as possible to wherever you’re staying, rather than dealing with shopping for SIM card for the UK.

Secondly, a lot of the SIM cards sold at airports often are marked up meaning you are paying more than you should. And if you’re only travelling in the UK for a short period of time, you probably don’t want to waste your precious time going to the various telecom shops.

Finally, it’s undoubtedly more convenient to be able to connect to data as soon as you land in the UK either to be able to order a cheaper taxi through an app or simply to let your family back home know that you’ve arrived!

With a plethora of great UK prepaid sim cards available online, I personally suggest travellers pre-order one a few weeks before they’re due to leave, pop it into their phone and know that they’ll have data as soon as they land in the UK!

If you prefer to pick one up when landing in the UK and are prepared to pay an inflated price, then you can head to shops like WH Smith and Sim Local or look for vending machines that exist in some airports.

Will a UK SIM Card Work in my Phone?

Before you travel to the UK and buy a SIM card, you want to make sure that your mobile phone is unlocked completely and will work with a different carrier to what you use back home.

If you have bought your mobile phone on a contract plan, you should call your provider at home and check to see if your phone can be unlocked. If you’re not under contract, your phone might still be locked but the provider should unlock it for free.

Be aware that your mobile phone provider might try to upsell you an expensive roaming package — this is undoubtedly the most costly option for travellers heading abroad. If, for whatever reason, you can’t get your phone unlocked, a cheaper option might be to purchase a mobile WiFi hotspot or an unlocked phone online.

Alternatively, you can always rely on public WiFI in cafes and your accommodation, however, this isn’t always ideal for a short trip! If you choose to go down this route, then make sure to subscribe to a quality VPN such as ExpressVPN .

Best SIM Cards for UK Tourists

These are some of the best UK SIM cards for travellers that can be purchased online and allow you to have data as soon as you land!

Three Prepaid SIM with 12GB Data

Whether you’re travelling only in the UK or looking for a SIM card for all of Europe , the Three Prepaid SIM with 12GB Data is undoubtedly one of the best deals available for travellers.

This SIM card comes with 12GB data, 3000 minutes of calls and 3000 texts which can be used for 30 days across a total of 71 countries including the EU countries and even in the US, Canada & Australia!

If you’re travelling for more than 30 days you have the option of recharging your phone, or alternatively, you can consider purchasing a Three SIM Card with 1-year validity here . The only difference to be aware of with these SIM cards is that they don’t include phone calls or SMS credits.

Some things to be aware of with this Three SIM is that you can only use calls or texts for other UK and other European numbers and it’s not possible to use this SIM card as a mobile hotspot.

Orange Prepaid SIM Card with 30GB Data

If the disadvantages of the Three Prepaid SIM card make it not a suitable option for your needs, you’ll be happy to know that the Orange Prepaid SIM card might be the perfect choice for you. It is available as a physical SIM card or an eSIM.

Coming with a whopping 30GB of data it also includes 120 minutes of phone calls and 1000 SMS that can be used to call or message any number around the world.

It also has no restrictions in terms of being able to use the SIM card as a hotspot so you have the guarantee of a reliable internet connection for your laptop!

This SIM card only has 14 days of validity however you can easily recharge online so it’s ideal for heavy data users that will probably be using this SIM card as a hotspot during their travels.

It also has a smaller country list than the Three Prepaid SIM card, as it only works in 30 countries however they do still cover all the major European destinations.

All in all, the Orange SIM card is a fantastic option for a UK sim card for visitors who need a large data allowance and the ability to make some short phone calls back home!

O2 Prepaid SIM Card with Unlimited Data

Another good option for travellers looking for a UK prepaid SIM card is the O2 SIM Card .

This SIM card gives you unlimited data in the UK, however, it doesn’t include any roaming options for Europe so it’s not a great option if you plan on country-hopping.

It also doesn’t include any calls or texts so it’s really designed for people that want a lot of data in the UK only.

The credit is valid for 30 days and it is possible to recharge this SIM card. You can also use it as a mobile hotspot, unlike the Three Prepaid SIM card.

Overall, the O2 SIM Card is a great SIM card choice if you’re planning to primarily stay in the UK and don’t need any calls or texts.

Giffgaff Prepaid SIM Card with 20GB Data

If you want to have flexibility on your trip to the UK when it comes to your data allowance then the Giffgaff SIM with 20GB data is a great option.

This SIM card allows you to purchase 20GB of data with the lowest tier option but you also have options to buy larger data plans which have 35GB or 100GB of data.

This SIM card utilises the O2 network and also includes unlimited calls and texts across the UK. You are also able to use 5GB for data roaming in the EU. There is also the option to pay extra if you would like to call or text the USA.

The Giffgaff SIM card is rechargeable and remains active for up to six months of no usage so is a good option if you plan to do multiple trips to the UK and don’t want to always be buying a new SIM card for every trip.

Cellhire Prepaid SIM Card with 12GB Data

If you’re simply looking for a throwaway SIM Card to use for a one-off trip to the UK & possibly Europe then the Cellhire SIM Card with 12GB data might be a good option for you.

This SIM card doesn’t come with any calls or texts included and isn’t rechargeable which means it’s most suitable for travellers looking for a basic data SIM card.

You can activate it in Europe rather than the UK so it’s ideal if you’re first stop is outside of the United Kingdom.

The Cellhire SIM Card can be purchased with different data limits and has an expiry of 60 days.

It can also be used as a hotspot making it great if you want to share data with friends across devices for a long period of time. In other words, this might be a great option for long-term backpackers in Europe!

If you’re a visitor looking for a travel SIM card for the UK, then you’ll be happy to know that there are a number of great options that can be purchased online to ensure you have internet access as soon as you land!

Are you looking to buy a prepaid SIM card for the UK? Have any questions about these SIMs? Let us know in the comments below!

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Dublin or Belfast: Which Irish City to Visit?

About Michael Rozenblit

Michael is a co-founder and writer for The World Was Here First. Both solo and with his partner, Maggie, he has travelled to over 50 countries across the globe and has a particular affinity for the Balkans and Eastern Europe. He’s lived in numerous countries worldwide but currently resides in his hometown of Melbourne, Australia. Read more about Michael

Hi Micheal, I am a visitor in Uk and will stay there for 3 weeks.I need just internet data service on my phone as I am planning to use it for just navigation or texting / calling via whatasapp whenever I am out .I will arrive in Heathrow.As far as I check it seems that there is no good deal for me at the airport.I need a simcard that can be bought and activated right there .I checked O2 deals ,but not sure any option would be there that can be bought right in place in any O2 stores or any other service providers that meets my requirement.what is your recommendation?Thanks in advance.

Hello Michael, Flying in from Austria (EU) we do not have the free roaming option between EU to GB and vice versa anymore due to Brexit . I’m going to London only for a five-day stay arriving in Stansted . I have a Samsung mobile A52 with Dual SIM and need a prepaid SIMcard only for roaming from London to EU with 4 to 5 GB data . What is your recommendation , Thanks

Hi Andy, The Orange or Three SIM would be my choice.

Hello Michael! I’ll be traveling to both UK and Greece for a total stay of 10 days, and would like to know which SIM card would suit my travel plans considering that I am arriving in UK first. I mainly need the internet data service as am planning to use both FaceTime and iMessage as my main means of communication. Thank you in advance!

Good evening Michael, I will be travelling thru Scotland, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Wales and England on self drive holiday mid next year. I am hoping to use Apple maps as a navigation tool in our hire car and am looking for a SIM only arrangement that provides enough data for 42 days touring (est. 20GB) and allows some text and call time. Any suggestions, as it seems nothing available currently achieves my requirements. Thanks Steve

Hi Stephen, I would suggest choosing a SIM card that you can recharge.

Hi Michael,

Thanks for the info. Do you know average price of sims purchased locally? Since I’m travelling to Scotland next week I don’t think I’ll be able to order sim online.

Thanks, Hadas

Hi Hadas, It will depend entirely on how much data/credit you’ll want for your trip.

Hi Michael, I’ll be traveling through out Scotland and a portion of England, then to Republic of Ireland over the course of about 25 days. Is there one sim card that will work in both areas?

Thanks, Mike

Hi Mike, All the listed SIMs should work in both the UK and Ireland.

Hi Michael, I’m planning on being in the UK for 50 days. I notice most SIM cards are for 30 days or less. Do I need to purchase 2 sim cards? Thanks, Kevin

Hi Kevin, Several of the SIM cards listed in this article are rechargeable.

I will be in UK only for 32 days and spend much my time in rural West Somerset, Wales, and Cornwall.

Hi Michael!

Do you know which would work best in the Scottish Highlands?

Thank you in advance and Happy New Year.

The Orange SIM is a good option if travelling in more rural areas.

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Best SIM cards for tourists visiting the UK: all your options

The retailers featured on this page may compensate us when our readers follow links to their websites and make a purchase. More

If you're coming to the UK for a temporary trip and want to avoid roaming charges with your home provider, here are the networks you can join. Last updated: 22nd August 2022.

Best networks for visiting the UK

It is possible to get a uk mobile plan even if you’re just visiting.

✔ Many providers let you roam in the EU too

If you’re coming to the UK for an extended visit then you may want to take out a UK SIM, so you won’t have to worry about what roaming here will cost with your home network.

If you’re arriving from abroad then you most likely won’t have a UK bank account. So you’ll need to know which networks let you pay by alternative methods like Paypal and which ones let you pay with a debit/credit card.

The majority of networks require you to have a UK address to deliver a SIM card to, and only one of them delivers SIMs outside of the UK. And eSIMs aren’t that common here yet.

But there are also some networks where you can pick up a SIM card in a supermarket, vending machine or local shop, which let you pay for monthly bundles of minutes, texts and data. These tend to be poorer value than buying online though.

Useful link: The best UK networks for roaming

Some UK networks are better than others

✔ There are four main mobile networks in the UK

There are four main networks in the UK. These are EE, O2, Vodafone and Three. But there are also an unusually large number of smaller, low-cost virtual operators in the UK that use the main networks to provide signal.

One thing you’ll have to consider when choosing between networks is how well they cover the UK with call signal (3G/2G) and 4G/5G data signal. Vodafone and O2 have widespread call signal, EE and Vodafone have widespread 4G, while Three tend to be decent in big cities mainly.

UK networks can use nine different network bands (ranges of signal frequency) and each network uses different bands. There may be some compatibility issues with foreign devices. You can check which bands your phone is compatible with on the manufacturer’s website.

You might also want to know which networks let you roam in the EU for free if you’re going to another country and still want to use up the allowance you’ve paid for. Not all networks offer EU roaming these days, so it’s important to know.

Finally we may highlight the specific benefits of each network if we think they’re relevant to UK visitors. If you want to know more about each one you can read our full reviews of them on this website.

Useful link: Find the best value deals with our SIM comparison tool

eSIMs aren’t yet really an option for you

✔ No pre-pay networks offer eSIM yet Read eSIM guide

at simsherpa.com (opens in new window)

If you’re on an eSIM-ready phone, you might be wondering if you can just order a UK SIM online and download it to your device. That would remove the waiting time and hassle of having your SIM delivered and remove the need for a UK address.

The issue is that the only networks here that offer eSIMs either restrict it to their pay monthly contracts, which require you to have a UK bank account, or make you take out a physical SIM card first.

We could see eSIMs come out on more networks in the future, which could be another option for people visiting the UK to take a SIM. But for now it’s just not an option, which is a bit of a shame.

Useful link: Our full guide to eSIMs

Which networks are best for visiting the UK?

Giffgaff will deliver your sim abroad.

✔ Get your SIM card in advance How this works

at giffgaff.com (opens in new window)

giffgaff are by far the best network if you’re travelling to the UK . This is largely because they’re the only UK network that will deliver your SIM to you outside of the UK. This means you can take out and activate your SIM before arriving.

This takes a lot of the hassle out of the process. And giffgaff let you pay by Paypal on their website , meaning you don’t need a UK debit or credit card in order to take out your plan. Their plans are also typically low-cost:

Add to that the fact that all their SIM only plans are on 1-month deals, rather than contracts. That means once the month is up you can leave your plan without an issue, and there are no credit checks to join.

Finally, if you’re going to travel outside the UK within that month then giffgaff let you do that. You can roam at no extra cost in these EU destinations up to 20GB of your allowance.

And giffgaff use the O2 network, which means call signal is very widespread and 4G/5G coverage is decent. Overall, giffgaff should be your first choice if you need a SIM to visit the UK.

Useful link: Our full review of giffgaff

spusu let you join on an eSIM with no contract

✔ Download your eSIM before you arrive How it works

at spusu.com (opens in new window)

spusu are very forward looking in that they let you join on an eSIM right away without needing to wait for a QR code to be delivered. And they offer all their plans on no-contract, 1-month deals without credit checks.

This means you can join on a spusu eSIM before you come to the UK and start using your SIM when you land. It should connect you right away so you don’t have to worry about being stuck with no signal.

Of course, not everyone has an eSIM compatible phone. And unfortunately spusu don’t deliver physical SIMs abroad. So if your phone doesn’t support eSIMs your best choice would be to join giffgaff instead.

But you can roam in 35 EU countries at no extra cost, you get 500 inclusive minutes to EU countries on all plans and you get full access to EE’s network. In all, spusu are a great choice if you can get an eSIM.

Useful link: Read our full spusu review

You can buy pre-paid SIMs in UK shops

✔ Convenience stores and vending machines

There are a few UK networks that let you buy a SIM that’s already topped up with a monthly allowance of minutes, texts and data in supermarkets, convenience stores and other types of shops.

This has its advantages. You can buy them using any payment option the shop will take, you don’t have to wait for delivery and it eliminates a few of the pre-requisites stopping you getting a SIM online.

Vodafone , EE and Three all three of the four main UK networks. Their pay monthly bundles are fairly expensive and worse value than their contracts. None of them include EU roaming on your plan and make you pay for it separately.

O2 are the fourth UK network. Their monthly bundles are similar value to Vodafone’s and EE’s, however they’re the only main network to include EU roaming in your plan at no extra cost.

VOXI are a sub-brand of Vodafone and offer brilliant unlimited streaming data benefits (read more here), EU roaming in these destinations and use Vodafone’s brilliant network on all their flexible 1-month deals.

ASDA are a supermarket brand, but you can join their mobile network ASDA Mobile by taking a SIM in an ASDA store. They offer 1-month plans and use the Vodafone network at low-costs. You get free EU roaming in these destinations .

Tesco Mobile are another mobile network set up by a supermarket brand. You can buy a pre-paid SIM or top-up in any Tesco store. They’re also the only network that let you use your whole data allowance abroad .

SMARTY are a super-cheap provider offering flexible 1-month deals. They do use Three’s network which isn’t as great for call or 4G signal coverage. You can roam in these EU destinations and use up to 12GB of your allowance.

You can also take a giffgaff SIM in-store, but we think you’re better off getting it delivered abroad as you’ll get a better value deal and set up your SIM before you arrive.

iD Mobile are a low-cost provider that use Three’s network. They offer free EU roaming on all plans in these destinations. You can only get iD Mobile SIMs in Curry’s (computer hardware) stores .

LycaMobile and Lebara offer some free international minutes on all of their plans as well as EU roaming. You can find their SIMs in most stores (see LycaMobile’s store locator here )

There are a few downsides to these as well. Typically these will be worse value than buying online (and much worse value than their monthly contracts) as you have to pay a premium. And SIMs from vending machines tend to be even pricier.

And of course you can’t set up your SIM before you arrive like you can with giffgaff. It’s inconvenient to go around looking for a shop and then sorting through the different SIMs on the shelf. It just adds another layer of things to do.

But if you don’t mind all that, then you can see which networks offer the best value monthly bundles here .

Useful link: Our guide to the best PAYG networks

Some cheaper mobile networks let you pay by PayPal online

✔ Pay with your home bank on Paypal

There are a few networks that let you pay for your deal via Paypal or alternative payment options online. If you’re able to get your SIM delivered to your accommodation then this is certainly an option.

VOXI , SMARTY , giffgaff , 1pMobile , Tesco Mobile , LycaMobile , Lebara and iD Mobile all let you order a SIM online without needing a UK debit/credit card. You can either order one with a monthly bundle of minutes, texts and data installed, or top-up online separately.

Since you’re not setting up a direct debit or joining a contract, you won’t need to pass a credit check on any of these networks. This is essential, as you won’t have a credit history when arriving in the UK.

Some of these networks claim you’ll get your SIM delivered within 2 working days, others say up to 3 days or more.

Useful link: Use our SIM only comparison tool

There are contract options that probably won’t be available to you

✔ You'd need a permanent UK address

Finally there are a few networks who either offer their best deals as SIM only contracts, or who only offer contracts, meaning that they’ll largely be closed off to tourists visiting the UK.

Sky Mobile , Virgin Mobile , BT Mobile and Talkmobile only offer SIM only contracts online, requiring you to have a UK address and bank account. That means they’re simply not options for anyone visiting the UK, unless someone takes out the deal for you.

Honest Mobile offer flexible 1-month SIM only deals, but they require you to have a UK bank account and address, so they’re also not an option for you.

It’s a shame because Talkmobile and Virgin offer some great value deals, while Sky, BT and Honest offer some unique benefits on top of their plans.

If you know someone in the UK you can get them to buy for you, but that’s not ideal as most of these offer at minimum 12-month contracts. But Talkmobile and Honest offer 1-month contracts, so that might be an option for you.

Useful link: The difference between 1-month plans vs 1-month contracts

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The best united kingdom prepaid data plans and sim cards | how to buy a sim card for the uk.

A guide to everything you need to know about using data plans and SIM cards while traveling in the United Kingdom.

phones and technology

If you’re traveling to the United Kingdom it’s smart to buy a fast and reliable mobile data plan because you’ll be using it all the time—train tickets are digital, restaurant menus are digital, museum/event tickets are electronic, Google Maps need data, calling an UBER/taxi needs data, and many other things require reliable data. That’s why it’s smart to buy a prepaid United Kingdon SIM card with a mobile data plan when you visit.

In this guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know about buying a SIM Card in the UK and how to buy the best prepaid high-speed mobile data plan that won’t cost you a lot of money.

UPDATE:  This article is about physical SIM Cards but most new phones are eSIM compatible. These new digital eSIMs are more convenient than physical SIM cards because they don’t require you to install a new physical SIM card. You simply buy the prepaid data plan online, scan a QR code that’s sent to your email to install the digital “card”, and you’re ready to go.  Read The Savvy Backpacker’s Guide To The  Best eSIM Data Plans for Europe and my guide to the best prepaid UK eSIM data plans .

How To Buy A Prepaid SIM Card Data Plan For The United Kingdom

There are two main options when it comes to buying a SIM Card for the UK:

• The Easy Way (Buy a SIM Card Before You Travel): Buying a prepaid data plan before you travel is slightly more expensive but it’s much more convenient (and you have mobile data as soon as you arrive in the United Kingdom).
• In general, it’s easier to pre-buy a prepaid data plan if you’re visiting for less than two weeks. But buying a local SIM card will be cheaper for longer trips.

IMPORTANT: Prior to leaving the UK leaving the European Union in 2020, any data plan bought in the EU would work in any EU country without any extra roaming fees (i.e. a UK data plan could be used in Italy, a German plan could be used in the UK, a French plan could be used in Spain, etc.). However, now many EU-country plans don’t work or charge extra when used in the UK (and vice versa) so you might have to buy two plans if the UK is part of a larger European trip. That said, there are still a few data plans that work in both the UK and the EU (like the Orange Holiday SIM and Orange Holiday eSIM ). I’ll go into more detail later in this article.

How To Buy A Prepaid UK SIM Card Before You Travel (i.e. The Easy Way)

The easiest way to get mobile data for your phone in the United Kingdom is to pre-purchase a SIM card before you depart.

There are a handful of data plans aimed at visitors/non-residents that are a bit more expensive than waiting to buy a SIM card in the UK but there is zero hassle—no tracking down a mobile phone shop, no registering your SIM card, no lapse in internet service, etc.

You simply pop the SIM card into your phone once you’re in the UK and it will automatically connect to a local mobile data provider.

There are a number of different mobile data plans available at SimOptions.com (I’ve used them in the past) and they’ll ship the SIM card to you before your trip.

UPDATE: Most new phones now support eSIM data plans and they’re even more convenient than traditional SIM cards—instant delivery, no shipping charges, you can keep your regular SIM card, etc. In short, an eSIM is embedded in your phone so you just download software to activate the data plan. Learn more about eSIM data plans and see if your phone accepts eSIMs in my  Guide to Prepaid eSIM Data Plans in Europe .

QUICK MATH: You’ll typically spend a total of an extra $10-$20 over the course of a two-week trip if you buy your SIM card ahead at SimOptions.com vs waiting to buy in the United Kingdom—personally, I think the extra cost is worth the convenience.

The Best Tourist-Friendly, Pre-Paid SIM Cards For The United Kingdom

Here are my top SIM cards if you’re wanting a pre-purchase your SIM before arriving in the UK:

Orange Holiday Europe Prepaid SIM Card

The Orange Holiday Europe Prepaid SIM Card is probably the best all-around option for SIM cards that can be purchased abroad because it offers a lot of data for a good price—and it includes a lot of worldwide calls and text.

Additionally, Orange is one of the largest mobile companies in Europe so they have great coverage throughout most of Europe (which isn’t always the case with smaller European carriers).

The Orange Holiday plans work in both the UK and the EU at no extra charge so this makes a great option for multi-country trips.

Plan Specs:

• CALLS: Unlimted in Europe and 1200 minutes worldwide
• TEXT: Unlimted in Europe and 1000 worldwide
• USED AS A MOBILE HOTSPOT?: Yes
• CREDIT VALID FOR: 14 Days

The Orange Holiday Europe plan is good because it gives you a lot of mobile data for a decent price but the only possible drawback is the 14-day validity period—which doesn’t matter if your trip is less than two weeks. That said, you can buy an extra 10GB of credit after the two weeks are up for around $25.

If want to save a little money, check out the $30 Orange Holiday Zen plan that gives you 8GB of data for 14 days.

Update: The Orange Holiday data plans are also available as an eSIM—which means you don’t have to wait for delivery or pay for shipping (assuming your phone is eSIM compatible). Check out the eSIM data plans at SimOptions to get the details on both the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM and the Orange Holiday Zen eSIM plans. Learn more about eSIM data plans and see if your phone accepts eSIM cards in my Guide to eSIM Prepaid Data Plans in Europe .

Three UK PAYG AIO15

Three UK is another large European mobile carrier and their PAYG AIO15 plan is a good value for people who don’t need the 20GB offered by the Orange Holiday Europe plan. I like how the plan has a validity period of 30 days so it’s good for longer trips.

• CALLS: Unlimted in Europe
• TEXT: Unlimted in Europe
• USED AS A MOBILE HOTSPOT?: No
• CREDIT VALID FOR: 30 Days

Note: SimOptions.com has other cards for sale but the options listed above are the best options/deals.

Where To Buy A Prepaid SIM Card Data Plan in The United Kingdom?

Buying a prepaid SIM card with a data plan in the UK is reasonably straightforward so keep reading to learn the best way to get your mobile data at the best price possible.

The first step is knowing where to go to buy SIM Cards that have prepaid mobile data. In general, there are three main places that sell SIM cards:

Carrier-Specific Mobile Carriers

The major mobile carriers will have brick-and-mortar shops throughout most major cities. Shops are typically clustered around the city center so finding these shops is fairly simple. The largest carriers are:

If you’re not tech-savvy, then going to one of these shops is probably your best bet since the employees should be able to troubleshoot any issues while you’re in the store.

Third-Party Phone Shops

There are many mobile phone shops that sell a range of phone plans from multiple companies. Employees might be able to offer some help getting set up but service probably won’t be as good as carrier-specific shops.

Newsstands, Tobacco Shops, Grocery Stores, Vending Machines, etc

You can find SIM cards being sold in multiple smaller shops at airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, etc), train stations, newsstands, bookshops, and randomly throughout most cities. One note is that most “tourist-heavy” spots (like airports and train stations) might only have more expensive plans.

This is where you’ll find plans sold by smaller companies so prices might be a bit cheaper but your data speeds/coverage might be limited.

Large grocery stores like Asda and Tesco will also have their own data plans you can buy in-store.

Don’t expect any customer service when buying from these kinds of shops.

The Best SIM Card Data Plans in the UK

The United Kingdom is served by a handful of major mobile operators and a few smaller companies. I recommend sticking with the major companies I’ve listed below (especially for visitors) since the major carriers will have the best coverage, speeds, and customer service.

Regarding price and service, most mobile carriers offer very similar pricing and coverage—especially when you’re in major cities.

O2 Prepaid Data Plan

O2 offers a few plans that range from £15 ($19) for 20GB of data to £30 ($37) for 100GB of data. O2 is also the largest carrier in the UK so coverage will be good.

EE Prepaid Data Plan

EE is another very popular mobile provider in the UK (they were formed when Orange and T-Mobile merged) and they have similar plans/prices as O2 with plans that range from £15 ($19) for 20GB of data to £30 ($37).

Three UK Prepaid Data Plan

Three UK is the third of the big four mobile carriers in the UK. Three often runs deals so you might be able to find a slightly better price here than with the other carriers depending on their current offers.

Vodafone Prepaid Data Plan

Vodafone is the world’s second-largest mobile provider and Vodafone UK is the longest-running mobile provider in the UK.

Prepaid Budget Mobile Data Plan

There are a number of budget mobile companies that piggyback off the four main carriers’ networks (i.e. Lebara uses Vodafone, BT Mobile uses EE, Asda uses Vodafone, etc) so you can often get very similar service at a lower price.

Some of the most popular are Lebara ,  BT Mobile ,  Asda Mobile ,  giffgaff , and  Virgin Mobile .

UK SIM Card and Prepaid Data Plan Basics

Here is some helpful background info on mobile data plans so you have a better idea of how mobile data service works in the UK.

How Much Mobile Data Do You Need?

As long as you’re not streaming music/videos or uploading a ton of photos, you probably won’t use more than 3GB-6GB of mobile data a week. In fact, the average American smartphone owner uses around 10GB of mobile data each month. 

If you’re spending a lot of time on social media (notably Instagram and TikTok) then you might use a bit more but if you’re just doing normal web browsing and using Google Maps then you might only use 1-2GB a week.

UK SIM Cards and EU Roaming Fees

The United Kingdom is no longer part of the European Union so you may run into some issues using UK data plans in the EU and vice versa. Your plan may either not work at all when you cross borders or you could get charged extra roaming fees. This means you might have to buy two different data plans if you’re visiting multiple European countries.

The benefit of using the Orange Holiday Europe SIM or the Orange Holiday eSIM is that it works in both the EU and UK.

You can also check out my other prepaid mobile data articles:

• Guide To Buying SIM Cards and Mobile Data Plans in  France
• Guide to Buying SIM Cards and Mobile Data Plans in  Germany
• Guide To Buying SIM Cards and Mobile Data Plans in  Italy
• Guide To Buying SIM Cards and Mobile Data Plans in  Spain

Your Phone Must Be Unlocked

Some mobile carriers (mainly in the US, Australia, and New Zealand) “lock” their phones so they’ll only work on that carrier’s network—this typically applies if you have a plan that includes a free phone with a multi-year contract. You’ll need to contact your carrier and have them “unlock” your phone so it will accept a third-party SIM card.

In the US, carriers are required to unlock phones if the customer requests it but it’s rarely unlocked by default. That said, a few carriers still make customers jump through hoops to unlock their phones so don’t put this off until the last minute or you could be out of luck.

A New SIM Card Gives You A New Phone Number

Installing a new SIM card gives you a new phone number so your old number won’t work until you reinstall your original SIM card [ Keep your other SIM card in a safe place! ]. So, if people need to reach you, you’ll need to tell people your new UK number. NOTE: iMessage will still work like normal even with a new SIM card installed (your iPhone will update when you install the new SIM).

Remember, lots of websites and apps use two-factor authentication that’s connected to your phone number so that will no longer be an option with the new SIM installed. And if you use Uber/Lyft, you’ll need to update your new phone number in the app when you install your new SIM.

More Tips On Using Your Mobile Phone In The United Kingdom

I’ve written extensively about using smartphones and data plans in Europe as well as tips for buying SIM Cards For Visiting Europe but below are some more helpful tips about using your phone in Spain.

Buy A Portable Battery Charger

Traveling with your phone will quickly drain your battery so I highly recommend a portable battery. I use  Anker PowerCore 10000  because it’s tiny and affordable but there are multiple options.

Take Steps To Lower Your Mobile Data Usage

Data can be expensive and it’s extremely easy to unknowingly burn through a lot of data because many apps use data in the background. Facebook, email, Instagram, Snapchat… those all constantly use data throughout the day without you knowing it. That’s it’s important to know how to limit your data usage.

Use Airplane Mode And Block Data to Specific Apps

I’ll put my phone in Airplane Mode because that disables all data (but GPS still works in Airplane Mode). You can also go into the settings and disable data access to each individual app. I’ll go in and turn every off except for things like Google Maps or others that I’ll use more frequently — this way when I turn off Airplane Mode only those apps that will use data. Then I’ll turn Airplane Mode back on when I’m done.

Download Offline Maps

Google Maps lets you download entire city maps so they can be used offline. As an added bonus, GPS doesn’t use data so offline Google Maps works fairly well (but not all functionality works). Here is a good YouTube video that explains everything.

Make Calls Over WiFi

WhatsApp is an excellent app for free calling and text messages — I’ve found that many Europeans exclusively use WhatsApp to communicate (including many Airbnb hosts).

More United Kingdom Travel Tips From The Savvy Backpacker

Here are some more helpful articles we’ve written about visiting the UK on a budget:

• London Travel Guide
• How Much It Costs To Visit London
• London On A Budget
• Best Hostels In London
• Backpacking Europe Packing List
• Europe Packing List for Women
• The Best Travel Shoes
• The Best Travel Backpacks  and  The Best Travel Backpacks For Women
• Recent Posts

• How To Buy Train Tickets in France | Guide To Buying French Train Tickets - July 26, 2024
• France Train Guide — How To Travel France By Train - July 25, 2024
• Best Prepaid USA eSIM Data Plans For Travelers | eSIM Buyer’s Guide - July 3, 2024

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The Savvy Backpacker is reader-supported. That means when you buy products/services through links on the site, I may earn an affiliate commission—it doesn’t cost you anything extra and it helps support the site.

Thanks For Reading! — James

Questions? Learn more about our Strict Advertising Policy and How To Support Us .

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Buying a Prepaid Sim Card for the UK in 2024

Traveling to the UK and wondering what is the best way to stay connected? Don't waste money on high roaming costs or slow overseas data roaming plans. In this complete guide for finding the best sim card for your trip to the UK you will read everything you need to know about buying a prepaid sim card in the UK.

Find out everything about the best 4G/5G network coverage, a comparison of the UK mobile internet providers, up to date prices as per August 2024, the best e-sim cards for the UK, where to buy a sim card, all about EU roaming with UK prepaid sim cards, international sim cards and more.

The easiest place to buy a sim card in the UK is directly on arrival at the airport. More expensive but very convenient. Check out my guides for buying a UK sim card at:  London Heathrow ,  London Gatwick , Stansted ,  Luton  or  Manchester Airport  and I will tell you exactly where to go, how much UK sim cards cost at the airport, if you can get an e-sim card at the airport and more.

In this article you will find a UK sim card comparison of all the pay-as-you-go deals from the mobile internet providers in the UK and the most well known MVNO's. All the prepaid sim card deals mentioned in this article can be bought in any official retail store or reseller shops across the UK.

Unfortunately as per August 2024 you can still only get physical prepaid sim cards, there are no e-sims for tourists available. Are you looking for e-sims for the UK then check out my comparison of the best e-sim cards for traveling to the UK in 2024 .

Being a full time nomadic travel blogger since 2012 and also trying to visit every country in the world you can understand why I constantly change countries. In 2022 I visited a total of 62 different countries and in 2023 I traveled to 34 countries.

Nowadays I pretty much all the time use e-sim cards as they are the easiest way to stay connected, but sometimes I prefer local prepaid sim cards, depending on my trip.

Looking for the best to stay connected is the first thing I do when I get to a new country and I like to document my research for the best sim cards and all my travel tips. Therefore on Traveltomtom you can already find more than 200 sim card guides from all over the world: USA , Asia ,  Malaysia ,  Brazil , Cameroon ,  Kenya , South Africa , Costa Rica , Bali , Indonesia , Philippines , Australia .

But also places like New York ,  Paris , Rome , Amsterdam , Barcelona , Mexico , Canada , Panama , Thailand , Bangkok , Hong Kong , etc.

So next time you are planning your adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid and e-sim card advice for your next holiday destination. Bookmark me!

My recommendation

Traveltomtom recommends a Three (3) sim card for traveling to the UK. For £20 GBP ($25 USD) you get 50 GB data for 30 days on one of the best 4G/5G data networks in the UK. Plus Three UK still offers (limited) free data roaming in Europe with their prepaid sim cards plans.

None of the mobile internet providers in the UK offer e-sims for prepaid users. So tourists that looking to get an e-sim card for the UK will have to order one online. But don't worry...

Traveltomtom wrote a complete guide for the best e-sim cards for traveling to the UK in 2024 .

The easiest way to get internet on your phone when traveling to the UK in 2024 is an e-sim card. E-sim cards are Traveltomtom's first recommendation on how to stay connected when traveling to the United Kingdom.

You can get a UK e-sim card for with 100 GB data (5G ready) + unlimited calls valid in all of Europe for $59.90 USD. Or simply get an e-sim card for just $5 USD, the cheapest way to stay connected when traveling to the UK.

Traveltomtom recommends ordering UK e-sim cards via either Airalo  or SimOptions  or one of the other reliable e-sim providers like Jetpac, Holafly, Nomad, etc.

you may also like...

Traveltomtom in general recommends local prepaid sim cards over international physical prepaid sim cards. However, especially since Brexit and the end of free EU data roaming, some international sim cards are actually much better deals for traveling to Europe.

Check out my article with a  comparison of the best international sim cards for traveling in 2024  or my complete guide for the best prepaid and e-sim cards for Europe travel .

If you are NOT a fan of swapping sim cards and changing phone numbers then you might want to look into the option of getting a portable WiFi device for your trip to the UK. Personally I am not a fan and I will tell you why in my HONEST review about using a pocket WiFi when traveling .

Best e-sim cards for the UK

E-sim cards are the easiest, fastest and cheapest way to stay connected when traveling to UK in 2024.

However, as of August 2024 no mobile internet provider in the UK provides e-sim cards for tourists. All the Vodafone, O2, Three and EE stores in the UK do NOT sell e-sim cards in stores across the UK, only physical prepaid sim cards are offered for tourists.

The only place to buy an e-sim card for the UK is on the internet, which is actually even easier. No more visiting a sim card store, no more swapping physical sim cards! You arrange everything online within just a couple minutes.

You order an e-sim card for the UK on the internet, you receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and within less than 2 minutes you have a UK e-sim card installed on your phone.

Upon arrival in the United Kingdom it automatically connects you to an available network and you enjoy data on your phone pretty much when the plane lands.

There are many e-sim card providers that Traveltomtom has tested and reviewed multiple times: Holafly, Airalo, SimOptions, Nomad, Jetpac, etc. Below you will find a selection of Traveltomtom's favorite UK e-sims, but for much more detailed info and an answer to all FAQ's about using e-sim cards check out Traveltomtom's complete guide with everything you need to know before ordering an e-sim card for traveling to the UK in 2024 .

Traveltomtom has used Airalo uncountable times without ever facing a problem. Airalo offers e-sims for pretty much every country in the world.

Check out the Airalo e-sim card plans for the UK in 2024:

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $5 USD
• 2 GB data for 15 days = $7.5 USD
• 3 GB data for 30 days = $10 USD
• 5 GB data for 30 days = $15 USD
• 10 GB data for 30 days = $22.5 USD
• 20 GB data for 30 days = $36 USD

Click here to directly order an Airalo e-sim card for the UK .

All the above e-sim cards for the UK from Uki Mobile are data-only and calls are NOT supported. The data allowance is only valid in the UK, there is no free EU roaming with these e-sim cards. They operate on the 4G/LTE networks of O2 and Three.

SimOptions offers different kind of e-sim cards, so called international e-sims. Traveltomtom has used SimOptions in more than 50 countries around the world.

The above e-sim cards are just a small selection of what SimOptions has to offer.

If you are looking for UK e-sim cards that support call and texting as well as EU roaming then check out the following international e-sim cards for the UK from SimOptions:

• 10 GB data (5G ready) + $2 calling credit for 30 days = $22.90 USD
• 20 GB data + unlimited calls for 15 days = $23.90 USD
• 12 GB data + 30 minutes international + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $29.90 USD
• 20 GB data-only valid in UK, Canada, USA, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand = $34.90 USD
• 30 GB data + unlimited calls/text for 30 days = $44.90 USD
• 30 GB data + 120 minutes international + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $49.90 USD
• 60 GB data + unlimited calls for 30 days = $51.90 USD
• 100 GB data (5G ready) + 120 minutes international + unlimited calls/text for 28 days = $59.90 USD

Click here for more info or to order an international e-sim card for the UK via SimOptions .

Before ordering an e-sim card for the UK make sure your phone is e-sim compatible and unlocked. If not sure contact your mobile internet provider in your home country before traveling to the United Kingdom.

There are many more e-sim providers like Holafly, Jetpac, Nomad, etc. Check out Traveltomtom's comparison of the best UK e-sims in the link below.

For more info about using e-sim cards when traveling to the UK check out my guide with everything you need to know about UK e-sim cards , including up to date prices, my recommendations, more about UK e-sim cards with unlimited data, FAQ about e-sim cards and much more.

If your phone is not e-sim compatible there is also still the possibility of ordering an international physical prepaid sim card with coverage in the UK. You order online and a physical sim card gets delivered to your home address before your trip.

For $44.90 USD you get 30 GB data + unlimited calls within Europe and 120 minutes worldwide . Click on the link to get more info via SimOptions.

Do UK prepaid sim cards allow free EU roaming?

One of the best things the European Union came up with after the Euro was the ban on roaming charges within the EU countries. That means you can use a sim card from Italy also in France, Spain, etc. without extra charges, so called free EU data roaming.

The UK was always part of this deal but unfortunately since Brexit most mobile internet provider in the UK stopped offering free EU roaming. That means if you buy a sim card with 30 GB data in London and 2 days later you travel to Paris your sim card won't work unless you pay an extra fee per day!

Only Three UK still offers free EU roaming on their prepaid sim cards. Vodafone UK, EE and O2 started charging an extra fee for EU data roaming on their pay-as-you-go plans.

This makes UK prepaid sim cards pretty useless for traveling to Europe. If you are traveling in Europe onwards after visiting the UK, you better have choose one of these sim cards for traveling in Europe in 2024 , which you can also use in the UK.

Read more info about EU roaming and all my tips and tricks in my guide for buying a local sim cards in Europe in 2024 .

Why buying a sim card for the UK?

Being connected to the internet makes life so much more easier! Imagine having no data connection on your phone when you travel to the UK! Ordering a cab on the streets or getting directions from Google Maps, finding a nearby restaurant with good reviews, etc. suddenly all becomes pretty difficult. So many simple things that you can only do when you have a working internet connection on your phone: check your banking apps, sports results, staying in touch, finding nearby friends and so on.

You can of course use data roaming or overseas data plans, but these plans work with reduced internet speed. Plus, why pay $10 per day when for $25 USD you can get unlimited 4G/5G data for a whole month!? Data roaming is much more expensive than local prepaid sim cards and buying a sim card in the UK is easy. Getting an e-sim card for the UK is even easier!

Yes, all hotels, bars, restaurants, sometimes even trains and busses have free public WiFi. However, keep in mind that public WiFi is through an UNSECURED internet connection? The use of a VPN service is recommended.

Just don't rely on WiFi, thank me later! Traveltomtom recommends buying a local prepaid sim card for traveling in the UK or an e-sim card.

However, since the United Kingdom left the EU following Brexit, there are now EU roaming charges. So if you are traveling to Europe, you might want to look into buying a sim card for Europe rather than a UK sim card. More about that later.

Mobile internet operators in the UK

Before I make a UK prepaid sim card comparison I will first show you all the available mobile internet operators in the UK. 

There are 5 main mobile internet providers in the UK:

• Virgin Mobile

Virgin Mobile UK does not offer prepaid or pay as you go sim cards for the UK! All the other providers sell prepaid sim cards for tourists. In the UK they call them often pay-as-you-go sim cards.

On top of the above available mobile internet providers there are a dozen of other local sim cards available in smaller shops which I did not take into consideration, so called MVNO's. For tourists on a short stay I do not recommend any of these sim cards. But you can check out Lebara or Lycamobile sim cards for the UK. Sometimes they have good prepaid sim card deals.

When arriving at London Heathrow ,  London Gatwick , London Stansted  or  London Luton Airport you are able to buy a Lebara sim card or a Lycamobile sim card at the airport. Both sim cards also work fine for traveling in Europe. The problem is they have a lot of restrictions, surprises and hidden fees or very limited EU roaming, etc.

RELATED: Best E-Sim Cards for Traveling to the UK in 2024 .

Where to buy a UK sim card for tourists

International airport on arrival in the uk.

If you are flying to the UK and landing at one of the following airports: Heathrow ,  Gatwick , Stansted ,  Luton  or Manchester Airport then click on the links for a detailed guide for buying a UK sim card on the airport.

At Heathrow Airport you can now buy e-sim cards as well, but the prices of UK e-sim cards you buy on the internet are cheaper.

Official retail stores

When looking to buy a sim card in any city in the UK, it is best to use Google Maps to find the nearest mobile phone shop or official retail store nearby. Simply type in your preferred mobile internet operator and add store to it. For example your search term would be: ‘Vodafone store’.

The search results on Google Maps will then show you all the Vodafone shops around you. Simple as that! :)

At the official retail stores you will get the best service and the staff will make sure everything is working perfect and smooth and you are connected before you walk out of the store.

Convenience Store

You can also buy a prepaid sim card for the UK in a convenience store. But is that convenient? Well, if you know what you are doing and are ok with the registering the sim card yourself online then it is an option. Some bigger supermarkets also sell UK sim cards. Traveltomtom does not recommend buying a sim card for a convenience store as the staff has no exact knowledge about these sim cards. Is EU-roaming included or not? How to do the registration? Scan your own passport, etc. Just too complicated for tourists.

Tourists can also order sim cards for the UK online. International sim cards are physical sim cards that will be shipped to your home address before your trip and are ready to use when you travel to the UK. International and e-Sim cards for the UK can only be bought online and not in a store.

Another popular way of staying connected when traveling to the UK are e-Sim cards. As mentioned before it is very easy to order a UK e-sim card on the internet. Check out my comparison of the best UK e-sim cards in 2024  and find the best e-sim card for your trip to the UK.

UK prepaid sim card comparison in 2024

Prices for prepaid sim cards and data plans constantly change. Traveltomtom does everything in his power to keep all the information up to date. The below info and data plans are updated as per August 2024. Prices are in GBP: £1 GBP = $1.29 USD and $1 USD = £0.78 GBP.

Vodafone UK pay as you go sim card

Vodafone has 5 different UK prepaid sim cards, so called pay-as-you-go plans. If you are not a heavy data user the smallest plan with 7 GB will be enough to use data for keeping in touch, navigation, emails, etc. All plans are valid for 30 days, but only on 4G.

• 7 GB data + unlimited calling and texting = £10 GBP - $13 USD
• 20 GB data + unlimited calling and texting = £15 GBP
• 40 GB data + unlimited calling and texting = £20 GBP - $25 USD
• 100 GB data + unlimited calling and texting = £30 GBP

If you want to use the Vodafone 5G network and you are looking for a UK sim card with unlimited data:

• Unlimited data + unlimited calling and texting = £40 GBP - $51 USD

There is NO free EU-roaming included anymore in the Vodafone pay-as-you-go prepaid sim card. For using your data allowance in Europe you have to pay £2 GBP per day, £8 for 8 days or £15 GBP for 15 days. For some reason there is free roaming in Norway and Iceland.

Vodafone does NOT offer e-sim cards for prepaid users. For more info see the Vodafone UK  website.

Three UK prepaid sim card

There are 4 different Three UK sim card plans for tourists available. Three UK sim cards are free, no activation costs required and great thing is that they are all 5G ready at no extra costs.

• 4 GB data + unlimited calls/sms = £19 GBP - $24 USD
• 12 GB data + unlimited calls/sms = £22 GBP - $28 USD
• 25 GB data + unlimited calls/sms = £24 GBP - $30 USD
• Unlimited data + unlimited calls/sms = £31 GBP - $39 USD

Three UK still offers free EU roaming on their prepaid sim cards and even better for those who travel even further. Three UK offers free roaming in over 70 destinations: Australia, Brazil, United States, etc. Data roaming packages are capped at 12 GB data.

Three Mobile does NOT offer e-sim cards for prepaid users. Online orders are ONLY available for UK residence. For more info and offers check out the Three UK website.

For more on how to order a sim card for the UK online scroll down below! 

O2 UK prepaid sim card

There are 4 different O2 UK prepaid sim cards available. The sim card is free, but you have to top up with one of the following 4 pay-as-you-go options valid for 30 days:

• 8 GB data + unlimited calls/sms = £10 GBP - $13 USD
• 25 GB data + unlimited calls/sms = £15 GBP - $19 USD
• 40 GB data + unlimited calls/sms = £20 GBP - $25 USD
• 125 GB data + unlimited calls/sms = £30 GBP - $38 USD

O2 allows free EU roaming up to 25 GB as well as a certain amount of international minutes varying depending on the plan you choose. O2 does NOT offer e-sim cards for prepaid users. Check the  O2 UK  website for more info.

EE UK pay as you go sim card

What I like about EE is that they have a wifi signal at every London Underground station. There is no phone signal in the London Underground so if you are about to buy a sim card for the UK and you know you gonna travel a lot in the London Underground this is something to keep in mind.

Although EE has the best 4G/5G network in the UK EE does NOT allow prepaid sim card users to use their 5G network. That means although there is 5G everywhere, the max data speed with EE prepaid sim cards is 4G/LTE and in fact specified: max data speed is 25 Mbps.

These are the EE prepaid sim card deals for 2024, all valid for 30 days:

• 20 GB data + 500 minutes + unlimited sms = £10 GBP - $13 USD
• 50 GB data + unlimited calls/sms = £15 GBP - $19 USD
• 100 GB data + unlimited calls/sms = £20 GBP - $25 USD
• 125 GB data + unlimited calls/sms = £30 GBP - $38 USD

EE offers competitive prepaid data plans. An EE prepaid sim card is free and for £20 GBP you get 100 GB data + unlimited calls/text in the UK. Data roaming in the EU is NOT included anymore. EE does NOT offer e-sim cards for prepaid users. Another disadvantage of EE prepaid sim cards for the UK is that the data speed is only 4G/LTE and capped at max 25 Mbps. For more info check the  EE website .

You can also buy a prepaid sim card for the UK on arrival at the airport. Check out my guides for  buying a sim card at London Heathrow ,  London Gatwick , Luton and Stansted Airport .

GiffGaff UK sim card

Looking for another free sim card for the UK then have a look at GiffGaff. A Giffgaff prepaid sim card will be send to your home address for free before your trip to the UK. GiffGaff operates on the O2 network in the UK.

Rates for GiffGaff UK sim cards are actually pretty good! All the pay-as-you-go data packages INCLUDE unlimited calls/text within the UK and are 5G ready. For £35 GBP ($45 USD) you get 150 GB data in the UK.

EU roaming is NOT included in GiffGaff sim cards and also the process of obtaining one is rather difficult. I tried to send myself a free GiffGaff sim card to Dubai and it wasn't a success. The sim card came a couple weeks too late for some reason and when I tried to activate it I ran into problems and I gave up.

Lebara UK sim card

Lebara also offers prepaid sim cards for the UK. The pay as you go bundles already start from £5 GBP but only give you 5 GB data for 30 days. But there are more data bundles available, see the picture above.

For most tourists traveling to the UK the Lebara £15 GBP sim-only plan with 30 GB data is a good deal, but it give you much less value for money than prepaid sim cards from Vodafone, EE, Three or O2. Free EU roaming is limited, therefore Lebara UK is NOT a recommended sim card for traveling in Europe .

What Lebara separates from the other UK sim cards is that they offer free international calling minutes not only to the EU, but also to the USA, India, Thailand, Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Malaysia, Israel, South Korea, Singapore.

Another positive thing about a Lebara UK sim cards is that you can buy them in mobile phone shops and convenience stores across the UK like Tesco, WH Smith, Argos, Sainsbury's. If you see shops with a Lebara sign that means you can get the same sim card deals as online. Lebara operates on the 4G/5G network of Vodafone UK.

Best 4G/5G network in the UK in 2024

To make a fair UK prepaid sim card comparison let's also have a look at the 4G/5G network coverage in the United Kingdom. It would be a bummer if you are on a UK road trip and as soon as you leave London there is no phone signal anymore. Also who is happy with a 3G signal nowadays!? As much as we can, we want 5G and fast mobile data speed.

Find below the UK 4G/5G network coverage maps per provider and my conclusion.

4G/5G Network coverage map Three UK

4G/5G Network coverage map Vodafone UK

4G/5G Network coverage map O2 UK

4G/5G Network coverage map EE Mobile UK

Three UK has excellent network coverage and covers all the tourist destinations in the UK. Vodafone and O2 have the weakest 4G/5G network in the UK as of 2024 and EE has the best 4G/5G network in the UK in 2024 compared to the other mobile internet operators.

However, pretty much all the tourist destinations in the UK are covered with a 5G signal.

Best sim card for the UK in 2024

When we compare e-sim cards for the UK with local prepaid sim cards Traveltomtom comes to the conclusion that local prepaid sim cards are cheaper than e-sim cards.

You can only buy a local prepaid sim card in a store in the UK and not on the internet. Unfortunately some of the UK prepaid sim cards are still not 5G ready and they also not include free EU roaming.

If you want a 5G ready sim card for the UK including free EU data roaming and unlimited calls/sms valid in all of Europe then have a look at the following e-sim card from Orange.

If your phone is is e-sim compatible then this is an amazing sim card for traveling to the UK with 100 GB data, 5G ready and valid all over Europe for 28 days. You can order this Orange Holiday Europe e-sim card via SimOptions .

Check out Traveltomtom's complete guide with detailed info about using e-sims and a list of the best e-sim cards for traveling to the UK in 2024 .

If your phone is not e-sim compatible then international sim cards for the UK are worth considering especially for those who are traveling onwards in Europe and want to arrive prepared in the UK. For $24.90 USD a physical prepaid sim card will be delivered to your home address with 10 GB data in the UK and all of Europe, including unlimited calls and sms.

This all sounds pretty good, but as said before local prepaid sim cards offer more value for money, especially if you are a heavy data user. The UK mobile internet providers offer great deals on prepaid sim cards for tourist in the UK.

Since Vodafone UK does NOT offer free EU-roaming and because Vodafone has the weakest 4G/5G network coverage in the UK, it would be my last recommendation for a UK prepaid sim card.

Then EE does not allow prepaid sim card users to use the 5G network, which means max data speed on an EE prepaid sim card for tourists is only 4G/LTE (max 25 Mbps) although there is 5G network available everywhere. On top of that EE also stopped offering free EU data roaming. Therefore EE is also not a recommend prepaid sim card for the UK.

As Three Mobile prepaid sim cards are 5G ready, Three has one of the best 4G/5G mobile data networks in the UK, offers great prepaid sim card deals for tourists and even includes (limited) free EU data roaming, Traveltomtom rates Three Mobile as the best sim card for the UK in 2024.

For around $39 USD you can get a Three UK prepaid sim card with unlimited data and unlimited calling/texting in the UK.

UK prepaid sim card deals used to be pretty good for traveling in Europe, but since Brexit those days are over. Three and O2 still offer some free EU data roaming, but it is very limited. When traveling onwards in Europe it is much easier to get yourself a sim card for traveling in Europe on the internet.

Let me show you the best prepaid and e-sim cards for traveling in Europe in 2024 . Click on the link to check out my complete guide including all info about EU roaming.

Buying a prepaid sim card for the UK online

If your phone is not e-sim compatible but you would like to order a sim card for traveling to the United Kingdom online before your trip then check out the following.

Arrive prepared for your trip to the UK with an international prepaid sim card. You order them online and a physical prepaid sim card will be delivered to your home address. You put this sim card in your phone and it automatically connects to an available network upon arrival in the United Kingdom, basically when the plane lands you are instantly online.

SimOptions offers the following international prepaid sim cards for the UK:

1. O2 Go Card - $24.90

• $2 calling credit (no top-up)
• valid for 30 days
• valid in 34 countries

2. Three Data Pack - $24.90

• Unlimited calls/sms
• Valid 30 days
• Valid in 56 countries

3. Orange Holiday ZEN - $29.90

• Unlimited calls/sms in Europe
• 30 minutes worldwide
• 200 sms worldwide
• Valid 14 days
• Valid in 34 countries

4. Bouygues Telecom - $44.90

• Unlimited calls in Europe
• Valid in 39 countries

5.  Orange Holiday Europe - $49.90

• 120 minutes worldwide
• 1,000 sms worldwide

Click here for more info or to  order an international sim card for traveling to the UK via SimOptions .

Also a last reminder that if your phone is e-sim compatible you can arrange everything online in just a couple minutes by ordering an e-Sim card for the UK through either SimOptions, Airalo, Nomad, Holafly, Jetpac, etc. These e-sim card providers are extensively tested and reviewed by the Traveltomtom Team.

Traveltomtom also wrote a complete guide about using e-sim cards when traveling to the UK. Including a comparison of the best e-sim cards for traveling to the UK in 2024 .

Last but not least here is also a video about my experiences buying a sim card for the UK. The above guide for finding the best way to stay connected is much more detailed, but if you or one of your friends rather watches a video about it, then here you go.

I hope this article about what is the best sim card for tourists traveling to the UK was helpful and it helped you planning your trip to the UK, London or Europe in general. If you have any questions please leave me a comment below. I am more than happy to help you out!

If you have any travel related questions also feel free to reach out to me or check out my Instagram profile @traveltomtom where I keep track of my road to visit every country in the world . As per August 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries. Still many to go...

      View this post on Instagram       A post shared by Adventure Traveler & Blogger (@traveltomtom)

Enjoy your trip to the United Kingdom!

Some links in this article about the best way to stay connected when traveling to the United Kingdom are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using an affiliate link I will earn a small commission. Don’t worry this is at absolutely no extra cost to you.

• united kingdom

Visa Traveler

Exploring the world one country at a time

43 countries you can travel VISA-FREE with UK visa [2024 edition]

Updated: March 21, 2024 533 Comments

One of the frequent questions I get is which countries can I visit with a UK visa. The short answer is the UK. The long answer is you can travel to 40 countries and territories VISA-FREE with UK visa.

I encourage you all to get a US visa or at least a Canada visa first. Both these visas are long-term visas. These visas offer VISA-FREE travel to quite a few countries. But if you happen to have a UK visa or applying for one, then it is still better than not having any visas at all. There are about 40 countries and territories you can visit with a UK visa.

UK tourist visas are mostly short-term (C-Type) visas valid for 6 months. The UK does issue long-term visas for 5/10 years but it would cost an arm and a leg.

The UK visa application is not the most difficult, but it can be stressful due to its lengthy processing times and lack of customer service.

Table of Contents

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER Visa requirements change constantly but we make every effort to keep the information accurate and up to date. We provide links to official sources wherever necessary, so you can conduct your own due diligence to verify the visa requirements before planning your trip. We shall not be held liable for any damages incurred as a result of using the information in this article. Refer to our full disclaimer for more information.

Which UK Visas are eligible?

Depending on the country, any of the below UK visas can be used.

• UK Visitor Visa (Standard visitor and Short-term study)
• UK Student Visa (Tier 4)
• UK Work Visa (Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 5)
• UK Transit Visa (DATV and Visitor in Transit)
• UK Family Visa (Spouse)
• UK Residence Permit (ILR and BRP)

Refer to each country below for permitted UK visa types. Some countries require the UK visa to be multiple-entry and have been used at least once to travel to the UK.

So, without further ado, let’s get started.

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North America

• Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
• Permitted visas: All used/unused multiple-entry UK visas
• Permitted resident permits: All valid ILRs (permanent resident cards)
• Entry granted: Up to 180 days
• UK visa or residence permit must be valid during the entire stay in Mexico
• Passport must be valid during the entire stay in Mexico
• Official source: National Institute of Migration, Mexico

WARNING UK BRP cards are NOT ACCEPTED to enter Mexico. Only valid/unexpired UK visas (visa sticker in the passport) or UK ILR cards (permanent residency) are accepted. Also, if you are from the African continent (ex: Nigeria, Ghana, etc.), please check with Mexican authorities before planning your travel. I’m hearing a lot of stories of entry refusals and deportations at Mexican airports.

RELATED: 53 countries you can travel VISA-FREE with a US visa in 2024

Central America

02. Costa Rica

• Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Tier 1, 2, 4 or 5 visas (student and work only)
• Permitted residence permits: All valid ILR and BRPs
• Entry granted: 30 days
• IMPORTANT: UK standard visitor visas are NOT accepted
• UK Tier 1, 2, 4, 5 visas or BRPs must be valid for at least 3 months from the day of arrival
• Official source: Embassy of Costa Rica in Washington DC, USA
• Permitted visas: All valid used multiple-entry UK visas
• UK visa or residence permit must have been used at least once to enter the UK before
• UK visa or residence permit must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
• Must show proof of economic solvency for a minimum of 500 USD
• Original sources: Embassy of Panama in the USA

RELATED: 38 countries you can travel VISA-FREE with Canada visa in 2024

04. Anguilla (British Territory)

• Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry UK visas
• Entry granted: 90 days
• Official source: The Government of Anguilla

05. Antigua and Barbuda

• Permitted residence permits: A valid ILR (permanent resident permit)
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL (VOA)
• VOA fee is 100 USD, valid for 30 days, single-entry only
• UK Visa must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
• Official source: Department of Immigration, Antigua and Barbuda
• Permitted residence permits: All valid ILR and BRPs (applies to all nationalities)
• Official source: Netherlands Worldwide

07. Bahamas

• Permitted residence permits: A valid ILR (permanent resident card)
• Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Bahamas

08. Bermuda (British Territory)

• UK visa or residence permit must be valid for a minimum of 45 days beyond the date of departure from Bermuda
• Passport must be valid for a minimum of 45 days beyond the date of departure from Bermuda
• Official source: Government of Bermuda

09. Bonaire (Dutch Territory)

10. british virgin islands (british territory).

• Permitted residence permits: None
• Entry granted: 180 days
• Entry rule: UK visa must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
• Official source: Government of the Virgin Islands (British)

11. Cayman Islands (British Territory)

• Entry rule: Must arrive in the Cayman Islands directly from the UK. Arriving from a third country is not permitted.
• Official source: Cayman Islands Customs and Border Controls

12. Curaçao

13. dominican republic.

• Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry UK visas, except transit
• Entry rule: If arriving by land or sea, must pay a departure tax of 20 USD before departing. If arriving by air, the departure tax is included in the airfare.
• Official source: Embassy of the Dominican Republic in the UK

14. Jamaica

• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Dominican Republic
• Entry rules: UK visa must be valid for at least 30 days from the day of arrival
• Official source: Immigration Department of Jamaica

15. Sint Maarten

16. turks and caicos (british territory).

• Official source: Ministry of Border Control of Turks and Caicos

RELATED: 53 countries you can travel VISA-FREE with Schengen visa in 2024

South America

• Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru

RELATED: 18 countries you can visit VISA-FREE with an Australian visa or PR in 2024

18. Albania

• Permitted visas: All valid USED multiple-entry UK visas
• Entry rule: UK visa must have been used at least once to enter the UK
• Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania

19. Armenia

• Marshall Islands
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saudi Arabia
• Solomon Islands
• Timor-Leste
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turkmenistan
• Entry granted: 21 or 120 days
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL
• VOA fee is 3,000 AMD, valid for 21 days, single-entry (OR) 15,000 AMD, valid for 120 days, single-entry
• Visa must be a STICKER in the passport, E-Visa prints are not accepted
• Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia

20. Georgia

• UK visa must be valid on the day of arrival in Georgia
• Total duration of consecutive stays must not exceed 90 days in any 180-day period
• Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia

21. Gibraltar (British Territory)

• UK visa must have been issued for at least 6 months or more
• UK residence permit must have been issued for at least 12 months or more
• Official source: Gibraltar Borders & Coastguards Agency

22. Ireland

• North Macedonia
• Permitted visas: A valid used multiple-entry UK short-stay standard visitor visa
• Entry granted: 90 days or until the exit date on your UK entry stamp, whichever is shorter
• Must enter the UK first before entering Ireland
• Must enter and exit Ireland within the exit date on your UK entry stamp (this is different from the visa expiry date)
• Can enter Ireland directly from the UK or elsewhere, but must enter Ireland within the exit date on the UK entry stamp
• Official source: Department of Justice of Ireland

23. Moldova

• Central African Republic
• Equatorial Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• São Tomé and Príncipe
• South Africa
• Entry rule: The UK visa or BRP must be valid for the intended period of stay
• Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova

24. Montenegro

• Entry rule: UK visa must be valid for the intended period of the stay
• Official source: Government of Montenegro

25. North Macedonia

• Entry granted: 15 days
• UK visa must be valid for at least 5 days beyond the intended period of stay
• Total duration of consecutive stays must not exceed 3 months in any 6 months period
• Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Macedonia
• UK visa must be valid for the entire duration of the stay
• Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia
• Afghanistan
• Algeria (those aged 15-18 and 35-65)
• North Korea
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to apply for Turkey e-Visa online
• eVisa fee is 43 USD, valid for 180 days, single-entry only
• Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey

If you hold a UK visa or BRP, you can follow this  step-by-step guide to apply for Turkey e-Visa . This guide has step-by-step instructions and screenshots to help you fill out the application, pay the visa fee and download your approved e-Visa.

28. United Kingdom (Of course!)

• Includes all parts of the United Kingdom: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
• Includes British Crown Dependencies: Isle of Man and the Channel Islands (Bailiwick of Jersey and Bailiwick of Guernsey)

RELATED: 5 ways to get proof of onward travel for your next trip

Middle East

29. Bahrain

• Entry granted: 14 days or 30 days
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL or Bahrain eVisa
• Single-entry VOA fee is 5 BD, valid for 14 days, entry up to 14 days
• Multiple-entry VOA fee is 12 BD, valid for 3 months, entry up to 30 days
• Single-entry eVisa fee is 9 BD, valid for 14 days, entry up to 14 days
• Multiple-entry eVisa fee is 16 BD, valid for 1 month, entry up to 14 days
• For VOA, the UK visa must be valid for the entire stay in Bahrain
• For eVisa, the UK visa must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
• Official source: Bahrain eVisa Portal
• Burkina Faso
• Congo, Dem. Rep. Of
• Congo, Rep. of
• Cote d’Ivoire
• Guinea Bissau
• Sierra Leone
• South Sudan
• Permitted visas: None
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to apply for Jordan E-Visa
• The ILR or BRP must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
• Official source: Jordan E-Visa Portal
• El Salvador
• Entry granted: 10 or 30 days
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to obtain Oman 26M or 26N Tourist Visa online
• 26M eVIsa fee is 20 OMR, valid for 30 days, single-entry only
• 26N eVIsa fee is 5 OMR, valid for 10 days, single-entry only
• Official source: Sultanate of Oman, Royal Oman Police
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to apply for A3 Visa online on the Hayya portal
• A3 Visa fee is QAR 100, valid for 30 days, single-entry only
• Must provide hotel booking for the entire stay reserved through the Discover Qatar website
• UK visa or BRP/ILR must be valid on the day of the A3 Visa application
• Official source: Qatar Tourism Board

33. Saudi Arabia

• Permitted visas: Valid USED multiple-entry UK standard visitor visa (other visas not accepted)
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL or Saudi Arabia eVisa
• VOA or eVisa fee is 300 SAR, valid for 1 year, multiple-entry (plus service fee and insurance fee)
• UK visa must have been used at least once to enter the UK
• Official source: Saudi Arabia Tourism Authority

34. United Arab Emirates

• Permitted residence permits: All valid ILR, BRP and spouse visas
• Entry granted: 14 days
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL at all UAE airports
• VOA fee is 100 AED, valid for 14 days, single-entry only
• UK residence permit must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
• Official source: Embassy of UAE in London, UK

RELATED: How to turn your weak passport into a strong passport (with examples)

• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL at all international airports
• VOA fee is $25 USD, valid for 30 days, single-entry only
• UK visa must have been used to enter the UK at least once
• Official source: Egypt Tourism Department

36. Morocco

• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to apply for Morocco e-Visa
• E-Visa fee is 770 MAD, valid for 180 days, single-entry only
• UK visa or BPR/ILR must be valid for at least 90 days from the day of arrival
• Official source: Morocco E-Visa Portal

RELATED: How to book flight tickets with 24 hour FREE cancellation on Expedia: A step-by-step guide

• Permitted visas: Valid multiple-entry UK RESIDENT visas such as student, work, etc.
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT but are eligible to apply for  Japan eVisa
• eVisa fee is JPY 3,000, valid for 90 days, single-entry only
• Must submit  proof of residence  to prove that you reside in the UK
• Must show the visa issuance confirmation via the eVisa website on your phone at the immigration (Prints and PDFs are not accepted)
• Must enter Japan by flight only
• Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

38. Kyrgyzstan

• Permitted visas: All valid used/unused LONG-TERM multiple-entry UK visas, issued for at least for 3+ years
• Entry granted: 7 days
• UK visa must be a long-term visa issued for 3 or more years, visas issued for less than 3 years are not accepted
• After entering Kyrgyzstan this way, you can only reenter Kyrgyzstan again after 21 days
• Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan

39. Philippines

• Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of departure
• Official source: Embassy of the Philippines in India

40. Singapore

• Entry granted: 96 hours (4 days)
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT but are eligible to obtain Visa Free Transit Facility (VFTF) upon arrival
• Must be traveling to or from the country of passport. Example: Must be traveling to a third country from India via Singapore or traveling to India from a third country via Singapore. An example itinerary would be India-Singapore-Bali or Bali-Singapore-India.
• Both arriving and departing flights in Singapore must be on the same itinerary
• UK visa or BPR/ILR must be valid for at least 1 month at the time of arrival
• Official source: Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority

41. South Korea

• Eligible nationalities: All nationalities (except these 23 countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cameron, Cuba, Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Senegal, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Uzbekistan and Yemen)
• Entry rule: Must be traveling to/from the UK through South Korea
• Official source: South Korea Embassy in Washington DC, USA
• Permitted visas: All valid/expired used/unused single/multiple-entry UK visas, except transit
• Permitted residence permits: All valid/expired ILR and BRPs
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT but are eligible to apply for ROC Travel Authorization Certificate online
• ROC Travel Authorization Certificate is free of charge, valid for 90 days, multiple-entry
• If using an EXPIRED UK visa or residence permit, the visa or residence permit must have expired in the last 10 years
• Official source: Bureau of Consular Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan)

43. Thailand

• Permitted residence permits: A valid ILR or BRP
• Entry granted: 60 days
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to apply for Thailand e-Visa online
• E-Visa fee is 40 USD, valid for 90 days or 180 days, single or multiple-entry
• Must submit  proof of residence in the UK such as driver’s license, utility bill, etc
• Thai E-Visa Portal

So, there you have it! 43 countries and territories you can travel VISA-FREE with UK visa.

Do you know any other country (I haven’t listed here) where you can travel VISA-FREE with UK visa? Let me know in the comments below.

Change history:  For those who are interested, here are the changes to this list.

WRITTEN BY THIRUMAL MOTATI

Thirumal Motati is an expert in tourist visa matters. He has been traveling the world on tourist visas for more than a decade. With his expertise, he has obtained several tourist visas, including the most strenuous ones such as the US, UK, Canada, and Schengen, some of which were granted multiple times. He has also set foot inside US consulates on numerous occasions. Mr. Motati has uncovered the secrets to successful visa applications. His guidance has enabled countless individuals to obtain their visas and fulfill their travel dreams. His statements have been mentioned in publications like Yahoo, BBC, The Hindu, and Travel Zoo.

PLAN YOUR TRAVEL WITH VISA TRAVELER

I highly recommend using these websites to plan your trip. I use these websites myself to apply for my visas, book my flights and hotels and purchase my travel insurance.

01. Apply for your visa

Get a verifiable flight itinerary for your visa application from DummyTicket247 . DummyTicket247 is a flight search engine to search and book flight itineraries for visas instantly. These flight itineraries are guaranteed to be valid for 2 weeks and work for all visa applications.

02. Book your fight

Find the cheapest flight tickets using Skyscanner . Skyscanner includes all budget airlines and you are guaranteed to find the cheapest flight to your destination.

03. Book your hotel

Book your hotel from Booking.com . Booking.com has pretty much every hotel, hostel and guesthouse from every destination.

04. Get your onward ticket

If traveling on a one-way ticket, use BestOnwardTicket to get proof of onward ticket for just $12, valid for 48 hours.

05. Purchase your insurance

Purchase travel medical insurance for your trip from SafetyWing . Insurance from SafetyWing covers COVID-19 and also comes with a visa letter which you can use for your visas.

Need more? Check out my travel resources page  for the best websites to plan your trip.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER We are not affiliated with immigration, embassies or governments of any country. The content in this article is for educational and general informational purposes only, and shall not be understood or construed as, visa, immigration or legal advice. Your use of information provided in this article is solely at your own risk and you expressly agree not to rely upon any information contained in this article as a substitute for professional visa or immigration advice. Under no circumstance shall be held liable or responsible for any errors or omissions in this article or for any damage you may suffer in respect to any actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the information in this article. Please refer to our full disclaimer for further information.

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please refer to our full disclosure for further information.

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533 Comments

avtarsingh says

March 4, 2023 at 10:16 am

Can I travel to Japan with an Australian visa?

Thirumal Motati says

March 6, 2023 at 6:46 am

Hi Avtarsingh! No. Japan does not allow Australian visas. You REQUIRE a Japan visa to travel to Japan.

Kadidjath Abeo Christelle RADJI says

February 25, 2023 at 7:20 am

Hi, can I Travel to Spain with a UK BRP?

February 28, 2023 at 10:24 am

Hi Kadidjath! You will need a Schengen visa to travel to Spain. Spain does not accept UK BRP.

Muhammed Ramzi says

February 24, 2023 at 12:42 pm

Hello team! Thank you for taking the time to create this brilliant website and answer all the comments. You have helped a lot of people in clearing their doubts about getting a tourist Visa. I’m an Indian national holding an Indian Passport living in the UK under a skilled worker Visa (Tier 2) holding a UK BRP which is valid for three years. I’m planning to visit Saudi Arabia and I have got a 6 hours layover in Romania. Do I require an Airport Transit visa If I’m leaving the visa-free zone to self-transfer for the next flight to Saudi Arabia?

Also, it is mentioned that UK Visa holders can get a Visa on Arrival for Saudi Arabia. Is it valid If I’m holding a BRP of three years validity? And is it possible If I’m boarding a Wizz Air flight from Bucharest Airport Romania or VoA is only applicable when boarding Saudi Airlines?

Thank you for your time :)

March 6, 2023 at 2:02 pm

Hi Muhammed! For Romania, you would need an airport transit visa if you are leaving the international transit area. Romania offers VISA-FREE access to those with a Schengen visa or a visa from any EU country, but unfortunately not for UK BRP holders.

Saudi Arabia offers VOA for those with permanent residency in the UK, meaning you must hold a UK ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain). Your BRP is temporary and unfortunately, you won’t be able to get VOA in Saudi Arabia based on your UK BRP.

Kevin Watson says

February 20, 2023 at 9:52 am

Hi, I’m from the UK but my wife is Thai with an ILR visa but she also has a USA ESTA visa does this mean we can go to Spain, Portugal and Italy without Schengen?

February 23, 2023 at 6:54 am

Hi Kevin! Spain, Portugal and Italy are all Schengen countries and they DO NOT allow UK ILR or US visas. She would REQUIRE a Schengen visa to travel to any of those countries.

Sheetal Mathew says

February 13, 2023 at 1:02 pm

Hi Thirumal, I am an Indian passport holder with a UK student visa. Am I eligible to visit Morocco or Georgia with this current Visa?

February 28, 2023 at 12:18 pm

Hi Sheetal! Yes. You can visit Morocco and Georgia with your UK student visa. But for Morocco, you must apply for its e-Visa before traveling. You are eligible to apply for Morocco based on your UK visa.

Rasaq Bankole says

January 26, 2023 at 7:27 pm

Hi all, I have a UK BRP visa. Do I need a Schengen visa to visit European countries for holiday?

January 27, 2023 at 6:16 am

Hi Rasaq! You would need a Schengen visa to visit Schengen countries. But countries in Europe that do not fall under the Schengen zone can be visited using your UK BRP. Some examples are Georgia, Montenegro, Turkey, etc.

S M U A Baloch says

February 19, 2023 at 7:13 am

Hello, my wife and children hold valid UK BRP (Leave to Remain), can they travel to Greece and what other European countries that give Visas on Arrival? Could you please guide us accordingly with a comprehensive list of VOA countries as dates for Schengen are too busy? Regards

March 6, 2023 at 2:22 pm

Hi Baloch! All 27 Schengen countries including Greece do not allow UK BRPs. You would need a Schengen visa to travel to any of those 27 Schengen countries including Greece. But there are some countries in Europe that allow UK BRPs such as Albania, Montenegro, Armenia, Georgia, etc. You can find the list in this article under the section “Europe”.

Jibrann khan says

January 26, 2023 at 3:04 am

Hi Thirumal sir! Greetings! I have a UK visitor visa. I am from Pakistan. Which countries I can visit in Europe on a UK visitor visa?

January 26, 2023 at 1:30 pm

Hi Jibrann! There are quite a few countries in Europe that you can visit using your UK visitor visa, such as Albania, Georgia, Montenegro, Turkey, etc. Please refer to this article for more information.

md amir faisal says

January 25, 2023 at 10:01 am

I am from Bangladesh. I have 10 years multiple-entry type C visa. can I travel to Ireland? How many countries to visit with this UK visa?

January 26, 2023 at 1:34 pm

Hi Md Amir! Bangladesh passport holders are not eligible to enter Ireland using a UK visitor visa unless their UK visa has “BIVS” endorsed on it. If you have “BIVS” on your UK visa, then you can travel to Ireland. For other countries, please refer to this article.

January 18, 2023 at 12:17 am

Hi there. Firstly thank you for this article it has been so so helpful. In regards to Aruba, there are certain countries listed. However, with the BRP/ILR it says all nationalities. As a Nigerian national with a British ILR, does that qualify me to travel there? Thank you.

January 24, 2023 at 8:03 am

Hi MJ! Yes, those with British ILR/BRP can travel to Aruba irrespective of what nationality they hold. So with your Nigerian passport and UK ILR, you can travel to Aruba.

January 9, 2023 at 9:12 am

I have 2 years standard UK visitor visa. Can I travel to Japan visa-free?

January 24, 2023 at 9:23 am

Hi Preet! No. You would need a Japan visa.

Aditya says

January 9, 2023 at 12:09 am

Hi, I’m an Indian passport holder with a UK student visa tier 4. What countries can I visit visa-less in 2023? Can you please reply? Thank you in advance.

January 9, 2023 at 7:26 am

Hi Aditya! It depends on whether you have a valid UK student visa in your passport or a BRP card. You can go through this article and find eligible countries for your visa or BRP.

Patience says

January 10, 2023 at 11:49 pm

Hi, please I have a UK student visa and I want to travel to France for a holiday. I am from Nigeria, please advise if this is possible or if I need a France tourist visa and if I can apply from the UK or from my home country.

January 24, 2023 at 9:11 am

Hi Patience! You would need a Schengen visa to travel to France. You can apply for your Schengen visa from the French embassy in the UK.

MUSTAFA MEAH says

December 19, 2022 at 1:06 pm

Hi, I have a Bangladeshi passport with BRP. Can I get visa on Arrival for Egypt? Please help as I’m getting mixed information also the embassy won’t answer the phone.

December 23, 2022 at 7:13 am

Hi Mustafa! Unfortunately, all official sources say “UK visa”, so I’m not sure if you can use your UK BRP. I haven’t gotten any response from the embassy either, so I can’t confirm.

Abubakar Tahiru says

December 18, 2022 at 8:00 pm

I’m on a student visa and I have my UK BRP. Can I travel to Mexico or Costa Rica with BRP?

December 23, 2022 at 8:23 am

Hi Abubakar! You CANNOT travel to Mexico using a UK BRP. You would need a UK visa in the passport or UK ILR to travel to Mexico. But for Costa Rica, yes. You can use your UK BRP to travel to Costa Rica.

Aveek Mukhopadhyay says

December 10, 2022 at 7:56 pm

Hello Thirumal, very helpful article. I see that Egypt has been mentioned as a destination allowed with a Uk visa. I have an Indian passport and UK Visa so based on this article and the source posts, I should be eligible. However, when I am trying to check the e-visa (which was mentioned as an alternative to the VOA) and mention my nationality as India, it says that I cannot get an entry. I do not see any provision to mention that I have Uk visa. I was planning to travel with my wife and an infant, so I am a bit concerned about whether this is being allowed in practice. Do you know anyone who has traveled to Egypt just using a UK visa (if they belong to a country that is otherwise not allowed?)

December 23, 2022 at 8:58 am

Hi Aveek! Unfortunately, Indian nationals need to book a tour or a meet-and-greet service in order to apply for the E-Visa. You can book this service after your visa is approved too. In practice, many Indian nationals travel without using any agent. But the airline or the immigration in Cairo can make things difficult if you do not have a tour operator. To be on the safe side, you can book a 2-day tour with an agent just so they can come to the airport for you. Ibis Egypt Tours is well-reputed. Many Indian nationals seem to use them for their E-Visas. You can contact them to see if they can help.

Regarding VOA, I don’t know anyone that actually used it successfully to enter Egypt. This VOA with UK visa information is already in TIMATIC, so the airlines are aware of it and will not stop or prevent you from boarding. But whether or not immigration in Cairo is aware of it still remains uncertain.

Rhea Pillai says

November 15, 2022 at 4:58 pm

Hi, your post is very helpful. However, I am finding it a bit conflicting with so many answers to read. Pardon me if this is a repeat question.

I am an Indian passport holder residing in the UK with Tier 1 General Entrepreneur BRP. Can I travel to Dublin without a visa? I was once refused to board the plane from Edinburgh to Dublin to Bombay. But, I do not recollect showing my BRP to the ground staff. She just said you have an Indian passport with no Schengen and hence I cannot allow you to board the plane.

Can I travel to Schengen countries with my BRP?

November 23, 2022 at 5:08 am

Hi Rhea! No. You cannot use UK BRP to travel to Ireland. You would need to apply for an Ireland visa. Also, Schengen countries do not accept UK BRP, therefore you would need a Schengen visa to travel to Schengen countries.

Fahim MUSHTAQ says

November 29, 2022 at 1:08 pm

Hi, I am from Pakistan. I have a UK standard visitor visa. My question is can I travel to Mexico or do I need a visa for Mexico?

December 7, 2022 at 10:03 am

Hi Fahim! If your UK visitor visa is a sticker in your passport and is still valid, then yes, you can use your UK visa to enter Mexico. You don’t need a separate Mexico visa.

Prashant says

November 11, 2022 at 5:27 pm

2-year long-term Standard Visitor UK visa on an Indian Passport will have BIVS and allow me to enter Ireland? OR BIVS is applicable only on a Standard Visitor visa of 6 months?

November 23, 2022 at 5:20 am

Hi Prashant! That’s a good question. In my experience, I have seen BIVS only on 6-month visas so far. But I assume you can request BIVS on 2 or 5-year visitor visas as well. Even though they have 2 or 5-year validity, the allowed stay is still 6 months which makes it a short-stay visitor visa.

Gloria says

November 10, 2022 at 4:04 pm

Hello! Good evening. Thank you for this post. Very insightful. I am Nigerian and I would love to visit Morocco in a few but I want to confirm if it’s still an e-visa I need. I live in the UK and I have my BRP.

November 21, 2022 at 4:22 am

Hi Gloria! Yes, Nigerian passport holders are eligible to apply for Morocco e-Visa using their UK BRP. That being said, there is always some sort of scrutiny against Nigerian passport holders, so please confirm with Moroccan authorities before planning your travel.

Emmanuel says

November 10, 2022 at 8:04 am

Thirumal! Thank you for your wonderful experience update. I am a Nigerian passport holder I want to know which visa is the best the Schengen visa and UK visa. Please advise me. Thank you.

November 21, 2022 at 4:30 am

Hi Emmanuel! Schengen is the best as it gives you more visa-free countries than a UK visa. But your first Schengen visa will be given just for the days you have asked for. Your subsequent Schengen visas will have longer validity and that’s when you can start taking advantage of visa-free countries.

November 9, 2022 at 5:16 pm

Personal experience with Pakistani Passport: North Macedonia – they do not accept BRP/Residence permits or entry permits stamped on the passport. Must have any kind of UK visa which is not yet expired and also have travel insurance. Albania – they do not stamp your passport, only electronic data collection. No problem with entry. Serbia – No problem in entry – no questions asked Montenegro – No problem with entry – no stamp on the passport if you enter by train from Serbia.

November 23, 2022 at 5:25 am

Hi Umair! Thanks for the update! Very useful to the other readers. Regarding Serbia, were you able to use your UK BRP? Did you enter Serbia by air or via land?

November 4, 2022 at 4:59 pm

Hi dear, I need help with confirmation so I don’t make mistake for something like this. Thank you in advance. 1. Indonesia passport holder. 2. ILR visa.

How do I find which country I can visit from your list? “Indonesia/All nationalities” in eligible nationalities, and Permitted residence permits if shown ILR? Also, if you could recommend me 3 countries that are worth visiting?

November 7, 2022 at 6:49 am

Hi FK! That’s correct! “Indonesia/All nationalities” in eligible nationalities and “ILR” in permitted residence permits. It’s worth visiting all countries on this list, but if I have to recommend only 3, I would say Mexico, Georgia and Turkey. If Indonesia is not eligible for Turkey, then Serbia.

ME Reynoso says

November 3, 2022 at 6:45 am

Hi! How about Bosnia and Herzegovina? The flag image is there but could not see it in the text.

November 7, 2022 at 7:13 am

Hi! Previously Bosnia and Herzegovina allowed visas from all EU member states. Since Brexit, the UK is not been part of the EU anymore and therefore UK visas are not allowed. The image was created pre-Brexit so the flag is still there.

Nana Olanrewaju says

November 1, 2022 at 2:13 am

Hi Thirumal, I’m on a student visa and I have my UK BRP. Can I travel to Malta with my UK visa and BRP?

November 7, 2022 at 7:18 am

Ni Nana! Malta is a Schengen state so you would need a Schengen visa to travel to Malta. You cannot use your UK visa or BRP.

November 1, 2022 at 1:30 am

Though 99% of what is written is correct, I would like to add an incident that happened to me while I was traveling to the Philippines. Based on the Philippines Embassy details, an Indian with a valid visa could enter the Philippines and would receive a visa on arrival. Hence based on this fact, I booked my travel and reached Heathrow airport. I am living in the UK with a General Tier 2 work visa, and I was stopped by Qatar Airways check-in staff, and they refused to allow me to board even though I tried to explain regarding it. So, I guess, this is also a matter of flight requirements as well. I guess, a valid visa would mean Permanent residency status and not just any visa.

November 7, 2022 at 7:37 am

Hi NevR! Sorry to hear that Qatar airways staff denied your boarding. Philipines immigration, embassies and TIMATIC (airline database) all mention that a “UK resident visa” can be used. A resident visa can be a student visa, work visa, spouse visa, etc. that gives the holder the legal right to reside in the UK for a temporary period. If you have a BRP, that’s considered a “resident visa” as well. It is not true that only permanent residents can enter.

Qatar is notorious for its untrained staff that deny boarding on every silly thing that they spot. I have been denied boarding by Qatar staff a few times and I usually demand to speak to their manager. Once I speak with their manager, I would immediately be allowed to board. So please do the same. Demand to speak to their manager, explain and pull up the embassy page and show it to them.

November 16, 2022 at 11:25 am

You are absolutely right. Some airline staff do not really understand immigration rules. Therefore you have to speak to the manager who understands. It also happened to us even though for different routes. Once we spoke to the manager, everything was fine and we could fly.

October 30, 2022 at 4:16 pm

Hello, I’m from the Philippines and I have a 2-year standard tourist UK visa that is valid until 2024. Please confirm if I can just hop on a plane and fly to Mexico or do I need to prepare anything else. Thank you.

October 31, 2022 at 8:23 am

Hi Bea! You just need your passport and UK visa. Nothing else. But keep in mind that your UK visa must be multiple-entry and must be valid for the entire stay in Mexico.

Vanessa says

October 8, 2022 at 2:12 pm

Thanks for all the info, it’s frustrating finding nice places to go as a Nigerian:). Can you please advise where I can travel without the visa hassles/visa-free? I have a Nigerian passport and my student visa (sticker) expires on the 15th of October. However, I am now on a graduate visa with BRP validity until 2024. Kindly help, thank you!

October 10, 2022 at 2:35 am

Hi Vanessa! A few countries only allow UK visas and a few only ILR. But there are plenty that allows UK BRPs. So go over the list and check for countries if “Nigeria or All nationalities” is mentioned in “Eligible nationalities” and UK BRP in “Permitted residence permits”. You can travel to all of those countries.

October 3, 2022 at 11:04 am

Hi, does a UK BRP which is on a pre-settled basis (temporary leave to remain) for 5 years expiring in 2025 allow a Pakistani passport holder to enter Egypt, Morocco, Montenegro and Serbia for a short 7-10 day trip without a visa so its VOA?

October 7, 2022 at 4:19 am

Hi Ahmad! For Egypt and Serbia, you would need a UK visa. I’m sure they accept UK BRPs. For Morocco and Montenegro, yes, you can use your UK BRP.

Sandra says

October 3, 2022 at 7:16 am

Hello thirumal. I have been following you here for a while well done. I am a NIGERIAN but studying in the UK. Please can you list 5 nice countries I can travel to with my UK BRP? I want to go on vacation with my boyfriend so I need a country I can visit with my UK BRP. Awaiting your quick response. Thank you!

October 7, 2022 at 4:23 am

Hi Sandra! You can try Montenegro, Georgia, Albania or Morocco (e-visa). They are all nice countries and allow UK BRPs. But you can also check the entire list to see if you like any other country.

September 27, 2022 at 2:51 pm

Hi, I have a UK visa. Can I travel to Singapore and stay there for sightseeing?

September 28, 2022 at 2:55 am

Hi Swati! To use your UK visa to travel to Singapore, you must be in transit to a third country preferably India or UK. A India-Singapore-India itinerary will not work. It must be something like India-Singapore-UK or UK-Singapore-India or India-Singapore-Thailand-UK or UK-Duabi-Singapore-India, etc.

October 7, 2022 at 2:18 am

Thirumal, I just discovered your blog and I’m amazed by the useful tips you have shared. I’m on a work visa in the UK for almost 5 years and I wish I knew about all this useful info much earlier. How long can I be in Singapore if I’m in transit to India? UK – Singapore – India. Also, any extra benefits if I have an ILR?

October 7, 2022 at 3:40 am

Hi Dhruv! You can stay up to 96 hours in Singapore on your way to India. Yes, ILR gives you access to countries that you can’t enter with a temporary BRP or UK visa such as Mexico, Bahamas and Peru.

Chinwe says

September 27, 2022 at 3:25 am

Hello, thanks for all the info you share. I am Nigerian, living in the UK with a student visa + BRP. I was just making plans for Turkey and decided to check your page again. I am sure the requirement for Nigerians with UK visas was the same (visa-free) but you seem to have taken Nigeria off the list. What happened? What do I require to enter Turkey? I am seeing contradictory info on some sites that maintain that Nigerians in the UK do not need the visa. Please help.

September 27, 2022 at 6:45 am

Hi Chinwe! Turkey’s ministry updated its requirements so I had to update the article to reflect the new requirements. Unfortunately, Nigerian passport holders with UK visas/BRP are not eligible for Turkey e-Visa anymore.

October 8, 2022 at 1:45 pm

Thank you, Thirumal. What a bummer! Can you please confirm what are the requirements now for Mexico? Can I use my BRP to enter Mexico as a tourist or do I need a tourist visa? I am a Nigerian passport holder living in the UK on a graduate visa, with BRP valid until 2024

October 10, 2022 at 2:38 am

Hi Chinwe! Mexico allows only valid UK visas or UK “permanent residence permits” such as ILR. Unfortunately, you can’t use your student BRP to travel to Mexico. If you like to apply for a Mexico visa, you can apply from your nearest Mexican consulate or embassy. Here are the details on how to apply for a Mexico visa .

Beauty says

November 18, 2022 at 10:20 pm

I would have preferred to be stopped by British airways en route to Mexico with my sister last summer, it was a terrible event as I was traveling with a BRP card and she’s a Uk passport holder. She gained entry while I was detained and treated like a criminal in their smelling detention for 48hrs (till there was an available flight seat for me)

It was horrible as I was denied water for almost 24hrs and had no access to phone calls, a stinking infected toilet, and super cold with nothing but kitchen foil as a blanket. I do not wish this experience on my worst enemy. It was the worst experience of my life, I now have a phobia for a BRP travel-free countries, in fact I think I have a phobia for all travels. Flight wasted hotel bookings, site seeing tickets, all wasted plus inhumane treatment because of a simple mistake on my part.

P.S.: I also think the boss had a thing against Nigerians, it’s so sad that a few eggs have ruined the whole crate.

November 23, 2022 at 5:02 am

Hi Beauty! Sorry to hear that! What a horrible experience. Mexico has been changing its requirements constantly so it’s causing a lot of issues for us with weak passports. Their embassies are also not in sync, which is leading to more confusion. I’m sorry again for what you went though. Please take care of yourself.

September 26, 2022 at 5:45 pm

Hello, thanks for the tremendous work. I am an Ivorian living in the UK with (ILR and BRP) issued after Brexit. Do I need a visa to travel to Schengen Countries? there is conflicting info on Gov.Uk. I don’t quite know who they refer to by” ILR holders can travel up to 90 days free of Visa”. Thanks again.

September 27, 2022 at 3:00 am

Hi Bady! As far as I know, only UK citizens can travel to the Schengen area without a visa. Those with UK ILR or BRP would still need a visa to travel to the Schengen area.

October 30, 2022 at 10:09 am

Hi, thanks for the advice. My wife is Iranian and has a UK BRP. It’s a nightmare trying to find a destination other than Turkey to travel to. Which do you recommend as the most straightforward?

October 31, 2022 at 8:35 am

Hi Matt! You guys can check out Montenegro and Georgia. Both are nearby and accept Iranians with UK BRP. Albania is also nice and easy to get to.

Tanvir says

September 19, 2022 at 4:38 am

Hi, Thirumal. I am a Bangladeshi citizen and now I’m living in the UK with a UK student Visa and BRP. I would like to travel to USA or Canada in December during the Christmas Vacation. But in my visa sticker, the UK entry clearance is valid until November 2022 but my BRP is valid until August 2023. So how can I visit any of the two countries or what do I have to do for the visit?

September 26, 2022 at 3:57 am

HI Tanvir! You would need a US or Canada visa to travel to those countries. US and Canada do not accept UK visas or BRP.

Mohammad Abdali says

November 6, 2022 at 8:53 pm

Hi, I have a UK ILR (Indefinite Leave to remain) it will expire in December 2024. Does ILR allow me to travel with an Afghan passport to South Korea? Or do I need a visa for South Korea?

November 7, 2022 at 5:44 am

Hi Mohammad! Unfortunately, you cannot use your UK ILR to travel to South Korea. Afghanistan is one of the 24 excluded countries from this scheme.

Hafiz Ahmad Hussain says

September 15, 2022 at 11:02 pm

Hi, Just wanna say thanks to you. What a tremendous work you have done. I live in the UK as a temporary resident but want to travel to the world with so so many questions in my mind. All the information under one single ROOF is just fabulous mate. Keep up the good work. All the best for your future.

September 17, 2022 at 9:39 am

Hi Hafiz! Thanks! I appreciate the kind words. Please feel free to ask any questions you have. You can also use the contact form to email me directly.

September 14, 2022 at 6:02 pm

Hi Thirumal, thanks for this website. I downloaded the ebook and see Romania listed as visa-free if one holds a residence permit from the UK for 5 or more years. I don’t see it listed here though. Can you please confirm?

September 17, 2022 at 9:42 am

Hi Vinu! Sorry, the ebook is a bit outdated. I’m currently in the process of updating it, but till then please use this article. This article and other VISA-FREE articles are up to date.

Ikechukwu says

September 12, 2022 at 10:07 pm

Hi, I’m on a dependent visa with a BRP. My wife and I are planning on going to Dubai. Would we need a visa to enter Dubai or we can enter with our BRPs.

September 13, 2022 at 8:12 am

Hi Ikechukwu! If you hold an Indian passport, then you both can get VOA in Dubai using your UK BRP. If you hold any other passport, then you would need a visa. You would need to apply for your UAE visa online prior to your trip.

Harshjeet says

August 31, 2022 at 2:27 pm

Morocco also started visa on arrival facility with Schengen visa, UK visa, Australian visa and US Visa. Tourist visa or BRP is acceptable.

September 1, 2022 at 5:52 am

Hi Harshjeet! Thanks for the info! Yes, I have updated the article with Morocco now.

August 29, 2022 at 7:51 pm

Hi, My wife is a British citizen and I am on a spouse visa with BRP. Can I travel to Switzerland with my wife?

August 30, 2022 at 12:32 pm

Hi Moon! No. You would need a Schengen visa to travel to Switzerland. Prior to Brexit, it was possible to travel to Schengen if accompanied by a UK citizen spouse but not anymore. You would need to get a Schengen visa.

August 28, 2022 at 11:53 pm

Hi, I have a UK student Visa and BRP and I would like to travel to Mexico. Do I just need to buy a ticket and hop on the flight or there are some other steps to take?

August 30, 2022 at 12:34 pm

Hi Jay! Mexico accepts only UK visas but not BRP. So if your UK student visa in your passport is still valid, then yes, you can travel to Mexico. All you need is your passport and the UK visa in it.

Angela says

September 22, 2022 at 3:05 pm

With Moldova Passport and a UK visa 10 years, I can travel to Dubai for 1 week? Thanks!

September 23, 2022 at 7:46 am

Hi Angela! For Dubai, Moldovan passport holders need a UAE tourist visa. You cannot use your UK visa. Only Indian nationals are allowed to get a Visa on Arrival in UAE with a long-term UK visa such as ILR, BRP or spouse visa. I have a detailed guide on how to apply for UAE/Dubai visa . You can check that one out.

August 28, 2022 at 11:16 am

Hello, checked the Jordanian website and they allow on arrival visa for Permanent residents of UK and US. From the website below,

Passport holders of the following countries: Angola, Albania, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central Africa, Chad , Congo, Colombia, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Iraq, Laos, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Moldova, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Srilanka, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Union of the Comoros, Vietnam, Zaire, Zambia.  If you hold a passport from one of the above countries, and you have a residence in the United Kingdom, United States of America, European Union countries, Gulf States (not tourism or visit visa) valid for more than six months, then you can: 1. You can get your visa upon arrival to Jordan! except who intends to enter Jordan via the King Hussein Bridge crossing border, in this case, you should get visa in advance from any Jordanian consulate around the world (see required documents below). 2. If you wish to apply at the consulate, bring (or someone on your behalf) the above required documents. Fees can be paid either onsite (via card only) or online. 3. If you wish to send your application via post, send the above documents, payment receipt, and a self-addressed prepaid envelope (special delivery) to the following address: Jordanian Consulate 6 Upper Phillimore Gardens London , W8 7HA  If you hold passport from one of the above countries, and you do not have residence in the United Kingdom, United States of America, European Union countries, Gulf States (not tourism or visit visa) than six months then , you have to apply here.

August 30, 2022 at 12:42 pm

Hi Hish! Fantastic! Thanks for the info. I did some research today and added Jordan to the list. Thanks again for this info.

Michael Gerard Sayson says

August 31, 2022 at 8:55 pm

South Korea— immigration staff advised that we still need to apply for a visa to visit the country (and pay) despite having a valid UK visit visa or BRP.

September 1, 2022 at 5:44 am

Hi Michael! Thanks for the update. Looks like they haven’t started their “tourists in transit to third countries” category yet.

August 19, 2022 at 11:57 am

Hi, my name is Dara and I hold a Nigerian Passport. I have a UK student visa and BRP. What are the requirements to travel to Colombia? Thank you.

August 22, 2022 at 10:18 am

Hi Dara! Nigerian passport holders require a visa for Colombia. You can apply for an E-Visa. Here is a guide on how to apply for Colombia E-Visa .

August 23, 2022 at 3:30 am

Hi, I hold a Nigerian Passport and I have a UK student visa and BRP. I’m currently planning a trip to Montenegro but the entry rules say UK visa must be valid for the intended period of the stay. My UK visa expired last year December but I’ve got my BRP, can I still travel?

August 26, 2022 at 9:24 am

Hi John! Yes. A BRP is a temporary residence permit. Montenegro accepts both UK permanent (ILR) and temporary (BRP) residence permits.

August 26, 2022 at 12:05 am

Hi Thirumal, hope you are doing well. I am a Bangladeshi citizen and currently, I have a valid 2 years multiple entry UK visit visa. According to your article, I can see that I am eligible to travel to Armenia and I would be granted a visa on arrival. I have followed the link, which is the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, that you posted, but I cannot find any such information on the website. Could you help me? Am I missing something on the website?

August 26, 2022 at 7:02 am

Hi Hasin! Sorry, it was my mistake. Armenia visa on arrival is only available to 51 eligible nationalities. Unfortunately, Bangladesh is not on that 51 eligible nationalities list.

Gabriel Okpuno Okei says

October 6, 2022 at 11:52 pm

Hi Thirumal, I am a Nigerian with a graduate BRP in the UK and I’m wondering what places I can travel to without an additional visa and places I can get an e-visa for.

October 7, 2022 at 3:43 am

Hi Gabriel! Look at “Eligible nationalities” for each country in the list. If it says “All nationalities” or “Nigeria”, then you can travel to that country using your UK BRP.

August 8, 2022 at 11:17 pm

Hi Thirumal, I have an Indian passport with the UK Spouse visa (BRP Card – valid until 2024). I wanted to ask if I can travel to North Macedonia without needing to apply for a visa? Many thanks!

August 16, 2022 at 10:02 am

Hi Yash! North Macedonia only allows UK visas (visa sticker in the passport) and not UK residence permits. A BRP is considered a residence permit. That being said, temporary or permanent residence permits from any EU country are also allowed. So there is a slight chance that they may have forgotten to update their visa requirements post-Brexit. You can contact them for clarification.

Fateh jan says

August 2, 2022 at 1:18 pm

I am from Pakistan and have a British UK valid visa. Can I enter Gibraltar?

August 4, 2022 at 7:26 am

Hi Fateh Jan! Yes, you can enter Gibraltar with your UK visa. Keep in mind that your UK visa must be multiple-entry and it was issued for 6 months or more.

Burhanuddin Morbiwalla says

August 18, 2022 at 8:24 pm

Does that mean we have to go from uk first? Or travel directly?

August 22, 2022 at 10:20 am

You can travel to Gibraltar directly. There is no need to travel to the UK first.

Ali aqdas says

August 20, 2022 at 10:54 am

Hi, I have a UK student visa tier-4. Its validity is 3 months and multiple entery. Can I enter Mexico without a visa with a Pakistani passport? How long I can stay in Mexico with a UK student sticker visa with 3-month validity? Also, I have BRP whose validity is 24 months.

August 22, 2022 at 10:49 am

Hi Ali! Mexico does not accept US BRP. With your UK student visa sticker, you can enter Mexico. You will be given 3 months (90-day) entry in Mexico since your UK visa will expire in 3 months.

ali aqdas says

August 27, 2022 at 4:28 am

Bro, my UK student clearness sticker visa is going to expire after 40 days so if I go to Mexico without visa so how long I can stay in Mexico because my visa validity is 40 days. I also emailed the Mexican embassy and they told me I should bring a visit visa. So I’m puzzled. You are saying in your article we can easily enter Mexico on our UK student multiple entry clearance but the embassy says if I hold ILR then you can enter Mexico without visa.

August 27, 2022 at 4:54 am

Hi Ali! To enter Mexico, you will have to have either (1) a UK visa sticker on your passport or (2) a UK ILR. Since you have a UK student visa sticker on your passport, you can enter Mexico. Keep in mind that your UK student visa expires in 40 days, so you will get a maximum of 40 days of entry.

July 29, 2022 at 9:30 pm

Hi there! With the changes Turkey has made with Nigerians obtaining an e-visa (not sure if you’re aware), where does that leave a Nigerian national in the UK with an ILR biometric? Can I still travel to Turkey and obtain an e-visa? Thank you!

August 4, 2022 at 4:21 am

Hi Maté! I wasn’t aware of these changes. Thank you for updating us on this. Unfortunately, due to this change, Nigerians are not eligible for e-visa anymore and must obtain a pre-approved visa from the Turkey embassy or consulate.

August 7, 2022 at 4:02 pm

Hi Thirumal! My name is Paul. I have a Nigeria Passport and a BRP for the UK. What visa do I need to go to Morocco for a few days visit?

August 16, 2022 at 10:04 am

Hi Paul! Morocco introduced an e-visa recently. If you hold a UK BRP, you are eligible to apply for Morocco e-Visa. Here is the link to apply for Morocco e-Visa .

Khadija says

August 21, 2022 at 2:40 pm

I have a Bangladeshi passport with a valid unused UK visa. Can I get visa on arrival in Egypt?

August 22, 2022 at 10:10 am

Hi Khadija! To get VOA in Egypt, you must have USED your UK visa to enter the UK at least once. If it’s unused, you cannot get VOA in Egypt.

Zhanna says

August 22, 2022 at 10:38 am

Hi Thirumal, I am Kazakhstan holder, but have ILR. Earlier Kazakhstan citizens could enter Turkey without the visa. Can I do it now from the UK having ILR? Many thanks in advance.

August 26, 2022 at 8:16 am

Hi Zhanna! Kazakhstan passport holders can enter Turkey without a visa for 30 days. No need for UK IRL. All you need is your Kazakhstan passport.

Hoang tran says

July 28, 2022 at 9:47 pm

I have a UK spouse visa valid till 9/10/2023. I want to enter Ireland this September for a few days. Do I need to apply for a visa to enter Ireland? Thank you.

August 4, 2022 at 4:01 am

Hi Tran! Unfortunately, you cannot use your UK spouse visa to enter Ireland. Only those with a UK short-stay visitor visa and holding a passport from one of the 24 nationalities listed above can enter Ireland. Also, if you have a UK visa with BIVS on it, you can enter Ireland. But you cannot enter Ireland with a UK spouse visa. You would need an Ireland visa.

Ninaad says

July 28, 2022 at 12:59 am

Hi, I have an Indian passport, UK BRP and student Visa. Can I visit Albania without any special visa?

July 28, 2022 at 4:24 am

Hi Ninaad! Yes, you can visit Albania with your India passport and UK BRP. You don’t need any special visa.

July 26, 2022 at 8:23 am

Thank you for sharing. I have UK standard visit visa only. And those countries listed as “Permitted residence permits: All valid ILR and BRPs”, this means I have to have both ILR and BRPs? Or I can enter those listed countries with any type of visa even though listed as “Permitted residence permits: All valid ILR and BRPs”.

July 28, 2022 at 4:32 am

Hi Jaiya! The line “Permitted residence permits:” only applies to those with UK residence permits. Since you have a “UK standard visitor visa”, the line “Permitted residence permits” DOES NOT apply to you. Just pay attention to the line “Permitted visas:”. If “Permitted visas” says “UK visas”, then you can use your UK visitor visa to enter that particular country.

Christina says

June 26, 2022 at 12:03 pm

Hi! Is this info really updated? I am Indonesian having UK Visa. So I can travel to Ireland without applying for Ireland Visa separately? I am planning to cross the border from Belfast to Dublin. And also for Saudi Arabia? Can use UK Visa as a waiver?

June 27, 2022 at 9:16 am

Hi Christina! The information was updated in Feb this year. I have provided links to the official sources for each of the countries. You can click on those links for up to date information.

July 16, 2022 at 4:27 am

Hello Jay, first of all I want to say thank you so much for making this information available to us! I want to ask please as I have ILR from the UK so I can go to Ireland? My friends in Ireland told me it’s an open border between Ireland to any Schengen countries, is that true? Also, I heard that to go to Switzerland we don’t need a visa. Is this true? Please kindly help. Thank you so much in advance!

July 18, 2022 at 9:18 am

Hi Reny! You can’t enter Ireland with a UK ILR. You would need to have a UK passport or UK short-stay visa and belong to any of the 24 countries on the list. Ireland is not a Schengen country, so it doesn’t share borders with other Schengen countries. In order to enter any Schengen country including Switzerland, you must hold a Schengen visa.

Nathan says

June 23, 2022 at 11:23 pm

Hi Thirumal, my wife has a BRP card (spouse visa UK). She is from Indonesia. Does this mean we can travel to Albania visa free? Thanks!

June 27, 2022 at 9:46 am

Hi Nathan! Yes, your wife can use her Indonesia passport and UK BRP to enter Albania without a visa.

Narendra Raj Sunwar says

June 14, 2022 at 5:35 pm

Hello! I have a British citizenship pasport and my wife has ILR from the UK. We are planning to visit Italy. So, does my wife need to apply for Italy visa to travel or not? I am a bit confused. Can you help? Please. Thank you.

June 15, 2022 at 11:06 am

Hi Narendra! Prior to Brexit, it was possible for a non-EU spouse with an ILR to travel to a Schengen country with a UK national. But post-Brexit, this is not possible. Therefore, your wife would need a Schengen visa from Italy.

Elizabeth G says

June 6, 2022 at 3:47 pm

Hi, I first want to travel to Germany for 2 months (August and September) with family and from there I want to go to UK for 6 month. Do I take the short visit visa for the UK from India or can I apply for the UK short-stay visa from Germany? How to get it done? Applying from India then I may lose my 2 months period of UK stay as first I would like to travel to Germany and want to stay in uk for 6 months. Please assist me.

June 7, 2022 at 11:15 am

Hi Elizabeth! You can apply for a UK visa from Germany. It’s not necessary to apply for a UK visa from your home country. But if you ask for a 6-month stay, your UK visa may be refused unless you prove that you have sufficient funds to support your 6-month stay. Also, if you stay the entire 6 months on your UK visitor visa, you may not be allowed back or your future UK visas may be refused.

June 4, 2022 at 11:45 am

Good afternoon, I have a UK travel document which I have used before to travel in and out of Spain. Due to Brexit will I now require a visa to enter Spain or no changes at present? Kind regards.

June 7, 2022 at 10:04 am

Hi Jay! I’m not sure if you are referring to a UK passport or UK visa/BRP. If you hold a UK passport, then you can travel to Spain without a visa for 90 days in 180 days. But if you hold a UK visa/BRP, you would need a Schengen visa for Spain.

June 8, 2022 at 10:45 pm

That’s great! Thank you for your swift response. Much appreciated.

Exquisite Bee says

May 26, 2022 at 4:54 am

Hello! Can I transit via Serbia with a UK BRP card (Tier 4) using Air Serbia? The UK visa on my passport is expired. I won’t be leaving the airport, layover less than 2 hours on the return leg to the UK.

May 26, 2022 at 8:24 am

Hi Exquisite Bee! Generally, if your flights in and out of Serbia are on a single itinerary, then you will be within the transit area and you do not need a transit visa. But if you need to claim bags or go through immigration, you would need a transit visa. To enter Serbia, you cannot use a UK BRP. Serbia accepts UK visas but unfortunately, it doesn’t accept UK residence permits.

May 31, 2022 at 8:08 am

Hi Thirumal, I have a UK visit visa expiring July 2022. May I travel to Mexico without a visa? What are the other requirements

June 7, 2022 at 10:45 am

Hi Selva! Yes. You can use your UK visit visa to travel to Mexico. Your UK visa must be valid at the time of entering Mexico. You may be asked to show your return ticket or hotel booking, so make sure to carry those then traveling.

May 15, 2022 at 1:37 am

Hi Thirumal, I have a Philippine passport and BRP CARD. Which is a NO TIME LIMIT / ILR, just need a little light on which country I could actually travel without needing a Schengen visa.

May 19, 2022 at 7:56 am

HI Jhan! Unfortunately, you cannot use your UK ILR to enter any Schengen country. But there are quite a few countries in Europe that you can enter with your UK ILR, such as Albania, Montengro, Serbia, Georgia, etc.

Abiola Olawoyin says

August 22, 2022 at 9:37 pm

How about Croatia?

August 26, 2022 at 9:13 am

Hi Abiola! Croatia does not accept UK visas. Croatia accepts only Schengen visas or visas from Cyprus, Bulgaria and Romania. If you have any official sources that say otherwise, please let me know.

May 3, 2022 at 10:31 pm

Hello, would a BRP that’s expiring in 2024 work to enter Peru or does it have to be a sticker with 6 months validity in the passport? Thank you!

May 7, 2022 at 11:30 am

Hi Raj! It must be a sticker in the passport with 6 months validity. If it’s a card, it must be a “permanent residence” card such as a BRP with “Indefinite Leave to Remain”.

Ashwini says

May 18, 2022 at 4:06 pm

Hi Thirumal, my bro is visiting us in the UK with a standard visitor visa. So is it possible to visit turkey with UK visitor visa?

May 20, 2022 at 3:52 pm

Hi Ashwini! Yes. But your brother must apply for Turkey e-Visa prior to his trip to Turkey. Turkey e-Visa is quite simple and is approved immediately. The cost is $43 USD.

Dee Nexus says

May 24, 2022 at 4:01 pm

Hi, can the Turkey e-visa be applied online or needs to go in to one of the offices and apply in person?

May 25, 2022 at 6:34 am

Hi Dee Nexus! Turkey e-Visa is completely online. It’s just a simple form that you need to fill out. No documents need to be uploaded. And, the approval is also immediate.

Yetunde Dasaolu says

May 14, 2022 at 11:22 am

Hi, my name is Yetunde and I have a BRP card with my Nigeria passport. Can I travel to Turkey, please?

May 19, 2022 at 7:53 am

Hi Yetunde! Yes. Since you hold a UK BRP, you are eligible to apply for Turkey e-Visa. It’s a simple form and approval is immediate.

Bakare Olamide Grace says

August 1, 2022 at 5:39 pm

Hi, my name is Olamide and I have a BRP card with my Nigeria passport. Can I travel to Paris, please?

August 4, 2022 at 7:01 am

Hi Grace! Unfortunately, you cannot. France is part of the Schengen area and you would need a Schengen visa to travel to Paris.

May 3, 2022 at 8:05 pm

Hi! My partner is a Nigerian citizen on a post-study visa in the UK. Can he travel to Mexico as a tourist for 9 days without getting a Mexican visa?

May 7, 2022 at 11:32 am

Hi Sarah! Yes, he can as long as his UK visa is in his passport as a visa sticker and is still valid. If his visa is expired and has a BRP, then he is not eligible.

May 22, 2022 at 11:51 am

Hi, can you help me I have BRP card which expires in 2024 I don’t have a sticker in my passport can I ask why this is a problem? And if there is anything I can do to fix it.

May 23, 2022 at 6:34 am

Hi Zaim! Mexican authorities are considering only a visa (affixed in the passport) or a “permanent” residence permit. They accept BRPs but they must be ILRs (Indefinite Leave to Remain). A BRP for work or study in the UK is not considered a “permanent” residence permit as per Mexican authorities. People have tried already but they were sent back. I understand that a BRP is technically a visa and I hope Mexican authorities will update their policies.

May 3, 2022 at 2:24 pm

Hi Thirumal, I am at crossed roads trying to book a honeymoon destination. My Partner holds dual citizenship (British and Nigerian passport) while I have a Nigerian Passport and a BRP (Tier 2 visa, not ILR). I don’t know if we can go to Mexico, the Maldives. Just confused at this point.

Please help, where can we go together with our passports and my BRP card. Thanks and look forward to your response

May 7, 2022 at 11:35 am

Hi Lizzy! Your BRP must be ILR that provides “permanent residence” in the UK. If you have a UK visa in your passport that’s still valid, then you can use it to travel to Mexico. You can also use visas such as the US, Canada, Schengen or Japan to travel to Mexico.

May 18, 2022 at 10:55 am

I guess the Maldives allows every passport a visa on arrival.

May 19, 2022 at 8:35 am

Hi Sham! Yes, Maldives offers Visa on Arrival for all nationalities.

Elizabeth says

May 3, 2022 at 1:56 pm

Hi, I wanted to ask if I can go to the Gran Canaria with my indefinite leave to remain. Thanks!

May 7, 2022 at 11:48 am

Hi Elizabeth! NO. Gran Canaria is part of Spain, for which you would need a Schengen visa. You cannot use your UK ILR to enter Spain.

Blessing says

May 1, 2022 at 3:55 pm

Hi, can I get into Turks and Caicos with my UK tourist visa if I’m flying there from the USA? I also have a USA student visa.

May 7, 2022 at 2:16 pm

Hi Blessing! Yes. You can use either your UK tourist visa or US student visa to travel to Turks and Caicos. Both visas are accepted.

Alexandra N says

April 30, 2022 at 5:47 pm

Hello, thanks for all the updates. I have a Nigerian passport and am in the UK on a student visa which is valid until October. I hold a BRP. Just for clarity, can I enter Mexico? The article said only ILR but I am seeing conflicting responses in the comments. Also, to confirm that I can still enter all the above-listed countries (except Jamaica, Aruba, Bahamas, Oman, UAE) on the afore-mentioned documents i.e UK student visa and BPR? Lastly, do you have an update on Costa Rica requirements now? Can we go there on a UK visa? Thank you so much.

May 8, 2022 at 1:33 pm

Hi Alexandra! No. You would need a valid UK visa (a visa sticker on your passport) or a UK ILR (permanent residence). Unfortunately, a UK BRP with temporary residence is not accepted. Previously, BRPs with temporary residence were also allowed but as per current visa regulations, only an ILR is allowed.

And yes, you can enter all of those countries visa-free with your UK BRP that says “All nationalities” or “Nigeria” in the list for “Eligible Nationalities”. Check “Permitted residence permits” to make sure UK BRP is allowed.

I think Costa Rica now accepts UK ILR and UK student/work visas. Email them to confirm. The link to official source

William says

April 18, 2022 at 8:19 pm

Hi Sir, I’m a British national, how can my Thai wife with a BRP card (it’s a Spouse Visa we have) travel to the US for a holiday with me? I’m aware that I need to apply for an ESTA for myself but I’m unsure how my wife can travel there. Thank you in advance.

April 21, 2022 at 7:14 am

Hi William! Your wife, even though she holds a UK BRP, needs a US B1/B2 visa to travel to the US for holidays. Only UK citizens with UK passports can use an ESTA to enter the US. UK BRP holders still need to apply for US visa.

April 30, 2022 at 8:43 am

According to the list, Korea is mentioned. I checked with the visa office. They don’t provide visas for UK residents. Moreover, they are not issuing tourism visas for any non K-eta countries.

May 21, 2022 at 8:32 am

Hi Tito! This information is still applicable but Korean borders are not open for tourism yet. When Korea opens for tourism, this information will become applicable.

D Johnson says

April 17, 2022 at 10:59 pm

Hi Thirumal, I have a Kenyan passport but have a valid U.K. ILR valid till 2024. So I need a visa to travel to Turkey?

April 21, 2022 at 7:32 am

Hi Johnson! Yes, you need a visa to travel to Turkey. But since you hold a UK ILR, you are eligible to apply for a Turkey e-visa. Turkey e-visa is super simple and is approved immediately.

April 12, 2022 at 5:48 pm

Hi Thirumal, thank you for providing us with this information. I read on here that you can travel to Montenegro visa-free if you have UK Residence Permit with ILR. I have Sri Lankan passport, and BRP card with indefinite leave to remain. Now I am panicking because I checked on your source link, and Sri Lanka isn’t listed on Article 1 on the Decree of Visa regime. I don’t know if I am not looking properly but I can’t see if BRP with ILR is accepted for entry to Montenegro. My reason for panicking is because I have booked flight tickets already! Please help. Thank you!

April 22, 2022 at 12:25 pm

Hi Sindy! Article 1 is for those who are visa-exempt, meaning those nationalities that do not need a visa. You Should look at Article 7, that’s relevant to residence permit from the UK. You can enter Montenegro for 30 days with your Sri Lanka passport and UK BRP card.

April 5, 2022 at 11:46 pm

Hi Thirumal, thank you for this information, it’s really useful. I’m planning to travel to Mexico and currently hold a valid UK ILR in my old passport, can I still travel with my old passport to show proof of permanent residence as well as my new one.

April 10, 2022 at 7:55 am

Hi MK! Visas in your old passport are still valid. You can use your UK ILR to enter Mexico. Just carry your old and new passports when you travel.

Samar van der Merwe says

March 30, 2022 at 9:47 am

Hi, I have an Iranian passport and my son has a South African passport. We have multiple 6-month standard visit visas. Can we travel to the UK then to my country in Iran, back to the UK then to SA with the same visa (we are living in South Africa)? Warm Regards.

March 31, 2022 at 4:40 am

Hi Samar! You can do as many short trips to the UK as you want with your multiple entry UK visa. It won’t be an issue. So yes, you can travel to the UK, back to Iran, then to the UK and back to SA with your UK visa.

Francis says

April 13, 2022 at 6:49 pm

Can a Nigerian passport holder with UK visa travel to Mexico visa free?

April 21, 2022 at 7:48 am

Hi Francis! Yes. You can travel to Mexico visa-free with your UK visa. Keep in mind that your UK visa must be in your passport and must be valid at the time of entering Mexico.

March 8, 2022 at 1:42 am

Hello, I would like to confirm if it is possible to travel to Mexico with a valid UK Visa (Valid till 14/04/2022) and BRP card to Mexico without having a Mexico Visa? I want to travel 4th of April, 2022 and come back on 10th April, 2022. Thank you

March 13, 2022 at 5:21 pm

Hi James! You would need a valid UK visa or a valid UK ILR to enter Mexico without a visa. A BRP is not allowed. Your visa must be valid for 6 months (or at least for the entire stay) at the time of entry into Mexico. Since your visa expires on 14/04 and your date of entry is 4/4, you may be given 10 days entry or you may be denied entry all together.

Marthiane Kembilu says

March 25, 2022 at 5:50 pm

Hi, I saw it says you can travel to Mexico with your brp and passport as long as is 6 months valid but when I read the comments it showing something else I’m really confused I’m trying to go Mexico sometimes in June but I have a brp card and Congolese passport.

March 26, 2022 at 11:26 am

Hi Marthiane! Mexico entry requirements have changed. You would need a valid UK visa or a permanent residency (ILR). You cannot use a BRP.

April 5, 2022 at 2:27 pm

BRP is a visa. The UK stopped “physical visa on the passport”. So, if you have a BRP which shows the type of “visa permit” you have for the UK.

May 21, 2022 at 8:39 am

Yes, but unfortunately Mexico is considering only a “visa sticker in the passport” as a visa. There were many incidents where they didn’t accept BRP and sent the visitors back.

abdulfatah says

March 29, 2022 at 9:39 am

Hi, yes you can travel to Mexico without worry because I did it and I just showed them the UK visa and they let me in. That was in 2019.

March 31, 2022 at 4:48 am

Hi Abdulfatah! Thanks for the info!

Christinah Kompi says

March 5, 2022 at 11:55 pm

Thanks for this enlightening information, I just want to ask and get a clear understanding, I hold a Lesotho passport but currently reside in the UK with a tier2 visa/ BRP, can I travel to Ireland and France?

March 14, 2022 at 6:19 am

Hi Christinah! Unfortunately, no. For Ireland, you would need a UK short-stay visa and moreover, Lesotho passport holders are not eligible. For France, you would need a Schengen visa.

February 26, 2022 at 9:38 am

Hi Thirumal, I have a UK ILR with an Indian passport and I am planning on visiting Ireland. I thought that I would be able to visit Ireland with my ILR without applying for a Visa. However, I came across your post and noticed that ILRs are not accepted and it has to be a UK visa. Is this information correct? Sorry, just double-checking over here.

February 28, 2022 at 11:18 am

Hi Ryan! As far as I know, only UK citizens can travel to Ireland without a visa. UK ILR holds still needs a visa, or permission to enter Ireland. I have provided the links to the “original sources” where I have sourced the information from. Please take a look at those links.

Anuraag says

February 21, 2022 at 11:13 pm

Hi Thirumal, firstly thanks a lot for all the information. It’s really helpful to a lot of people. Cheers to that!!

My query is, I am an Indian passport holder and currently living in UK on a tier 2 dependent visa with my wife being the primary tier 2. We both have BRPs expiring in 2024. Can we both go to Dubai, Mexico, the Caribbean, Cyprus and Morocco without applying for the respective visas? Would be really grateful if you could answer this. Thanks again!

February 22, 2022 at 11:48 am

Hi Anuraag! You can visit Dubai and a few countries in the Caribbean with your UK BRP. But you cannot use your UK BRP for Mexico, Cyprus and Morocco. For Mexico, you need an ILR. For Cyprus and Morocco, you need visas from those countries.

Nomanuddin Khaja says

February 18, 2022 at 5:10 am

Hi, may I know if I can travel to all the above countries without a Schengen visa? I have an Indian passport with a tier 2 visa which is expired but have a 3yrs BRP.

February 20, 2022 at 12:17 pm

Hi Nomanuddin! Yes, but only to those non-Schengen countries in Europe such as Albania, Serbia or Montenegro.

February 8, 2022 at 2:11 am

Hello, I was refused entry into Mexico yesterday (Feb 6 2022 ) I have a student visa on my passport which expired 3 months after I got into uK ( which that’s how it’s supposed to be since I’ll be getting a study residence permit) I have student residence permit while my husband and daughter had a dependent residence permit. The immigration at Cancun said They won’t be letting us in since our Uk visa has expired and the permit we have is not a permanent residence permit but temporary. We were sent back on the same flight 11hrs back to the Uk which was a pretty annoying situation for me. So I want to know what happened since the article here says I can fly in with my BRP! And yes we all had a Nigerian passport

February 8, 2022 at 6:30 am

Hi Toyin! I’m sorry that happened to you. Mexico is constantly changing its rules these days. Yes, I have heard reports of tourists being sent back due to insufficient documentation or given only a few days to stay. I sympathize with your situation and I’m extremely sorry if the information here caused you trouble. But please read the disclaimer at the bottom of the article. I’m not affiliated with any governments or their immigration departments. So it’s impossible for me to have up-to-date info. Hence I provide links to the official sources so you can refer to them for up-to-date info and contact the relevant departments to confirm.

January 31, 2022 at 9:01 pm

Hi, I’m a British citizen and my wife is Thai with indefinite leave to remain visa now for many years and I’m only finding out from your page that there are countries we can travel together without another visa so, many thanks. Can she travel with me to some countries in Europe ie: ( Spain, Portugal, Italy ) other than the ones stated if traveling with me, a British passport holder? Again thanks!

February 2, 2022 at 6:28 am

Hi Kev! This was previously possible, where a non-EU spouse of UK national could travel to Schengen area with their UK spouse without needing a Schengen visa. But I assume that has changed since Brexit. I can’t find any official sources so I cannot confirm or deny this information. If I find any new info, I will update this article accordingly.

February 14, 2022 at 9:20 am

Hi, that is correct as just been in touch with the Portuguese embassy and they said my non-EU wife will need a Schengen visa to travel. Thanks for your help!

February 16, 2022 at 5:00 am

Thanks for the update, Kevin!

March 4, 2022 at 4:47 am

Hi, I’m an Ecuadorean citizen living in the UK. I have an ILR. Do I need a visa to enter Mexico? Thank you for your advice.

March 5, 2022 at 3:23 pm

Hi Galo! Since an ILR is a permanent residency, so yes, you can use your UK ILR to enter Mexico without a visa.

January 28, 2022 at 7:23 am

I am a dependent, my husband has his BRP as a student in UK, can I travel to Germany for a visit without applying for a visa?

February 2, 2022 at 8:05 am

Hi Dora! Unfortunately, no. You cannot use your UK dependent visa to enter Germanay. You need a Schengen visa.

Rinky Kukreja says

June 14, 2022 at 5:04 pm

I am a dependent and my husband is in Bahamas. I want to travel to the Bahamas for a vacation. Can I apply for a UK visa?

June 15, 2022 at 11:03 am

Hi Rinky! If you hold an Indian passport, then yes, you can visit the Bahamas with a UK visa. But applying for a UK visa with “visiting the Bahamas” as a purpose/reason may not work. You would need a reason to visit the UK in order to apply for a UK visa.

January 19, 2022 at 2:44 pm

Hi, thank you so much for taking your time to explain all this. It’s very helpful. Does this also apply to someone holding a UK refugee Travel document? Can they travel to the countries that accept BPR/ILR as well? Thank you!

January 21, 2022 at 5:34 am

Hi Sonia! Unfortunately, I don’t know if any of these countries accept a UK refugee travel document. The only way to be certain is to ask them directly. I have provided the original sources for each country. See if you can contact them directly and ask. Sorry again, I can’t be much help in your case.

December 22, 2021 at 11:48 am

Hi, I have seen conflicting advice, both on this board and elsewhere online, as to whether a BRP holder can travel to Costa Rica?

Earlier comments suggest this changed once the UK left the EU, yet if you look on the consular website, it states residents of the UK can enter. I believe I also phoned the UK consulate six months ago with the question and they said that BRP holders can enter, provided the BRP is valid for more than 6 months at entry.

I will likely call them again as looking to travel there, but if you have any updated info on this, then would be super helpful. Thank you!

December 27, 2021 at 5:29 am

Hi James! I believe you can still use your UK BRP to enter Costa Rica provided your BRP is valid for at least 6 months on the day of entry. But like you mentioned, due to the conflicting information and to avoid any confusion, I had to take Costa Rica off this list. But the IATA travel center says the following –

“Passengers with a machine-readable residence permit issued by the United Kingdom and valid for a minimum of 6 months from the arrival date. They are visa-exempt for a maximum stay of 30 days”

NOTE: I will see if I can get hold of someone at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica for confirmation.

DILIP PRAJAPAT says

December 14, 2021 at 4:43 pm

I have a tier 4 UK student visa. I am holding an indian passport. Can I travel to these countries without a visa?

December 18, 2021 at 10:38 am

Hi Dilip! Except for Sint Maarten, Ireland, Saudi Arabia and UAE, you can use your tier 4 UK student visa for all countries. Those 4 countries do not accept tier 4 UK visas.

TINI TREESA JIJI says

December 20, 2021 at 12:44 pm

Hi Thirumal, I’m Tini and I have a tier 4 UK Visa and I hold an Indian passport. How can I visit Vancouver, Canada(BC) for a few days with my tier 4 UK visa? Thanks.

December 21, 2021 at 6:56 am

Hi Tini! Unfortunately, you CANNOT. Canada does not allow UK visitor visas. You need a Canada visitor/tourist visa to travel to Canada.

February 12, 2022 at 5:29 pm

Hi, I have a tier 4 visa student and my BRP is valid. I am holding a Lebanese passport. Can I travel to Canada without a visa?

February 16, 2022 at 5:09 am

Hi Ghada! Unfortunately, no. Canada does not accept UK visas. You must have a Canada visitor visa to travel to Canada.

Merazhdin says

February 20, 2022 at 9:45 am

Hi, thank you for all your help! I have a tier 5 visa seasonal worker visa. I have worked since October on the farm. My visa is not expired yet. Can I go to the Bahamas for a few days or for a weekend?

February 20, 2022 at 12:20 pm

Hi Merazhdin! Visa-free entry to the Bahamas with UK visa is only for Indian passport holders. If you hold an Indian passport, then yes, you can use your Indian passport and UK visa to travel to the Bahamas.

December 8, 2021 at 12:27 pm

Hi, I am a South African passport holder but reside in the UK and I have a BRP. I would like to know what countries I can travel to using my UK BRP without having to purchase a visa via my South African passport (please).

Ali Adnan says

December 7, 2021 at 1:34 pm

Hi, I am Pakistan national with UK ILR. I am traveling to Portugal for 3 days and then 2 weeks later I plan to travel to Germany for another 3 days to see my relatives there. I will be traveling with my 4-year-old daughter who is a British passport holder. Do I need a VISA to enter Portugal and/or Germany?

December 11, 2021 at 12:47 pm

Hi Ali! Yes, you will need a Schengen visa to enter Portugal or Germany. A non-EU citizen with ILR can travel to the Schengen area with a UK citizen spouse but that does not apply to children. Therefore, you would still need a Schengen visa even though your daughter is a UK citizen.

Sri Raja says

January 24, 2022 at 1:02 pm

Hi Thirumal, I am a UK citizen and my wife has a BRP and Indian Passport. My Kids have British Passports. We intend to travel to Spain. Would my wife need a Schengen visa to visit Spain even if she is accompanying a British spouse post Brexit? Before Brexit, she could definitely travel with me not sure if there is a change now!

January 26, 2022 at 5:52 am

Hi Sri Raja! Unfortunately, I don’t know either. Brexit made things complicated. I suggest contacting the Spanish embassy directly. If you find any information, let us know as well. The information can be useful to others.

December 5, 2021 at 11:39 am

I am Somalian. I have got UK Visa. Can I travel To South Africa to visit some of my relatives?

December 6, 2021 at 9:38 am

Hi Yusuf! No. You cannot use a UK visa to travel to South Africa. You need a South Africa visa.

Jaspinder Kaur says

December 8, 2021 at 11:09 am

Hi, I have a UK visa for 3 years. Can I go to Portugal? But I don’t understand I have to buy only a ticket for portugal? Or visa as well.

December 11, 2021 at 12:04 pm

Hi Jaspinder! You cannot use your UK visa to enter Portugal. Portugal is a Schengen country, so you would need a Schengen visa.

December 4, 2021 at 8:05 pm

Hello, does BRP you mentioned in this article have the same travel opportunities as the BRC? I recently got married and was issued the BRC under the EU exit settlement scheme. Can I visit these countries visa-free?

December 6, 2021 at 9:44 am

Hi Alex! Yes. BRP and BRC are considered the same for traveling to the countries in this article. To enter these countries, you need to prove that you have a right to stay in the UK. Therefore, a BRC works fine.

Elaine Fernandez says

November 20, 2021 at 1:58 am

Hi, I have a Philippines passport. I was to visit Albania with my visa from the UK Biometric Resident permit. Do I need a visa to go to Albania?

November 20, 2021 at 12:22 pm

Hi Elaine! You do not need a visa for Albania. You can use your Philippines passport and UK BRP to enter Albania without a visa.

Hammes says

September 26, 2021 at 10:17 am

I’m a Nigerian passport holder with my UK BRP card. Can I visit Jamaica?

September 29, 2021 at 8:04 am

Hi Hammes! Unfortunately, no. You would need to apply for a Jamaican visa prior to your trip.

Tyrone says

September 15, 2021 at 6:18 am

Hello, thanks for this article, it’s very helpful. I’m a Nigerian with a Nigerian passport and a UK tourist visa, can I enter Bosnia and Herzegovina?

September 15, 2021 at 7:21 am

Hi Tyrone! Unfortunately no. Bosnia and Herzegovina do not accept UK visas anymore. You would need to apply for a tourist visa for B&H.

September 13, 2021 at 12:09 am

My partner is in the UK on a family visa (valid until Nov 2022) he has an Egyptian passport.

We would like to visit Mexico next year, however, I have found a lot of conflicting information online about whether he needs to obtain a visa. Some places state he can only travel there visa-free if he has permanent UK residency, and others say any UK visa will allow him entry. Could you advise?

September 17, 2021 at 8:41 am

Hi Mila! I agree with the conflicting information. But as far as my knowledge goes, your partner can use his UK visa to enter Mexico. I have many readers who entered Mexico recently using their UK visas without any issues. If you like, I can get you in touch with them so you can ask any questions you have.

Nathalie says

February 13, 2022 at 12:32 pm

Hi There! Having the same issue for my cousins. They have UK BRPs “leave to remains” both valid for extended times. Mexico embassy via email says they need a visa, other parts of the website say they don’t. Any other experience stories you can share? Thanks!

February 16, 2022 at 5:06 am

Hi Nathalie! That’s correct! Only UK permanent resident cards are accepted. Mexico has been drastically changing its visa policies, so as of now, they are only accepting UK permanent resident cards (indefinite leave to remain). I don’t have experiences from others here but you can post on the FB group to see if anyone has similar experiences.

Sabnam says

September 5, 2021 at 10:18 pm

Hi, I have a Bangladeshi passport with a UK ILR. Do I need a visa or can I obtain a visa on arrival traveling from London to:-

1. Portugal 2. Dubai

My husband is a British Citizen intending to travel together.

September 12, 2021 at 7:43 am

Hi Sabnam! For Portugal, you can enter without a visa if traveling with your UK citizen husband. I don’t have an official link, so you would need to contact Portugal authorities to confirm. For Dubai, you would need to apply for a visa. If you are flying to and from Dubai with Emirates or FlyDubai, you can apply for UAE visa from the airline website. Hotel and travel agents in Dubai can also apply for visas for you.

Phani vatsa Varadaraja swamy says

April 16, 2022 at 11:35 am

Hi, I got Indian passport with 2 years UK visiting visa. Can I travel to Dominican Republic?

April 21, 2022 at 7:43 am

Hi Phani! Yes. You can travel to Dominican Republic visa-free with your India passport and UK vistor visa.

Hiba Shugaa says

August 29, 2021 at 6:01 pm

Hello, I am a British citizen and my husband joined me in the UK on a spouse visa (previously resident in Lebanon). He has a UK resident permit and has had it for almost 2 years. We plan on visiting Dubai, will he require a visa or can he be granted one upon arrival? Also is there a link you can share with me confirming that it’s okay to do so?

August 30, 2021 at 10:16 am

Hi Hiba! Lebanese citizens REQUIRE a visa for UAE. UAE visa is quite easy to get. Airlines, hotels and tour companies that operate from Dubai can apply a visa for your husband. Here is the official visa information and also a Dubai visa agent that I’m familiar with.

Choh Du says

September 5, 2021 at 8:37 am

Hi! Thanks for your help, a bit different question, do you know the list of visa-free countries for UK refugee travel document (blue)? Thank you!

September 12, 2021 at 8:34 am

Unfortunately, I don’t. I will do some research and will let you know.

Mustafa says

August 24, 2021 at 8:41 pm

Hi, I am a Pakistani passport holder, planning to visit Montenegro for 3 days in September. I am holding (2 years) UK valid visa. Can I enter Montenegro with it?

August 26, 2021 at 1:28 pm

Hi Mustafa! Yes, you can enter Montenegro with a valid UK visa for up to 30 days. For more info, refer to Article 7 in the Degree on visa regime published in May 2021.

yvi kay says

August 17, 2021 at 10:57 pm

Hi, I’m holding a UK ILR visa but a Philippine passport holder(Philippine Citizen). Do I need to apply for the visa if I want to travel to Japan? Thanks.

August 20, 2021 at 8:30 am

Hi Yvi Kay! Unfortunately, Japan does not allow UK visas or ILR. You have to apply for a Japan visa.

August 17, 2021 at 10:26 pm

Hi! Thanks for all the information. I’m holding a Libyan passport and I have a residence permit in the UK. Can I travel to Ecuador without a visa?

August 20, 2021 at 8:41 am

Hi Hatem! Unfortunately, Ecuador does not allow UK visas or residence permits. You must apply for an Ecuador tourist visa. Here is the link to the Ecuador visa application process .

Shanga Ali says

August 6, 2021 at 7:00 pm

Hi, I am an Iraqi national currently living in the UK on a BRP card that was issued to me on a spouse visa. My and my husband, who is a UK citizen, planning to travel to Croatia and Greece. Do I need to apply for a tourist Visa if we travel together? Many thanks.

August 16, 2021 at 4:24 am

Hi Shanga Ali! I apologize for the late response! Unfortunately, Croatia does not offer visa-free entry to UK BRP holders. But Greece, which is a Schengen country may offer visa-free entry to you if you travel with your husband who is a UK citizen. I suggest contacting both Croatia and Greece embassies to confirm as requirements are changing every day due to covid. Good luck!

August 2, 2021 at 8:39 am

Hi Dear, I have a valid UK spouse visa and I wanted to know if I can use it to travel Mexico visa-free as a Nigerian passport holder

August 3, 2021 at 7:28 am

Hi Lizzi! Yes, you can use your UK spouse visa to enter Mexico visa-free. Any type of UK visa can be used to enter Mexico without needing a separate Mexico visa. Here is the official information from the Embassy of Mexico in Nigeria website.

December 4, 2021 at 7:25 pm

Hello boss, thanks for the info. Kindly add my email to your blog mailing list. I’m visiting Mexico in February with a UK visa. Can I reapply for a UK visa from the Mexico UK office, since I’m not a resident or do I’ve to go back to Nigeria to reapply? Thx

December 6, 2021 at 9:54 am

Hi Uche! You can apply for a UK visa from a third country. So yes, you can apply for your UK visa while you are in Mexico. Keep in mind that UK visa will take up to 30 days or even longer in some cases. Make sure you have enough time in Mexico.

January 8, 2022 at 3:28 pm

Hi, thanks for this article. I have an ILR but hold a Nigerian passport.

Are you saying I can literally book a flight ticket and head to the airport for any of the countries you have listed above except of course (Jamaica, Dubai and the rest that require a visa)? Just wanted to confirm as this is exciting. Thanks and I anticipate a response.

January 12, 2022 at 7:24 am

Hi Kenny! That’s correct! All these countries accept UK visas/ILR and you do not need to apply for separate visas. That’s about visas but for COVID-related entry requirements (vaccine cert, PCR test, health declarations, quarantine, etc.), you will have to do your own research.

July 30, 2021 at 10:22 am

First I’d like to say a very big thank you for this informative and insightful information. I’ve noticed some countries like the Philippines and Singapore for example have following nationalities only, but also all valid ILRs. I’m a bit confused. As a Nigerian national with a British ILR, would I still need a visa to enter the Philippines and Singapore, as my country isn’t listed under them? Many thanks

August 2, 2021 at 6:57 am

Hi Mate! That’s correct. The visa-free entry provision is only for the nationalities listed that hold a British ILR. Since your nationality is not on that list, you would need to get a visa for those countries even though you hold British ILR.

July 19, 2021 at 11:14 pm

Hey. So I want to eventually visit England and then from there, Norway in December. I have a Pakistani passport and I’m a student in the US with an F1 visa. I plan on traveling from here and then back home in Pakistan for winter break before I eventually come back to the US in January. Please help me with ideas about visas and what should my process be!

July 21, 2021 at 6:13 am

Hi KM! Yes, that’s doable. In fact, that’s what I did when I traveled to the UK. I was in the US back then. So I traveled to the UK for a few days and then to India to see my family. Later flew back to the US. That’s an acceptable itinerary for the UK visa, so you will be fine. Also, since you are planning to travel to Norway, you would need to get your Schengen visa too before heading to England.

Bella T says

June 25, 2021 at 12:16 pm

Hello Sir, My mother is currently in the UK on Type C Visitor 10 year multiple entry Visa and her visa does not expire till 2023. Can she visit Gibraltar with us for 3-5 days and come back to the UK again. I, my husband and my daughter have British passports but my mother has an Indian passport. My mother is fully vaccinated. Also with regards to 180 days limit on each visit to the UK how does that work? So does that mean she can only visit Gibraltar within 180 days of her stay in the UK? Can she travel to Gibraltar 2 days before her 180 days expires and stays in Gibraltar for 5 days and come back in UK as new entry. How do 180 days work on a 10-year visa because so far she has never stayed for more than 3-4 months on every visit but due to the pandemic and passing away of my father she is unable to travel to India until all travel restrictions are lifted and also there is no one to look after her in India. I would greatly appreciate your advice.

Thirumal says

June 25, 2021 at 3:22 pm

Hi Bella! Your mother can visit Gibraltar with her UK visa. But I’m not aware if there are any changes to visas due to COVID travel restrictions. To confirm, I suggest emailing Gibraltar Borders and Coast Guards at [email protected] .

Regarding the 180 day entry back in the UK, I believe visiting Gibraltar is considered as exiting the UK. So, on re-entry, she will get another 180 days.

Note: I have also responded to the same question from your husband on the FB group.

Mambu Kossa says

June 24, 2021 at 3:57 pm

Hello, I have hold passport with residence permit inside and I have new passport same names. Can I travel with two passport together to Romania.

June 25, 2021 at 5:04 am

Hi Mambu Kosa! Unfortunately, Romania has repealed visa-free access to UK residence permit holders. You have to apply for a Romania visa. I will update the article accordingly soon.

On the other note, your residence permit in old passport is still valid. You just have to carry both passports when you travel.

Muneeb Ahmad says

May 15, 2021 at 7:05 am

Hello! Very informative article. I just wanted to confirm if I could go to Serbia with my Type C UK visa. I have a Pakistani passport. Eager to hear from you.

May 17, 2021 at 8:45 am

Hi Muneeb! As per their 2014 regulation, passport holders with visas from the US, UK and Schengen are allowed entry. The requirement page on the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website is currently down. But embassy websites are still mentioning that you can use your UK visa. I suggest contacting the Honorary Consulate in Karachi or the Serbian embassy in Beijing to confirm. A few useful links below.

June 14, 2021 at 5:50 pm

Hello! Sorry to jump on the post – thank you for such a comprehensive list. I can see that the Serbian embassy page related to this is still down. Do you know with a South African passport if it is possible to travel to Serbia on a UK Ancestry visa?

June 15, 2021 at 9:40 am

Hi Chris! Unfortunately, the page is still down. But, the Embassy of Serbia in Pretoria website still says that you can still use your UK visa to travel to Serbia. Email or give them a quick call to confirm. Here is their contact information .

Salem H says

June 24, 2021 at 12:40 pm

Hello, I hold a UK (ILR), and my brother holds a BRP with more than 2 years validity. I would like to confirm wether I could enter Romania for a short stay without visa, as I still couldn’t get any official confirmation from Romanian embassy website or any other trusted source. Hope to hear back from you ASAP.

June 25, 2021 at 5:02 am

Hi Salem! Unfortunately, Romania has repealed visa-free access to UK ILR/BRP holders. I apologize for not updating the article accordingly. As of now, your only option is to apply for a Romania visa.

NOTE: Romania still allows visa-free entry for those with double/multiple entry Schengen visas or residence permit in any Schengen country.

December 9, 2020 at 6:27 pm

Hi, will Chinese citizens who hold a BRP still be able to enter Montenegro without needing to obtain a visa in 2021? There is no clear answer to this issue on their embassy website.

December 10, 2020 at 5:28 am

Hi Fei! Yes, Chinese citizens with UK BRP can enter Montenegro for up to 30 days without needing a separate visa. The info on the official websites is not clear but TIMATIC clearly says “ Passengers with a residence or a re-entry permit, valid for the period of stay, issued by United Kingdom for a maximum stay of 30 days. “. TIMATIC is maintained by IATA and all airlines use this database for making sure the passengers have the correct documents when flying into a country.

Nkwaya Chris Ikuzo says

September 14, 2020 at 12:57 am

Hey, I have a Rwandan passport and a UK tier 4 visa with BRP. Can I go to northern Cyprus without applying for a visa.

September 26, 2020 at 8:35 am

Hi Nkwaya! Pretty much all nationalities including Rwandans can get visa on arrival at the ports in Northern Cyprus. The only way to go to Northern Cyprus is by taking a taxi from Southern Cyprus for which you need a Schengen visa. Or, by taking a flight/ferry from Turkey for which you need a Turkish visa.

With your Rwandan passport and UK BRP, you are eligible to apply for Turkey eVisa. Turkey eVisa is single-entry only so you may have to apply for the eVisa twice.

Abdullah says

June 2, 2020 at 9:42 pm

Hi, I am Yemeni National currently living in the UK on a BRP card which was issued to me on a spouse visa, me and my wife (UK citizen )planning to travel by car to France together.

Do I need to apply for a tourist visa if I am traveling with her, and what are the required documents?

June 8, 2020 at 11:00 am

Hi Abdullah! If you hold a UK BRP and will be traveling to France with your UK citizen wife, you do not need a Schengen visa. But keep in mind, you both have to travel together, your wife must carry her UK passport, you have to carry your UK BRP and evidence that you are her husband. For more information, go to SchengenVisaInfo.com and scroll down to “Does the spouse of British national with UK permanent residence need a Schengen visa?” section.

Lisa Kilvington says

January 12, 2021 at 2:26 pm

Hi, this was not the case. I am UK permanent resident with ILR. I still needed to apply for a Schengen visa (even though it was free to me) before entering any Schengen countries with my late English husband.

Tariq Ahmed says

May 4, 2020 at 2:29 am

Hi, I have a Pakistani passport, currently living in the UK on a BRP card which was issued to me on a spouse visa, I just want to know that all the countries which you have mentioned here is still visa free to travel without taking confirmation from their consulates including Mexico.

May 9, 2020 at 5:35 am

Hi Tariq! I believe these countries are still visa-free as I have updated this article in April (last month) with the latest requirements. I don’t think anything would have changed in just one month. That being said, COVID-19 is affecting travel. Check if the flights have started running and these countries have started accepting tourists.

Sourav Dutta says

February 24, 2020 at 4:41 pm

I am an India Passport holder having UK BRP, trier 2 ICT visa. My wife and daughter are having dependent visa with BRP. Without applying any visa, which all countries I can travel along with my Spouse and Daughter with UK BRP and Indian passport only?

February 27, 2020 at 5:08 am

Hi Sourav! You all can use your UK BRPs to travel to quite a few countries. I have researched and updated the article to indicate if BRPs and/or ILRs can be used for these countries. Go through the list of countries and look for “Permitted residence permits” to see if a BRP is accepted to enter.

Saurabh Sal says

September 2, 2020 at 8:24 pm

Hi, you have mentioned that UK BRP card holders can travel to Romania. Unfortunately, I submitted my documents i.e Indian passport and ILR card and the consulate told me to apply for a tourist visa.

September 9, 2020 at 7:33 am

Hi Saurabh! The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania website says holders of “permanent residence permits issued by the UK or Ireland (the validity of which is of 5 years or more)” do to require a visa for Romania. All Romanian consulates must be aware of this requirement unless there is a change due to COVID travel restrictions. I suggest sending this link to the consulate and asking if it still holds true. Also, you can contact Romania MFA directly to confirm.

Mahmoud says

February 11, 2020 at 11:14 am

I have an Egyptian passport and a UK student visa. Can I visit turkey visa free?

February 17, 2020 at 5:21 am

Hi Mahmoud! It’s not visa-free, but with your Egyptian passport and UK student visa, you are eligible to apply Turkey eVisa. With your Turkey eVisa you can visit Turkey for up to 30 days.

Warda fatima says

February 3, 2020 at 4:28 pm

Hi, I live in Dubai. I have a UK Visa. I will be traveling in March to visit my sister in the UK. We plan to travel to Paris and Switzerland. Do I need to apply for a Schengen visa from here? Do I have to provide travel tickets too with hotel bookings? As my plan is not yet final. Thank you.

February 5, 2020 at 8:32 am

Hi Warda fatima! You NEED a Schengen visa to travel to France and Switzerland. You cannot use your UK visa, you must hold a Schengen visa to travel to France/Switzerland.

Yes, you must apply for your Schengen visa from Dubai. Yes, only a flight itinerary and refundable hotel bookings. You can use a visa ticket booking agency such as DummyTicket to get a flight itinerary and booking.com/Expedia for refundable hotel bookings.

C. M. Antony says

January 31, 2020 at 7:49 pm

Hi, I am an Indian national holding Indian passport working in Qatar. I have applied for UK short visit visa from Qatar VSF and got it for 180 days multiple-entry. Please confirm whether I can visit Ireland from the UK within the visa period and back to Qatar from Dublin.

February 2, 2020 at 7:33 am

Hi Antony! Yes, you can visit Ireland with your India passport and existing UK visa. But keep in mind that you can only enter and stay in Ireland within the “leave to remain” period on your UK entry stamp (not your UK visa validity period). And yes, you can return to Qatar directly from Dublin.

How long can you stay in Ireland? Explained below. Assume that you enter the UK on 01 March 2020. UK immigration officer at the airport grants you a 30-day entry (leave to remain period). That means you can stay in the UK until 30 March 2020. You stay in the UK for 10 days and you enter Ireland on 10 March 2020. You will be given a 20-day entry only in Ireland since only 20 days are remaining on “your leave to remain in the UK”. You have to leave Ireland on or before 30 March 2020.

January 28, 2020 at 8:51 pm

Hello, I am an Indian, currently in the UK on tier 5 dependent visa. I have a BRP. Do I need a visa to attend an exam in Dublin? Thanks.

February 2, 2020 at 8:46 am

Hi Nimi! Yes, you REQUIRE a visa to sit in an exam in Dublin. You need an Irish Exam Visa for that.

The Irish visa waiver program for Indians is only for those with a short-stay UK visa such as a Standard Visitor visa or a Short-term Study visa. A UK BRP cannot be used to enter Ireland.

Khaldoon says

January 26, 2020 at 8:00 am

Hi, I am a student at a UK university, holding Jordanian passport, also I have BRP. Can I travel to the mentioned countries above with my family as my children don’t have BRP because they are less 18 (9,8,4)?

February 27, 2020 at 7:08 am

Hi Khaldoon! Your children must also have a BRP or UK visa. Everyone in the family has to have either a UK BRP or UK visa to enter these countries with their Jordanian passports.

January 24, 2020 at 12:06 am

I’m having UK visit visa and I want to travel to Mexico. But I read in Mexico government website only UK permanent residence holders can enter visa-free. How can you say that UK visit visa holders can go there on a visit visa? I’m Pakistan national.

January 25, 2020 at 9:31 am

Hi Hadi! Mexico visa information is not consistent across all government websites. If you check on any Mexico consulate/embassy websites, you will see that UK visa holders can also enter Mexico visa-free. On top of that, many readers have reported that they have successfully used their UK visas to travel to Mexico.

January 17, 2020 at 2:53 am

Saudi Arabia started to allow the holders of UK Visa to get visa on arrival. Please check this link for your reference:

I am a spouse of a UK citizen holding a UK residents visa. I’m planning to visit with my wife Croatia. Do I need a visa ? If yes may I know how and where to apply for it?

January 17, 2020 at 5:06 am

Hi Abdullah! Thanks for the information. I will update the article soon.

Croatia does not honor UK visas, therefore you will have to apply for a Croatia visa. That being said, Schengen countries allow entry to spouses of UK citizens holding UK resident visas when traveling with their spouses. Croatia is not a Schengen country but honors Schengen visas. Therefore, they may allow entry to you without a visa if traveling with your spouse. So, check with the Croatian authorities first before applying for the visa.

If you have to apply for a Croatian visa, you must first apply online and then present the printed application along with documents at your nearest Croatian embassy. More information at the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

January 20, 2020 at 3:10 pm

Thank you for your kind response. May I know if Romania allows entry to spouses of UK citizens holding UK resident visas when traveling with their spouses.

January 21, 2020 at 9:39 am

I don’t have confirmed information on that. Romania is in the process to join the Schengen agreement, so they might allow. Please check with the Romanian consulate for confirmation.

January 21, 2020 at 9:43 am

Yes, you can go to Romania with spouse but not alone.

Mehmood says

January 17, 2020 at 4:57 pm

I am a Pakistani passport holder and I have US and UK visas. Can I travel to SAUDIA or can I get a visa on arrival? If anyone has confirmed information please let me know. Thanks.

January 20, 2020 at 6:19 am

Hi Mehmood! You can get Visa on Arrival at the international airports in KSA. I have spoken to authorities and they said the information is confirmed. The information was posted on the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage website. Only Saudi national airlines (Saudia, Flynas, and Saudi Gulf) have been instructed to let travelers with US/UK/Schengen visas board their flights to KSA. Therefore, you must take one of the Saudi national airlines in order to get VOA.

January 16, 2020 at 6:21 am

Hello, can I go to Romania with my UK tourist visa? Or it only applies to people that have a permanent residence permit?

January 17, 2020 at 5:40 am

Hi Adion! No. You cannot enter Romania with your UK tourist visa. It applies to those with UK residence permits valid for 5 years or more.

Preksha says

January 15, 2020 at 12:22 pm

Hi, I hold an Indian passport and UK short term study visa till 7th July 2020. Can I travel to Turkey with this visa?

January 17, 2020 at 2:41 pm

Hi Preksha! Yes, you can use your UK short-term study visa to apply for Turkey eVisa. Turkey eVisa is valid for 6 months, grants 30-day entry and costs $43.

January 7, 2020 at 4:17 pm

Hi there. I’ve used your guide and it’s been really helpful! So I thought I’d pay it forward by letting others know that you can also travel to Jordan with a UK visa valid for longer than 6 months. The information is available on the Jordanian embassy website.

January 13, 2020 at 9:44 am

Hi D! Thank you very much for the information. When I check the Jordan embassy website , it says that residence in the UK is required and tourist/visit visas are not allowed. Can you please send me the link?

Saikou Bojang says

January 7, 2020 at 12:14 am

Hi, I’m having a UK visa of 6 months with multiple entry. My question is can I travel to Sweden with it?

January 13, 2020 at 10:03 am

Hi Saikou! No. You cannot enter Sweden with a UK visa. You require a Schengen visa for Sweden.

January 7, 2020 at 12:08 am

Hi, I’m a Gambian with a UK six months visa with multiple entry. My question is, if I want to go back to UK for 3 months holidays do I need to apply for a visa or just need to buy a ticket?

January 13, 2020 at 10:07 am

Hi Saikou! If your UK visa is still valid, you can enter the UK again. You don’t need to apply for a new visa. But keep in mind that staying 3 months in the UK on a visit visa will get you into trouble while leaving the UK or re-entering.

January 2, 2020 at 3:52 pm

Hi, I am a British citizen and planned to travel to Mexico in February with my family. I appreciate if you answer my following questions:

1. My wife has a spouse visa (BRP) which expires on 05/01/2021. Can she enter Mexico with her BRP? 2. My father and mother-in-law are Iranian and having a UK visit visa which will expire on 19/06/2020. Can they travel with us to Mexico?

Thanks for your time and effort in advance.

January 4, 2020 at 8:28 am

Hi Kevin! 1. Yes. Your wife can enter Mexico with her valid BRP. She does not need a separate Mexico visa. 2. Yes. Your father and mother-in-law can also enter Mexico with their valid UK visit visas. They also do not need separate Mexico visas.

Sundram singh says

November 27, 2019 at 10:25 pm

Thanks Thirumal for replying. I have one more question. I would like to know for applying for a multi-entry tourist Schengen visa for 6 months, which European country shall I opt for the visa interview. Additionally, if I don’t have to book and show a travel ticket in advance then it would be great.

November 30, 2019 at 5:10 am

Hi Sundram! It depends on your itinerary. As per the Schengen rules, you must apply for your Schengen visa from the embassy of the country that you will enter first or stay the longest in your itinerary.

Example 1: If you plan to travel to Spain (3 days), France (3 days) and the Netherlands (3 days), then you must apply for your visa at the Spain consulate as Spain will be your first country to enter on your itinerary.

Example 2: If you plan to travel to Spain (3 days), France (5 days) and the Netherlands (3 days), then you must apply for your visa at the France consulate as you will be staying the longest in France during your travel.

Schengen country consulates recommend NOT purchasing flight tickets before your visa is approved. So, you just have to show a flight itinerary for your visa. Once your visa is approved, you can purchase your flight tickets. To get a flight itinerary for your Schengen visa, refer to my article on travel itinerary for visa application .

January 5, 2020 at 11:00 am

I’m a Nigerian, using a Nigerian passport. I have a UK 5yrs visa. Do I need a visa to visit Mexico and Romania?

January 13, 2020 at 10:18 am

Hi C! You can visit Mexico with your Nigerian passport and UK visa. But for Romania, you would require a UK residence permit. UK visa is not eligible.

Winnie says

January 3, 2022 at 10:44 am

Hi, I’m a Nigerian with a student visa in Ireland. Can I travel to the UK without a UK Visa?

January 3, 2022 at 2:47 pm

Hi Winnie! Unfortunately, no. You cannot use your Irish student visa to enter the UK. You need a UK visitor visa.

Winifred Mando says

January 5, 2022 at 4:34 pm

Thank you so much for your prompt response. In a case where I have a UK Visitor Visa, can I visit Ireland for a few days without an Ireland visa?

January 6, 2022 at 6:19 am

Yes, but you must be from those 17 eligible nationalities (listed under Ireland in this article). Another option is to ask for BIVS (British Irish Visa Scheme) endorsement on your UK visa. If you have a BIVS endorsement on your UK visa, you can travel to UK and Ireland with a single UK visa.

Sundram says

November 15, 2019 at 1:46 pm

I am Sundram (Indian passport holder), currently working in the UK (under tier-2 ICT visa). I have a BRP (residence permit) which is valid for 1 year. I would like to know, do I need a Schengen visa to travel to Europe. I am a little bit confused now since the immigration officer told me just keep Indian passport along with this BRP and then you free to travel anywhere in Europe.

November 16, 2019 at 6:12 am

Hi Sundram! UK BRP holders REQUIRE a Schengen visa to travel to any of the 26 Schengen countries. There are many non-Schengen countries within the European continent that you can visit using your UK BRP. A few examples are – Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Georgia, etc. Please refer to the list of countries in this article for more information.

Anna Theresa Balatero says

July 25, 2021 at 4:14 am

Hi! Can I visit Georgia with my unused UK visa? I’m a Philippine passport holder. I wanted to use/maximize the use of my UK visa before it expires. I’m fully vaccinated of covid. I wanted to visit the UK but Unfortunately, until this moment, the UK government is not allowing visitors from the Philippines. Can you also advised what else/country I can visit right now with my unused UK visa? I’m feeling frustrated about not being able to use my UK visa.

July 29, 2021 at 5:37 am

Hi Anna! Yes, you can use your unused UK visa to enter Georgia. Georgia is only allowing vaccinated tourists, and since you are fully vaccinated, you can enter Georgia with your unused UK visa. Here are a few countries that you can enter with an unused UK visa and currently open for tourism – Turkey, Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Mexico.

nachikethas says

November 11, 2019 at 4:55 pm

Hi Thirumal! I appreciate your efforts. I have a couple of doubts though. I have a BRP card valid from 2 October 2019 till 7th April 2020 (just more than 6 months). Is this enough to go to Peru? I’m planning for the Christmas holidays. Or do I need 6 months of validity from the day I land in Peru? Also, the flights from the UK are going through Madrid. Since the carrier is the same do I need a transit Schengen visa to switch flights in Madrid?

November 15, 2019 at 1:21 pm

Hi Nachikethas! If you have a BRP with indefinite leave to remain (ILR), you can use it to enter Peru. But your BRP has an expiry and it will not be considered as “permanent residence”. You cannot use your BRP as a “visa” either since it’s not a visa “sticker” in your passport.

If you have a UK visa sticker in your passport that would be valid for at least 6 months on the day you land in Peru, you can use it to enter Peru. Otherwise, unfortunately, you cannot.

October 18, 2019 at 5:42 pm

Hi, Thank you so much for this. I am holding a Chinese passport and have UK student visa. Just wanna make sure I don’t need a visa to enter Moldova for multiple times. The link is unfortunately broken. Can you send it to me again! Many thanks!

October 19, 2019 at 4:54 am

Hi Mindy! Chinese passport holders with a valid visa from “any country in the EU” can enter Moldova. The UK is still part of the EU since the Brexit is not finalized yet.

Sorry about the broken link. Here is the link to the requirements . Scroll all the way down. Expand the section that says “The list of countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when traveling to the Republic of Moldova”. Look for “China” in the list and read additional information.

Narjis says

September 18, 2019 at 5:41 pm

I’m Moroccan, I have a UK tourist visa of 2 years (but will expire on 10 March 2020). Which countries can I visit with that visa, please? Thank you!

September 20, 2019 at 4:35 am

Hi Narjis! You can travel to all the countries listed in this article that says “applies to all nationalities”. I will be updating the list soon, so you will have updated information for these countries.

Jeanette says

August 21, 2019 at 8:48 am

I’m a Filipino and a UK residency permit holder. Can I travel to Prague without a Schengen visa? Thanks.

August 25, 2019 at 9:50 am

Hi Jeanette! You would need a Schengen visa to travel to the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic does not honor UK visas or residence permits.

August 20, 2019 at 1:40 pm

Hi Thirumal, I have two questions that I was hoping you could answer.

I am an Indian national living in Australia as a permanent resident. I may be moving to the UK soon to start a job there. Can I travel across Europe on a UK work visa or would I need to apply for a Schengen visa from the UK?

Secondly, I am expecting to become an Australian citizen in a few months’ time. If I’m living and working in the UK while this happens, can I continue to use my Indian passport with the UK visa? I understand that I’m expected to give up my Indian passport after acquiring foreign citizenship but wouldn’t I lose all the visas issued to me If I did that?

August 25, 2019 at 4:33 am

Hi J! No. A UK visa cannot be used to travel across the Schengen zone. But there are some countries in Europe that you can enter using your UK visa or residence permit. Please refer to my article on VISA-FREE travel with UK visa for the list of countries.

You can keep using your India passport up to “3 months” from the date of acquiring your Australia citizenship. Using it beyond 3 months is an offense. Therefore, you will have 3 months to transfer over your UK work visa on to your Australia passport. I am not aware of the transfer procedure, so please contact UKVI.

For other unexpired visas on your India passport, you must first check if you can enter those countries without a visa with your Australia passport. If you can, then you are fine. If you can’t, please contact the embassies of those countries for the procedure to transfer those visas on to your Australia passport.

Also, you must surrender your India passport at the embassy of India in Australia within 3 years of acquiring your Australia citizenship. You will then be eligible to apply for OCI card which allows indefinite leave to remain in India.

Rafael Pagaling says

August 15, 2019 at 9:22 am

I am a Filipino with UK visa. Can I use it to visit Spain?

August 16, 2019 at 2:59 pm

Hi Rafael! You cannot use your UK visa to enter Spain. Spain is in the Schengen zone and you would need a Schengen visa.

Abdirizak says

August 9, 2019 at 8:49 pm

Hi Thirumal,

I have a 6 months visit visa to the UK. In your article, you mentioned that I can be eligible for a 30 days stay in Turkey. The question is, can I extend it to 60 or even 90?

August 12, 2019 at 9:36 am

Hi Abdirizak! Visa extension is not possible for eVisa. You can only stay for 30 days using an eVisa. If you stay longer than that on an eVisa, it can be considered as visa overstay. If you need to stay longer than 30 days in Turkey, you should apply for a pre-approved visa from the Turkish embassy or consulate.

mandal says

August 6, 2019 at 12:30 pm

Hi dear, I want to travel to Europe. I have a 11-months multiple short term student visa of UK. Can I travel to Europe on the UK visa? I’m a Mongolian passport holder.

August 7, 2019 at 1:15 pm

Hi Mandal! If your UK visa is a C-Type short stay/study visa, then yes, you can travel to the countries listed within “Europe” section such as Albania, Georgia, etc. Please note that you cannot travel to any Schengen countries as those countries require a Schengen visa.

MARY ANN SALAS says

August 6, 2019 at 9:43 am

Hi, could you please confirm if a Pakistani passport holder does not require Bahamas visa if he has a valid UK, US & Canada visa?

August 6, 2019 at 1:42 pm

Hi Mary! Unfortunately, Pakistan passport holders REQUIRE a visa for the Bahamas. Currently, the visa exemption with the US, UK or Canada visa is only for India passport holders.

July 31, 2019 at 2:57 pm

Hello Thirumal, well done with the good work you are doing here. I have two questions:

First question: I have a valid 2 years UK visa. Can I apply for a Cyprus Visa in London when I travel? I hold a Nigerian passport.

Second question: Can I stay in the UK for 6 months (the maximum time allowed) and travel out for a week and return again? Would I encounter problems coming back again?

August 3, 2019 at 8:40 am

1. I have never applied for a Cyprus visa, so I am not sure about the visa procedure. Please check with your nearest Cyprus embassy if you can apply for the visa while in the UK. 2. If you have requested your UK visa for a 6-month stay, then yes. But if you have requested your UK visa for a 2-week stay and you end up staying for 6 months in the UK, then you will face issues. You may face issues while leaving the country, entering back into the UK and even when applying for any future UK visas.

Daniel says

July 31, 2019 at 1:09 pm

Hello mate, thank you for helping everyone. I have a lot of questions there sorry haha. I am Cameroonian and I have indefinite leave to remain UK permit. 1- You said below that I don’t need a visa for Gibraltar but I don’t know how it works. Do I go with the passport and the IRL card? Are they going to put a stamp in the passport? Are they going to ask for more information about my stay? 2- Do I need a visa for Belize? 3- Do I need a visa for Mexico? 4- Do I need a visa for Romania 5- If not, is it the same process in the airport as Gibraltar? Thank you!

August 1, 2019 at 12:08 pm

1- You don’t need a visa for Gibraltar but you must meet the below requirement.

“Persons who hold indefinite leave to remain in the UK and persons who hold UK certificates of entitlement to the right of abode and have not been absent from the UK for more than 2 years.”

“Visa nationals who have a UK “certificate of entitlement to the right of abode” or “indefinite leave to remain in the UK”. The label must be in their current valid passport and not in an expired or cancelled passport;”

2- Unfortunately, Belize stopped honoring UK Residence Permits. Therefore, you cannot use your ILR card to enter Belize. (I will update the article soon) 3- Yes, you can use your ILR card to enter Mexico. 4- Yes. But you must meet the below requirement.

“The holders of permanent residence permits issued by the UK or Ireland (the validity of which is of 5 years or more). The right of stay on the territory of Romania shall not exceed the right of stay granted as per such residence permits.”

5- Yes. It’s the same process. You just have to show your current passport and ILR card.

August 3, 2019 at 3:48 pm

Thank you very much!

July 22, 2019 at 11:18 am

Hi, I have an Indian passport, married to British citizen so hold a UK spouse visa. Can I go to Barbados for a holiday? Thank you.

July 23, 2019 at 3:24 am

Hi Ruby! As far as my knowledge goes, India passport holders DO NOT REQUIRE a visa for Barbados. But there is conflicting information on the internet. I suggest contacting your nearest embassy or consulate of Barbados to confirm the requirements.

August 22, 2019 at 1:58 pm

Thanks. I have been going around in circles! The embassy website says Indians do need a visa. I called them and they said that I do not need a visa. Wikipedia says I do not. I contacted the airlines and they say I do need a visa. This is crazy!

August 26, 2019 at 5:01 am

Though the airline said that you need a visa, I’m sure they will let you board the flight. At the time of check-in, the airline staff refers to TIMATIC database to verify the visa requirements. TIMATIC says that India passport holders DO NOT REQUIRE a visa. Therefore, you will be allowed to board your flight to Barbados. Here is the link to TIMATIC on United Airlines if you like to verify and carry a print with you.

NOTE: TIMATIC is a paid service accessible only to airlines’ staff. Only a few airlines make it available to their passengers. One of them is United Airlines. It’s fine to take a print from United Airlines’ website even if your boarding airline is different.

July 19, 2019 at 2:09 pm

Hi, I just want to be clear. I am a Jamaican passport holder and my children have British passports. I have a UK limited leave to remain (biometric residence permit BPR) visa for 2.5 years which I renew every 2.5 years I am now on my third one as I am on a 10-year route to settlement as a parent and I am a UK resident. Can I use my BPR to travel to Turks and Caicos and the Cayman Island without the need to apply for a visa for those countries?

July 22, 2019 at 10:55 am

Hi Keema! Yes, you can use your UK BRP to travel to both Turks and Caicos and the Cayman Islands. For the Cayman Islands, you must fly directly from the UK to the Cayman Islands. Turks and Caicos don’t have such requirement, therefore you can fly into Turks and Caicos from anywhere.

Andrew says

July 19, 2019 at 12:26 pm

Hello sir! I am a Filipino with a UK permanent residence card issued at march 2011 and will expire in march 2021. I plan to travel to Romania but their website says that the permit must be valid for 5 years. I am not sure whether they mean valid for the next five years or with a total validity of 5 years since issue. Is it still possible to travel with my residence permit? Thank you!

July 22, 2019 at 10:48 am

Hi Andrew! It is the total validity of your permit. Residence permits that are issued with a validity of 5 or more years are eligible. Therefore, you can use your UK residence permit to enter Romania.

YOUSUF IQBAL says

July 16, 2019 at 1:50 pm

Hello Sir, I am traveling to the UK on visit visa type C. I intend to visit turkey for a week during my stay in the UK and want to return back to the UK before I go back to Pakistan. Is it possible on my visit visa? Would greatly appreciate your reply. Thank you.

July 19, 2019 at 10:57 am

Hi Yousuf! Since you have a valid UK visa, you are eligible to apply for Turkey eVisa. If your Turkey eVisa is approved, then you can enter Turkey with the eVisa.

July 19, 2019 at 11:09 am

Thank you so much sir for your reply. Will I then be able to come back to the UK from Turkey if my visa is valid. I have multiple entry UK visa. Regards

July 19, 2019 at 11:58 am

Yes. You can enter the UK again with your visa since your visa is multiple-entry.

swathi says

July 15, 2019 at 6:16 am

Hi Thirumal, can I know if a person holding an Indian passport? He is travelling from London to USA (ticket issued from India). Can we issue travel insurance from India? If not Why. Kindly help with this information.

July 16, 2019 at 1:05 am

Hi Swathi! Yes, you can purchase travel insurance from India though you are traveling to the US from the UK.

July 11, 2019 at 11:49 pm

I was recently refused a UK visa even though I had a 5 yrs US visa but never travelled with it. After the UK refusal, I got a 5 yr Canada visa too. I have since travelled to the US and Canada. What are my chances of getting the UK visa if I reapply?

July 12, 2019 at 12:57 pm

Hi Jaime! You have very good chances. But, your previous UK visa refusal could be a red flag. I suggest improving your travel history a bit more to compensate for that. Also, make sure you are “not making” any of the mistakes outlined in the article – UK visa refusal reasons .

Abiola says

June 26, 2019 at 7:26 am

Good day sir! You are really doing a great job. Please am a Nigerian and want to travel to Dublin with my UK 6 month visa. What will I need? And what is B I V S?

June 26, 2019 at 9:49 pm

Hi Abiola! Nigeria passport holders REQUIRE a visa for Ireland. You CANNOT use their UK visa to travel to Ireland unless the UK visa has BIVS. If you have a UK visa with BIVS, then you can travel to Ireland.

BIVS means, British Irish Visa Scheme. It’s a single visa for both UK and Ireland. You have to ask for BIVS at the time of applying for UK or Irish visa. Then you will be issued a visa with BIVS.

June 23, 2019 at 5:21 am

Firstly thanks a very nice and informative article. My parents have a 3-year Australian visitor/family visa, could they visit the UK on any visa exemption?

Really appreciate your response.

Regards, Kiran

June 23, 2019 at 6:39 pm

Hi Kiran! Unfortunately, they would need a UK tourist visa to visit the UK. They cannot use their Australia visa.

NOTE: There is a 24-hour entry provision for Australia visa holders but that is only when transiting through the UK while heading to Australia.

June 15, 2019 at 6:39 am

Hi there, I am from the Philippines holding a c-visit visa. Are all your list of countries above updated for the visa-free travel? I would like to visit Bosnia next week but I’m not sure whether I can go travel without having to apply for a separate visa. Many thanks!

June 16, 2019 at 11:55 pm

Hi April! I have updated this article in March but I haven’t found any changes since then. I suggest making a list of countries that you would be visiting in this trip and then using the links (official sources) I have provided to verify the requirements.

Prathik says

June 14, 2019 at 10:04 am

Hi, I have an Indian passport and a UK Tier 4 student visa with a BRP valid till October 2020. I have a university trip to France for 2 weeks. Is my BRP sufficient or will I need to apply for a Schengen Visa? Thank you.

June 14, 2019 at 9:00 pm

Hi Prathik! You need to apply for a Schengen visa. You cannot use your UK BRP to enter France (Schengen zone).

June 12, 2019 at 12:12 pm

Hi there. I have a Nigerian passport. Can I travel to the UK with a Canada visitor visa and or travel to Canada with a UK visitor visa. Thanks for your time.

June 12, 2019 at 4:44 pm

Hi King! Unfortunately, no. You CANNOT travel to the UK with Canada visa or Canada with a UK visa. There is a 24-hour entry provision at London’s Heathrow airport. If you are traveling to Canada via London’s Heathrow airport, you can request for a 24-hour entry at the Heathrow airport.

June 10, 2019 at 5:53 am

I want to travel to Ireland, Europe. Can I travel with a UK tourist visa to Ireland? And if yes, then there is one past rule that after or within 6 months you have to enter UK for at least once. And a Schengen visa is required or not.

June 10, 2019 at 10:10 pm

Hi Piyu! You can travel to Ireland with a UK visa. But there are two types of UK visas and the rules are different.

UK short stay visa: If you have this visa, you must first enter the UK. From there, you can enter Ireland by land or air. Your stay in Ireland must be within the “leave to enter” time specified in the UK entry stamp. UK short stay visa with BIVS: If you have this visa, you can enter Ireland any time. You don’t have to enter the UK at all.

A Schengen visa cannot be used for Ireland as Ireland is not part of the Schengen zone. You would need an Irish tourist visa.

Anandakumar says

June 1, 2019 at 7:27 pm

Dear Thirumal, Thanks for sharing this blog. It was really useful it worked well for me.

I travelled – Serbia – Bosnia – Montenegro – Albania – Macedonia – And Turkey (evisa) With my UK multiple entry Visa Thanks again!

June 4, 2019 at 2:25 am

Hi Ananda Kumar! That’s fantastic! I’m glad the article was useful in your travel through those countries. Thanks for sharing your experience!

Mshoaib says

May 24, 2019 at 10:59 am

Dear, I have a UK visitor visa. After attending my business meeting, can I go around for the six months to allowed countries from the UK?

Another question is whether Malaysia is on the list? If not, what is the legal process to visit Malaysia after being entered to the UK in visit visa?

May 27, 2019 at 11:41 pm

Hi Mshoaib! Yes, you can travel to the countries listed in this article with your UK visa after your business meeting in the UK.

You cannot use your UK visa to enter Malaysia. You would need a Malaysia visa. You can refer to my Malaysia visa guide for more details.

Muhammad Zargham Haider says

May 22, 2019 at 9:36 am

Hi, I am Zargham from Pakistan. I got a UK visit visa (6-Month). I want to visit Turkey on my way back from the UK to Pakistan. As per your suggestion, I will have to obtain E-Visa for Turkey or I can have a transit visa while traveling back through Turk Air.

Please also guide if I get Russian visit visa, are there other countries I can visit too?

May 22, 2019 at 3:40 pm

Hi Zargham! Yes, you can obtain eVisa for Turkey using your UK visa. I’m not aware of the transit visa facility by Turk Air. So, I cannot comment on that.

Unfortunately, Russian visa does not give access to any other countries.

May 20, 2019 at 6:07 pm

Hello, I have a UK six month visa and I am planning to travel to Dublin from London for 2 days. I am an Indian citizen but applied for the UK visitor visa from the UAE (I live in Dubai). Will I be able to travel to Dublin? visa type is UKVI05 multiple entries valid for 180 days, C visit.

May 22, 2019 at 4:05 am

Hi Cruz! Yes, you can enter Ireland from the UK using your UK short stay visa. No separate visa for Ireland is necessary. Make sure you follow the below two rules –

– Must have entered the UK and went through the UK immigration before entering Ireland – Must enter Ireland within the exit date on your UK entry stamp (this is different than visa expiry date)

Sameera Buddhika says

May 9, 2019 at 1:27 pm

Hi Mr. Thirumal I have a previous UK student visa, and now it has expired. I am a Sri Lankan passport holder. So, is there any European countries that I can travel with that previous visa? Thank you in advance!

May 10, 2019 at 10:09 pm

Hi Sameera! Unfortunately, no. All countries in Europe require the UK visa to be valid.

There are one or two countries in this list (non-European) that accept expired visas. One of them being Taiwan, but their visa exemption with a UK visa is not applicable to Sri Lankan passport holders.

Dr Jayanti mehta says

May 8, 2019 at 10:41 am

Dear sir/Madam, I have UK/USA & CANADA multiple tourist visas. How many countries I can travel visa-free? I have returned confirmed air tickets. Please guide me I want to travel in June/July & August 2019. Thanks.

May 8, 2019 at 2:41 pm

Hi Dr. Mehta! With your UK, US and Canada visas, you can travel up to 37 countries. I suggest referring to the below articles along with this article.

– VISA-FREE countries for US visa – How to make your weak passport strong

May 3, 2019 at 3:46 pm

Thanks bro! You are doing an amazing job. Today I got an email confirmation from Costa Rica embassy in London. I share with you. so it might help you to advise. Again thanks!

Email received on:- 03 May 2019 Dear Mr. Patel,

Holders of a UK residence permit can go without a consular visa, provided the residence card is valid for 6 months from the day of entry into Costa Rica, and could be allowed to stay up to 30 days.

You need to show a return ticket or ongoing travel, hotel reservation and proof of financial means (credit cards), if requested.

Jorge Aguilar Minister Counsellor and Consul General Embassy of Costa Rica 23 Woodstock Street, Mayfair London W1C 2AS, United Kingdom phone 020 7629 3111

May 3, 2019 at 6:44 pm

Hi Sunny! Thanks for the information and the email! Very useful! I will advise our readers/community accordingly. Thanks again!

May 2, 2019 at 7:23 pm

But Brexit is not done yet the UK still part of the EU. I called Costa Rica embassy in London today. The lady was on phone, she said you are good to go with out visa but it’s so confusing man. Please find some information for me. Thanks!

May 2, 2019 at 10:31 pm

Hi Sunny! If it’s confusing for just one country, imagine how confusing it would be to update this entire article. Brexit, it’s delays and extensions are causing confusion to many countries and travelers. I’m waiting for official information from these countries whether they allow UK visa, but I guess they are waiting for the final word on Brexit as well.

Anyways, you are told that you are good to use your UK visa. Enjoy your trip to Costa Rica!

May 2, 2019 at 3:43 pm

Hello, I have UK student visa valid till October 2020. We planned to visit Costa Rica on 27 May. So with Indian passport can we travel without a visa?

May 2, 2019 at 6:16 pm

Hi Sunny! Unfortunately, NO. Costa Rica allowed residence permits from any country in the EU. But the UK ceased to be in the EU and therefore UK residence permits are not eligible for Costa Rica anymore.

NOTE: I’m yet to update this article after Brexit. I’m making my best efforts to update it as soon as I can.

Amir Iqbal says

May 2, 2019 at 10:54 am

Hello, I hold a Schengen student visa and a UK tourist visa on my Indian passport. I need to travel to Dubai, as per the blog’s info I do not need UAE visa. Do I need to undergo any other formalities before my travel? Thanks for answering.

May 2, 2019 at 6:07 pm

Hi Amir! YOU NEED A VISA for UAE. You cannot use your UK tourist visa. You would need a UK residence permit.

April 28, 2019 at 5:39 am

Hi, I am an Indian passport holder and wanted to check if I can go to Bermuda with a UK visitor visa (C category for 6 months) from India. Further, do I need to file for a Bermuda eVisa online also?

April 29, 2019 at 8:37 pm

Hi Ish! If you hold a “multiple-entry” UK visitor visa, you can enter Bermuda without needing a separate visa. Refer to the official information on Government of Bermuda website.

Dr Purushottam Padala says

April 27, 2019 at 12:32 pm

Hi Thirumal. You are doing a great job helping out on this lovely blog.

I and all my family have a Permanent residence (PR) visa to the UK on my Indian passport. This visa was issued 12 yrs ago on my previous passport, which I always keep stapled to my new passport so that whenever I travel to the UK I do not have a problem.

Can I travel to the Schengen area on my UK PR without visa requirement especially so because it is on my old passport?

Although you have mentioned one can, there is information to the contrary on the web that you need a Schengen visa.

I also have a 10 yr B1/B2 to the US on my new passport, if it helps to visit Schengen without a visa.

Thanks in advance

April 30, 2019 at 9:01 pm

Hi Dr. Purushottam! Unfortunately, you CANNOT use your UK PR or US B1/B2 visa to enter any country in the Schengen zone. You would need a Schengen visa to travel to any Schengen country.

April 17, 2019 at 1:50 am

I am from Nigeria and I have a UK visitors visa. I’ve used it a lot and I’d like to know if I can go to Romania without having to apply for a Romanian visa for tourism.

April 17, 2019 at 6:58 pm

Hi Ayo! No, you CANNOT use your UK visitor visa to enter Romania. You would need a UK Residence Permit to enter Romania.

April 8, 2019 at 9:36 am

Hi Is this list valid for people holding a UK BRP (Bio metric residence permit) valid for 2 years. It’s normally issued if you are working in UK but not a permanent resident.

April 8, 2019 at 11:33 pm

Hi Adil! Yes, the list is applicable for UK BRP holders as well. First, go through the article and prepare a list of countries you want to visit. Then go through the official sources to make sure your BRP can be used. Visa requirements constantly change and it’s very difficult for me to keep the list up to date. You will have to do your due diligence as well before traveling to these countries.

Ibrahim Taiwo says

April 8, 2019 at 3:05 am

Please can i travel to any Schengen countries with my UK visit visa.

And which Schengen country is that.

April 8, 2019 at 8:47 pm

Hi Ibrahim! No, you CANNOT travel to Schengen countries with a UK visa. You would need a Schengen visa to enter any Schengen country.

April 7, 2019 at 6:25 pm

Good day sir!

Please, can I travel with the UK visit visa to all the countries mentioned? Please, I want to know the countries I can visit with UK VISIT VISA without a visa.

April 7, 2019 at 11:45 pm

Hi Ibrahim! Yes, you can visit all the countries in this article with your UK visit visa. There have been some changes since last month as the UK ceased to be part of the EU because of Brexit. I haven’t received updates from some countries and the updates are still pending. Therefore, make a list of countries that you like to travel with your UK visa and let me know. I can check and confirm that you can use your UK visa for those countries.

Prasanth says

April 2, 2019 at 10:29 am

Thanks Thirumal for the quick response

April 1, 2019 at 7:11 am

I am indian passport holder with a UK BRP card valid for another 2 years, from the above i see that i should apply for a evisa to the above countries you mentioned through their respective consulate websites if i need to travel.

Is there any country(Asian/European) for which i can travel without visa at all since i hold the residence to UK.

Thank you Prasanth

April 2, 2019 at 1:01 am

Hi Prasanth! You are VISA EXEMPT (without visa) for the above countries if holding a UK visa, except Turkey (eVisa), Oman (eVisa), Qatar (eTA) and Taiwan (eTA).

August 9, 2019 at 2:13 pm

I have a UK 5 years visa. Can I go to Ireland alone?

August 12, 2019 at 9:50 am

Hi Atif! You cannot go to Ireland directly with your UK visa. You have to enter the UK first and then go to Ireland by land or air. Also, you must hold a passport listed under “14. Ireland”

NOTE: If you have a UK visa with BIVS, then you can go to Ireland without going to the UK first. This applies to all nationalities.

August 12, 2019 at 4:37 pm

Dear, I have pre-settlement visa 5 years card. Where I can go on that without a visa? Thanks for your quick response.

August 14, 2019 at 7:43 am

Hi Atif! I don’t know much about the pre-settlement visa. If it’s a “residence permit”, then you may be able to visit the countries listed out in “VISA-FREE travel with UK Permanent Residency”.

Inayat says

March 30, 2019 at 7:27 pm

I am travelling to Mexico and as I hold a Standard Visa of UK. I don’t need a separate Mexico visa. As the embassy site clarifies that I would not need one. Do you agree? Just want to have a double confirmation. I hold a Pakistani passport. Appreciate your help.

March 30, 2019 at 9:38 pm

Hi Inayat! Different Mexico consulate sites are saying differently on the UK visa. I have had many readers use their UK visas without any issues so far.

MOHAMMED says

March 27, 2019 at 12:26 pm

You cannot go to Bosnia and Herzegovina with a UK VISA, you can visit Bosnia and Herzegovina only by schengen or USA visa or residence permit… Please try to be accurate next time and thanks for your effort…

March 28, 2019 at 3:18 am

Hi Mohammed! Thanks for the update! UK ceased to be a member of EU from this month due to Brexit. Therefore Bosnia and Herzegovina do not honor UK visas anymore. I will be updating the article this week and I’m waiting for official confirmations from some more countries.

Regarding being accurate next time, first of all, it’s highly impossible to be up to date with 200+ countries’ visa requirements for 200+ nationalities. That is close to 40,000 individual visa requirements. I continuously check with authorities, but not all 200+ countries respond in a timely fashion. There may be inaccuracies due to such delays.

March 23, 2019 at 5:15 am

Hi, are you saying you dont need a visa to Qatar if you have UK visa? My husband and kids (Nigeria passport holders) had UK visa and they wanted to go to Qatar from London but the airline staff asked them to present their Qatar visa before they can be checked in.

March 24, 2019 at 1:00 am

Hi Okin! Even if you hold a UK visa, you would need to first apply for Qatar eTA. With an approved eTA, you can get Visa on Arrival (VOA) at the arriving airport in Qatar. If you do not hold an approved eTA from Qatar, the airline will not allow you to board the plane.

If you read carefully, I have clearly mentioned that “Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to apply for eTA and then avail Visa ON ARRIVAL at international airports in Qatar”

March 18, 2019 at 11:14 pm

I am a Nigerian passport holder on a UK tier 4 student visa currently studying in the UK. My question is, can I apply for a US visa from the American embassy here in UK or as a UK visa holder will I be allowed to just travel to the US for a short visit without a valid US visa .

March 19, 2019 at 5:58 am

Hi Sonia! Yes, you can apply for a US visa from the UK. And no, you cannot use your UK visa to enter the US. You would need a US visa.

March 14, 2019 at 4:49 am

Hi, what are the countries near to United Kingdom you can visit if you have a UK- visit visa from Dubai? Holding a Philippine passport.

March 15, 2019 at 8:39 pm

Hi Mitch! You can visit Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey and Qatar with Philippines passport and UK visa. These countries are all near to the UK and UAE.

March 13, 2019 at 9:00 am

Hi I am a Kosovo citizen I have 6 mounth Touristic Uk visa can I travel in country such as Bermuda, Turks and Caicos and Mexico?

March 14, 2019 at 3:20 am

Hi Arba! Yes, if you hold a Kosovo passport and valid UK visa, you can travel to Bermuda, Turks and Caicos and Mexico.

Oyewale says

March 1, 2019 at 7:03 pm

I am a Nigerian currently in uk with a Nigeria passport can I apply for Ireland visa from England?

March 1, 2019 at 9:22 pm

Hi Oyewale! Yes, you can apply for Ireland visa from England.

March 1, 2019 at 12:30 am

Hi thirumal Great article Im British and my wife has Indian passport with dependent visa (brp) She will be a permanent resident next year Does she qualify for the visa free countries on her current visa? Many thanks

March 1, 2019 at 6:11 pm

Hi Biju! Yes, your wife qualifies for VISA-FREE travel to all of the countries in the list, except Ireland. Ireland requires a UK short stay C-Type visa. But your wife can secure an Irish visa easily as there are special provisions for those with UK long stay visas.

February 24, 2019 at 10:01 pm

Hello Thirumal! I have a Thai passport and also UK tourist visa that is multiple entry and valid for 6 months. I am a US resident travelling from New York to England. My question is, can I visit Dublin after England? Or I can only visit north Ireland? Please help me. I am so confused now.

February 25, 2019 at 2:52 am

Hi Lali! With your Thai passport and UK visa, you can enter Dublin (Ireland). If you follow the below rules, you can enter Ireland using your UK visa.

Rules – Your UK visa must be a UK short stay visa – When you enter the UK, you will be given an entry stamp in your passport. Check the “date of exit” on that stamp. You can only enter and remain in Ireland (including Dublin) within that “date of exit” given by the UK. – The entry in Ireland will be up to 90 days or until the “date of exit” on the UK entry stamp, whichever is shorter

Note: “Northern Ireland” is part of the United Kingdom itself. Whereas, “Ireland” is a separate country and needs an Irish visa. But you can enter “Ireland” with your “UK” visa by following the above rules.

Aiisha says

February 21, 2019 at 9:30 pm

Hello! I have a Gambia passport. I have a UK resident. Please, can you tell Switzerland or any country is visa-free? Thanks!

February 22, 2019 at 6:10 pm

Hi Aiisha! Unfortunately, you would need a “Schengen visa” for Switzerland.

With your Gambia passport and UK residence permit, you can travel to all the countries listed out in this article that says “applies to all passport holders”.

February 18, 2019 at 4:08 pm

Hi, I have a UK residents permit that allows me to live and work in the UK. So this means I can travel to Bermuda without applying for a Bermuda visa?

February 18, 2019 at 5:53 pm

Hi Ugo! Yes, you can travel to Bermuda using your UK residence permit. You do not need a separate visa for Bermuda.

Pratibha Sharma says

February 12, 2019 at 1:57 pm

Hi, Could you provide official webpage link where it confirm that UK work permit holder do not need Costa Rica visa?

February 13, 2019 at 7:04 pm

Hi Pratibha! The three official links for Costa Rica in this article confirms that a “legal permanence” in any EU country (UK is part of EU until the end of March 2019). There are specific rules for work permits, so please read the fine print before planning your trip to Costa Rica.

Here is the official information according to the Embassy of Costa Rica in Washington DC –

“You have permanent residence (Greencard holder), a student visa (F1, J1), a work visa (H1B, G4, L1, EB-1, etc.) in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, CANADA, and countries members of the EUROPEAN UNION (those residence cards issued in a language other than Spanish or English must be translated into Spanish.”

Phuong says

February 12, 2019 at 10:56 am

Hello Thirumal

I am so happy to find this article of yours and to realize how many more countries I can visit with my UK tourist visa. As a Vietnamese I have to admit our passport is pretty much useless. As much as I appreciate this blog post so much, do you mind if I translate to Vietnamese and share this article on my blog (crediting you and your blog)? I am sure this will be very helpful to others as well (although the 1st step – obtaining a UK tourist visa is very challenging haha).

Thank you again

February 13, 2019 at 6:15 pm

Hi Phuong! Thanks! I can understand. I actually spent over 6 months in Vietnam. I have several friends there and we had many conversations on this topic. Vietnam’s economy and tourism is growing. I hope the Vietnamese passport becomes stronger in the coming years.

Yes, please go ahead. It would be great if my article helps fellow Vietnamese travelers.

Manisha Arora says

February 8, 2019 at 4:40 pm

Thanks for all the information. Although I think I understand from your post but I still want to clarify.

I am on H1B US visa, do I need UK visitor visa to visit UK?

Thanks in advance Manisha

February 8, 2019 at 6:50 pm

Hi Manisha! Yes, you would NEED a UK visitor visa to visit the UK. You CANNOT use your US H1B visa to enter the UK as a tourist.

But, if you are traveling to the US and transiting through London’s Heathrow, you can request for a 24-hour entry at the Heathrow airport. Many of my readers were able to get the 24-hour entry without any issues. You can try this if you have a long layover in London.

Carlo Paulo says

January 30, 2019 at 10:27 am

I recently have been approved of a UK visitor Visa, and i was planning on travelling the Balkans this June 2019 (Bosnia & Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania). All of the 4 countries except for Bosnia & Herzegovina had mentioned on their Ministry of foreign affairs website that “holders of a VALID UK Visa” can enter their country. BH mentioned “valid visa issued by the EU”, so i guessed that since Brexit is on end of MARCH 2019, i can no longer visit BH in June. am i correct on this one?

I am a PH passport holder and a resident in Qatar. i’m planning to travel during EID (June 5, and the cheapest flight (via Pegasus Airlines) on that day is to SARAJEVO, BH.

waiting for your response.

January 30, 2019 at 5:14 pm

Hi Carlo! I believe the countries that say “valid visa issued by any EU country” will soon update their terms to include “valid UK visa”. A UK visa is a strong visa and these countries would definitely honor UK visa. It’s just a matter of time. I’m actually waiting for the official statements from these countries so I can update this article.

But in your case, I suggest contacting BH consulate and asking about the UK visa in June. They probably know the changes coming up in March 2019. If they aren’t sure, then getting a BH visa would be a smart move.

January 29, 2019 at 3:44 pm

Hi Thirumal, thank you for such useful information. You mention permanent residency. I am studying in the UK, I have Biometric Resident Permit (BRP). Am I a UK resident? I am from Vietnam. In particular, with my BRP (valid until end of March 2020), can I travel to Costa Rica and Romania (tourism purpose) without these countries’ visa?

January 29, 2019 at 5:30 pm

Hi Linh! If your BRP is a residence card (not a sticker in your passport), then yes, you can use it to enter Costa Rica. Your BRP must be valid for at least 6 months on the date of arrival in Costa Rica. I suggest traveling to Costa Rica before March 2019 as the UK ceases to be in EU. The Costa Rica visa exemption is currently only for EU permanent residents.

For Romania, your BRP must have been issued for 5 or more years. I know it expires in 2020, but you didn’t mention when it was issued. Here is the official statement from the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“The holders of permanent residence permits issued by the UK or Ireland (the validity of which is of 5 years or more).”

January 21, 2019 at 10:20 am

Hi Thirumal!

Thanks for such a helpful post! Quick question: I have a valid 2 year multiple entry visa for the UK and according to many different sources (including yours), all I need is a tourist card to visit Cuba. However, after ringing up the Cuban consulate in London, they said that everyone needs a proper visa to visit Cuba even UK nationals. I am severely confused. If that were the case, surely it should have been updated on the internet? I hold a Pakistani passport.

Regards, AK

January 21, 2019 at 5:10 pm

Hi AK! Quite a few readers of mine were able to travel to Cuba with a US/Canada/UK visas. They were India, Bangladesh and Philippines passport holders.

There seems to be confusion around Tourist Card (also called Travel Card) and A1 visa. Both are being referred to as “visa” by consulates and travel agents.

My source of information from Cuba so far has been the TIMATIC database . Since it’s a paid service and Airlines depend on this service for visa requirements, I would say, go with TIMATIC.

Note: The UK soon ceases to be in the EU. You can still use your UK visa for some of these countries including Cuba till March 2019. I will update this article in March with the most up to date information.

Nandakumar Balasubrayalu says

January 7, 2019 at 4:30 pm

Hello, my parents are visiting the UK and have visited the UK many times before. They have a Type C Visitors visa. Are they eligible to apply for Turkish Evisa when they are in the UK? At the time they will be holding an Indian passport with Type C visitors visa from the UK.

January 7, 2019 at 9:10 pm

Hi Nandakumar! Yes, your parents are eligible to apply for Turkish eVisa as they hold a valid UK short stay visa. They just have to make sure that their UK visas are still valid at the time of entering Turkey.

Oluseyi says

January 4, 2019 at 10:03 am

Hi Thirumal you are going a very good job, i have valid UK 6months Visa and i’m planning to travel to Gibraltar January 20th do i still have to apply for Gibraltar visa? thanks you very much for your swift response

January 4, 2019 at 4:02 pm

Hi Oluseyi! You can use your UK visa to enter Gibraltar. You do not need a separate visa.

Keep in mind that you have to fly directly into Gibraltar. If you plan to fly to Spain first and enter Gibraltar by road, you would also need a Schengen visa to enter Spain.

Rizwan ullah says

January 7, 2019 at 11:24 pm

Hi, I m Rizwan from Pakistan having a C- visit visa on my passport, may I visit to Gibraltar as well without having schengen visa

January 8, 2019 at 3:24 am

Hi Rizwan! Yes, you can visit Gibraltar with your UK visa. You don’t need a Schengen visa if you fly into Gibraltar directly from the UK. But if you fly into Spain first and then enter Gibraltar by land, you would need a Schengen visa since you are entering Spain.

Talaat says

December 27, 2018 at 2:17 pm

Hi Thiruma,

Thanks for this useful post, I hold a national permanent residency card in EU which has been issued in Hungary and I have a valid UK visa.

I am planning to travel with my wife who is an EU citizen to ( Dublin ) Ireland for a vacation.

Am I exempted from applying for a visa or do I still need to apply?

I hold Egypt passport, Thank you

December 31, 2018 at 4:26 am

Hi Talaat! Ireland offers visa waiver for certain passport holders with UK visas. Unfortunately, Egypt is not on that list. Also, Ireland is not part of the Schengen zone, so you can’t use your residency permit from Hungary. Therefore, you would need to apply for an Ireland tourist visa to enter Ireland.

Asad Khan says

December 25, 2018 at 11:35 am

I had to apply for a South Korean tourist visa in Germany even though I still have a valid UK visa. However, proper listed documents were still checked required by the embassy. In any case, having a visa from OECD country eases the whole process for the South Korean Visa. I did not have to show any Income tax returns in Germany. On the other hand, it was a mandatory requirement from a native country Pakistan.

December 25, 2018 at 6:58 pm

Hi Asad! Thanks for the information! Yeah, unfortunately, you cannot use your UK visa to enter South Korea. There was a mention of 30 EU country visas on Hi Korea portal, but when I enquired with the consulates, they all said the visa waiver applied to only US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand visa holders.

But, it is good to know that having a visa from an OECD country eases the visa process. Building travel history and getting visas from countries such as US, UK, Canada, etc definitely makes a “weak” passport stronger.

Good luck and have a great time in South Korea!

TARUN BANERJEE says

December 14, 2018 at 4:13 pm

Hi Thirumal … how are you ? i have 2 question just couple of days back i have recieved my UK visa with BIVS endorsed on my passport … so the first question is can you please tell me if i travel to Ireland for 2-3 days from UK will they put a proper sticker visa or just stamp once i arrive dublin airport. Second question is some travel agents told me if i want to visit Romania as a tourist i must have US/UK/CANADA OR SCHENGEN visa valid in my passport is that true ?

December 15, 2018 at 12:59 am

Hi Tarun! I’m doing good. How are you? When you arrive in Dublin, you will receive an entry “stamp” in your passport. No visa sticker will be issued since you already have a UK visa with BIVS.

To visit Romania, you would need either a multiple-entry Schengen visa or a UK permanent residence permit. Romania DOES NOT honor US or Canada visas.

February 15, 2019 at 12:10 pm

Good day you mean one can travel to Ireland if you a UK Visa with bivs endorsement,I am a Nigerian passport holder I have 10 years valid visa

February 15, 2019 at 6:00 pm

Hi Oyewale! Yes, if you have a Nigeria passport and a UK visa with BIVS endorsement, you can visit Ireland. Actually, you can go back and forth between the UK and Ireland as BIVS is considered a unified visa for both UK and Ireland.

Ragu Prasad says

December 1, 2018 at 12:23 pm

Hi Thirumal, that’s an exhaustive list of useful information. I would like to know whether i can visit US from UK if i am having all the below 1. Indian Passport 2. UK Work Permit VISA 3. US Business VISA

December 1, 2018 at 5:52 pm

Hi Ragu! Yes, you can visit US from the UK since you already have a US visa. You can travel to the US from anywhere in the world (including the UK). It doesn’t have to be from your home country.

December 3, 2018 at 4:55 am

Thanks for the clarification Thirumal!

Ashwin says

November 27, 2018 at 5:25 pm

I am travelling to Mexico and as I hold a Standard Visa of UK. I don’t need a separate Mexico visa. As the embassy site clarifies that I would not need one. Do you agree? Just want to have a double confirmation. I hold a Indian passport. Appreciate your help.

November 28, 2018 at 2:49 am

Hi Ashwin! Agree. You DO NOT need a separate Mexico visa since you already hold a valid UK visa. You can enter Mexico with your UK visa.

November 28, 2018 at 9:55 am

In addition, Can you guide me on cost effective route to Mexico from India using the UK visa? I looked at few routes and a found a route from Canada, so for that I will require a transit visa. Can I use the UK visa to apply for Canada transit visa. Mexico as the destination country?

November 29, 2018 at 6:37 pm

Hi Ashwin! I suggest you look for flights that transit via France or England. – India passport holders do not need a transit visa to transit through France. – You already have a UK visa, so transiting or changing airports in the UK is not a problem for you. – Search from all big cities in India (New Delhi, Mumbai, etc) to both Mexico City and Cancun. Flights to Cancun are sometimes cheaper from Europe. Here is an example, one-way flight from Mumbai to Cancun via the UK for $700 USD.

randy j says

December 2, 2018 at 5:20 am

Hi Thirumal! Glad you are helping everyone. Can you help me with this? I have a valid UK visa. I am going to Mexico and the layover is in Canada. I intentionally want to go this route. I am applying for a Canada transit visa, but they are asking for a valid visa for the final destination (Mexico). What do I provide them? I am confused since Mexico visa is not required for UK visa holders.

December 2, 2018 at 6:06 pm

Hi Randy! I suggest providing a copy of your UK visa along with a print of visa requirements from the Mexico consulate page. Make sure to highlight the text in the requirements that says that you can use your UK visa to enter Mexico. This makes it easy for visa officers to understand the Mexico visa requirements easily.

Also, make sure to mention that you will be using your UK visa to enter Mexico in your cover letter.

December 2, 2018 at 7:44 am

Such a great help and information you have passed on Thanks alot Thirumal.

Regards, Ashwin

November 23, 2018 at 4:48 am

I am travelling to London in December, and plan to visit Ireland (Dublin) thereafter.

As per what I checked on the web, I don’t need separate Ireland visa. I have a multiple-entry visitor visa (C) to Uk.

But your site says we need BIVS stamp – I don’t have that,

November 25, 2018 at 1:08 am

Hi Nanda! As far as my knowledge goes, you would need BIVS endorsed on your UK visa in order to travel to Ireland. When you say that you checked on the web, what websites are you referring to?

November 29, 2018 at 5:58 am

This is the Visa Waiver Programme , as distinct from the BIVS

November 29, 2018 at 5:07 pm

I apologize! You are correct, Nanda. You can travel to Ireland from the UK using the Visa Waiver Programme.

Thanks for pointing it out! I see the distinction between VWP and BIVS clearly now. I will update the article accordingly. Please let me know how it goes in December. So, I can help others better. Thanks again!

Olufemi Akinyemi says

November 20, 2018 at 8:49 am

I think someone can travel to Israel with UK valid Visa

November 25, 2018 at 1:01 am

Hi Olufemi! I’m not aware of any such visa exemption with UK visa for Israel. Where did you get this information from? Do you have a link to the official information?

Olufemi Akinyemu says

November 19, 2018 at 7:17 pm

I have 2years UK C class valid visa, planning to visit Gibraltar by next 12days. I booked my hotel at Tarifa, 10 miles away from Gibraltar. Can my UK visa allow me to stay in Tarifa hotel? I later noticed that Tarifa is in Spain

November 24, 2018 at 11:28 pm

Hi Olufemi! If your hotel is in Spain, then it’s in the Schengen zone. Therefore, you would need a Schengen visa to enter Spain and stay in that hotel.

If you are flying into Gibralter using your UK visa and then taking a taxi to your hotel in Spain, then you will be entering the Schengen Zone en route your hotel.

I suggest you call the hotel and check with them to be clear.

November 15, 2018 at 12:26 pm

Can a philippino passport holder with a 3 year work visa in uk with nhs visit ireland without a visa?

November 28, 2018 at 2:57 am

Hi Sarah! The UK visa must be a short stay (C-type) visa with BIVS endorsed on it. Also, Philippines passport holders are not eligible for the BIVS scheme.

Lewis Ose says

November 12, 2018 at 10:20 pm

Hello, can one travel to Scotland with a UK C-visit visa….I am from Nigeria

November 13, 2018 at 11:17 pm

Yes, Scotland is part of the United Kingdom. Your UK C-type visa entitles travel to the entire United Kindom i.e. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

November 11, 2018 at 3:37 pm

Wow, amazing been searching for a comprehensive list for a long time. Many Thanks

November 11, 2018 at 10:04 pm

Hi Taiwo! You’re welcome! I’m very glad you found my list. Take care and enjoy your travels!

November 8, 2018 at 2:31 pm

However, Gibraltar in Spain which is British overseas territory is missing in this list.

Beautiful place and the airport is one of its kind in the world with runway running from middle of a road and with rock of Gibraltar featured in James bond movie, beautiful weather..

I am Indian passport holder with UK work visa. Visa free entry in this part of Spain :)

November 8, 2018 at 5:36 pm

Hi Priya! That’s fantastic! Thank you very much for the info. I will add it to the list. I do want to check out Gibralter at some point. By the way, do you remember the number of days of entry given at the immigration?

November 6, 2018 at 4:33 am

Thank you very much for this info..

November 6, 2018 at 4:44 pm

You’re welcome, Ogie!

November 6, 2018 at 2:20 am

Great article. Very helpful. Thank you.

November 6, 2018 at 3:17 am

You’re welcome!

November 3, 2018 at 10:09 am

Hey, yesterday I got a UK visitor visa for attending a conference. What if Due to my university commitments in Germany as a student I can not attend a conference which is going to be held on November 26 but can I visit the UK during my semester break in February 2019? What I understand is that Standard Visitor Visa has replaced visas like tourism, business, family visit and merge them into one category. However, on my visa application, my purpose of travel was to attend a conference/attend lectures, not as tourism. Would I be facing any issues at the UK airport later on If I travel because Immigration officers have the final authority to allow you in or not, having a visa itself is not a final guarantee of things. So I am kind of confused right now?

As a side question, Did you travel to Panama and Dominican Republic on the UK visitor visa?

November 5, 2018 at 4:02 pm

Hey Asad! It is absolutely fine to change/tweak your plans after you receive your visa. There is a reason why the UK grants visa valid for 6 months. Even if you were asked why you haven’t attended the conference, you can always tell the reason why couldn’t. Not attending the conference will not prevent or impact your entry in Feb 2019.

July 5, 2019 at 1:26 pm

Hello sir. I have Greece one year national visa. Can I go to the UK?

July 5, 2019 at 7:57 pm

Hi Preet! Unfortunately, no. You would REQUIRE a UK visitor visa.

October 27, 2018 at 5:46 pm

Thank you for such a prompt enlightening!!

Shyam Goenka says

October 27, 2018 at 4:19 pm

Hi Sir. Is Romania exempt for 30 days o a 2 year UK Visa? Also, is there an exemption for South Korea as well. Despite South Korea not being on your list, I asked this because Australian Visa allows a transit thru South Korea.

October 27, 2018 at 5:42 pm

Hi Shyam! What you have is still a visa. You would need a UK residence permit (something like permanent residence) to get a visa exemption for Romania.

No, South Korea doesn’t offer visa exemption with UK visa. South Korea exempts visa for those with a visa from Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the US. You must be in transit to reach the country of visa as your destination.

Dave Nguyen says

November 24, 2018 at 12:07 am

I think you’re wrong. Here is the official website for immigration information of South Korea, it clearly stated that the 4 countries: USA, Australia, Canada and New Zealand visa holders as well as visa holders from other 30 countries of Europe can I live to maximum 30days then depart to their home countries.

November 24, 2018 at 12:08 am

I forgot to attach the link. Here is the official link .

December 17, 2018 at 11:08 pm

Hi Dave! Thanks for pointing it out! I also apologize for the delay in responding to your comment. I was waiting to confirm the information with the consulates.

I contacted a few consulates and I heard back from the South Korean consulates in India and Malaysia. They both said that visa exemption does not apply to UK or any EU country visa holders. The consulate officials said that the visa exemption applies to only those with visas from the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

That being said, if you have used your UK visa to enter South Korea, please let me know. If there are more cases like yours, I can consider adding it to this list/article.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: I myself entered South Korea in September using my US visa. At the time of immigration in the airport, I asked the immigration officer on the visas I can use. She said that the visa exemption applies to visas from only the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. I was not given a chance to ask further questions. So, I couldn’t ask anything on the 30 EU country visas.

February 12, 2019 at 11:08 am

My sister recently just entered South Korea in January without any visa, she’s holding a UK spouse visa and traveling with her husband. Upon landing, she was given 30 days single entry visa.

February 13, 2019 at 6:39 pm

Hi Dave! Thanks for the information! I’ve contacted several Korean authorities, but none of them confirmed if the visa exemption applies to the visa holders from “30 EU Countries (including the UK)”. “HiKorea” says that “30 EU Countries” are eligible but all the other authorities I’ve contacted denied it. I couldn’t find an easy way to contact HiKorea directly.

So, I’m still looking for an official source and confirmation in order to add South Korea to this list. If you know the official source, please let me know.

December 30, 2021 at 9:40 pm

Hi, if someone got a UK student visa on a Pakistani passport, can he travel to Turkey without a visa?

January 1, 2022 at 8:03 am

Hi Shah! You still need a visa, but with your UK student visa, you are eligible to apply for Turkey e-Visa. Turkey e-Visa is valid for 90 days and you can stay up to 30 days in Turkey. E-Visa fee is $60 USD.

August 20, 2019 at 9:16 pm

Hi Thirumal, unfortunately, the website of Romania visa does not say that an Indian passport holder with UK permanent residency does not require a visa for Romania. Can you please share the link?

August 25, 2019 at 9:12 am

Hi Dipti! I apologize. The links are broken. Below is the information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

Link: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Romania

Hassan says

October 18, 2019 at 8:38 pm

Hi dear, I have got UK Visa for 5 years. Can I travel to Saudi Arabia? If I got a problem at the airport am I allowed to contact the UK embassy Thanks.

October 19, 2019 at 4:20 am

Hi Hassan! Saudi Arabia just opened it’s eVisa/VOA to visa holders of US, UK and Schengen. Their e-Visa system is not updated yet, so your only option is to get Visa on Arrival. If you have any issues at the port of entry in Saudi Arabia, you are allowed to contact your passport country’s embassy but not UK since you are not a UK national.

Asad Iqbal says

November 19, 2019 at 5:51 am

Hi sir, how are you? I have six months multiple entry visa UK. My question is can I travel to Mexico without a visa? I am now in UK London.

November 21, 2019 at 3:30 pm

Hi Asad! Yes, you can travel to Mexico using your valid UK visa. You do not need a separate Mexico visa.

June 20, 2019 at 11:08 am

Hi dear, I want to travel to Panama. I have a 5-year multiple tourist visa of UK C category. Can I travel to Panama on Uk visa? I’m a Pakistani passport holder.

June 23, 2019 at 8:46 pm

Hi Irfan! Yes, you can use your UK visa to enter Panama.

February 7, 2020 at 6:37 pm

Hi. I have a UK residence card which is valid for 5 years. Can I travel to France with this card?

February 8, 2020 at 4:26 am

Hi Rabia! No. You CANNOT travel to France with your UK BRP/ILR. You would REQUIRE a Schengen visa to enter France.

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Some Blue Badge holders can apply for little-known free travel boost

People with a disability living in one area of the uk may be entitled to free bus travel with the national entitlement card.

• 10:05, 11 AUG 2024

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Over 235,700 Blue Badge holders in Scotland might not know about a travel perk linked to their badge that offers free bus journeys. Scots with disabilities could be eligible for complimentary bus rides using the National Entitlement Card.

The eligibility for this benefit is often tied to disability benefits like Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Adult Disability Payment (ADP), Child Disability Payment (CDP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), or Attendance Allowance. However, Blue Badge holders may also be eligible.

Transport Scotland's website advises that you simply need your Blue Badge, or your latest V11 vehicle licensing reminder from DVLA or DLA404 from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), to apply for the National Entitlement Card. It further notes: "A valid Blue Badge issued outside Scotland, in the rest of the UK or by the authorities of another EU member state will be acceptable."

READ MORE: Bebe King killed in Southport: Older sister saw attack and managed to escape, family reveals

For comprehensive details on who qualifies and how to apply for the National Entitlement Card, visit the official website. Those without a Blue Badge can find full eligibility guidance on MyGov.Scot, reports the Daily Record .

Eligibility for disabled individuals in Scotland includes:

Blue Badge eligibility

If you're living with a physical disability, health condition that affects your mobility, or a hidden illness such as dementia, autism or Parkinson's, you might be eligible for a Blue Badge. This badge allows you to park closer to your destination.

As a Blue Badge holder, whether you're the driver or a passenger, you can park for free in disabled parking bays and may also be exempt from other parking restrictions.

Who is eligible for a Blue Badge?

In some instances, you may automatically qualify for a Blue Badge. In others, your local council will assess your eligibility, which could involve attending a mobility assessment and meeting with a healthcare professional.

In Scotland, there are specific criteria that automatically qualify you for a Blue Badge.

Who else might be eligible for a Blue Badge?

If you don't automatically qualify, there are certain circumstances under which you may still be able to get a Blue Badge.

For instance, if you:

• have a significant disability lasting at least 12 months that prevents you from walking.
• have a significant disability lasting at least 12 months that makes you virtually unable to walk.
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The essential guide to visiting London

Here’s what you need to know about England's capital city—when to go, where to stay, what to do, and how to get around.

Why you should visit London

Architectural landmarks such as the   Tower of London ,   Westminster Cathedral , and   Kensington Palace , as well as revived modern buildings like   Tate Modern   and the   Battersea Power Station . Some of the finest theaters in the world, from the   Old Vic   to the rebuilt   Globe . Brown ale, fish’n’chips and weekend markets from Greenwich to Camden.  

Best time to visit London

Spring : The Gulf Stream warms up the city early. Flowers start blooming in February and trees follow with their blossoms in March. The   Chelsea Flower Show   is a major draw in May.  

Summer : The tourist season peaks between mid-July and late August. Music festivals play out in   Somerset House ,   Hyde Park , and   Victoria Park .  

Autumn : Fall kicks off with the   London Design Festival , and the weather stays temperate into late October. Halloween is gaining importance throughout the city, though Guy Fawkes Night—a festival of fireworks and bonfires on November 5 – is more widely celebrated.   Battersea Park , by the Thames, has a great display.  

Winter :   Shopping streets   switch on their festive lights in early December. While some cultural life slows down during the dark, wet winter months,   Kew Gardens   launches its winter fair and skating rink. And Hyde Park hosts a   Winter Wonderland .    

Lay of the land

The Thames River, lined with grand public architecture like   St Paul’s Cathedral , the   London Eye ,   and Westminster (the seat of government), divides the city into north and south. The oldest enclaves lie to the east, around the   City of London , the old financial center also known as the “square mile.” Cultural energy revolves around   Soho ,   Covent Garden ,   Mayfair , Bloomsbury, and the   South Bank , a riverfront strip of modernist theaters and galleries.    

Historically, wealthy residents settled in West London communities like   Belgravia , Kensington, and Chelsea, gravitating to Holland Park and Notting Hill. The picturesque Georgian streets around   Hampstead Heath   have always been popular among literary types, with nature-lovers hiking up   Parliament Hill   for the city view. The neighborhood becomes more fashionable as you descend toward   Primrose Hill , with its pastel-colored townhouses and ivy-clad pub gardens.  

Younger Londoners congregate in East London, in gentrifying working-class neighborhoods like Dalston and Clapton. Postindustrial Hackney Wick has reinvented itself as a hub for live music, clubs, and inventive restaurants. Just over the River Lea is the former Olympic Park, a sports mecca that’s been rewilded and developed with museums and restaurants.  

( 11 must-do experiences in London. )

Getting around London

By public transport:   The   London Underground , or Tube, is an extensive subway network that reaches from Heathrow Airport in the west, to Greenwich, the Olympic Park, and northern suburbs. The system incorporates an above-ground network called the Overground, and the new inter-city Elizabeth Line. Fares start at £2.70 ($3.50) and rise according to distance.   London buses   follow more winding routes between neighborhoods and start at £1.75 ($2.25) with a daily cap at £5.25 ($6.75). Seniors and students 11 and over are eligible for discounts. Children 10 and under travel free. Riders can pay with any contactless card or device, but cash is no longer accepted.

By train:   Trains beyond London are found at larger stations like Paddington, Euston, Liverpool Street, London Bridge, Victoria, and Charing Cross. Riders must purchase tickets ahead of travel at the station or with an app like   Trainline .  

By taxi:   London’s famous   black cabs   can be hailed on the street or booked in advance. Typical fares start at about £7.60 ($9.75) for a mile-long journey. Minicabs, or privately run taxi services, can be booked in advance or hired from a licensed purveyor, found on most main streets. Uber operates throughout the city.    

By boat:   The   Thames Clipper   boat service, now operated by Uber, runs along the Thames between Putney, in southwest London, and Barking, in the east, stopping at Battersea, Westminster, Tate Modern, Tower Bridge, Greenwich, and other piers. Prices start at £5.60 ($7.20) one way, with discounts for children and families. Riders can pay with a contactless card or with the Uber app.

( Going underground: a subterranean tour of London's abandoned tube stations. )

By bike:   Transport for London operates the   Santander bikeshare program , with bike docks in place across the city. A day-pass costs £3 ($3.85) for unlimited 30-minute rides; payment can be made through the   app   or at a docking terminal.   Lime operates an e-bike- and scooter-share program. Vehicles are GPS-equipped and located via the   app ; prices vary.    

By car:   Only confident drivers familiar with England’s road laws should operate a private car in London. There is a daily £15 ($19.25)   Congestion Charge   in effect for most areas of central London, which must be paid on the day of travel. New   emissions rules   impose additional fees on non-compliant motor vehicles, and “ultra-low-emission zones”   (ULEZ)   make it tricky to enter some neighborhoods during the day.  

By foot:   London neighborhoods are highly walkable, but the distance between them can be vast. Most roads have sidewalks that are well populated into the night. Always look both ways before crossing, even at a green light. Traffic normally comes from the right.  

Know before you go

Diversity:   London is one of the world’s most ethnically diverse cities, with 37 percent of residents born outside London—many from South Asia, West and East Africa, Europe, and the Caribbean. Hundreds of languages are spoken here, and most neighborhoods have a mix of residents.    

LGBTQ+:   The most recent   Open For Business index   gave London a top AAA rating as a “stalwart supporter” of LGBTQ+ inclusion and equality, and its universities rank highly among gay students. Soho is, historically, the LGBTQ+ hub of the city, though gay bars pop up in several neighborhoods, notably in East London and Lambeth.  

( Best hotels for every type of travele r. )

What to read and watch

The most fascinating London-based books and films transport the reader to a specific neighborhood and historical period and focus on its rich diversity.    

Oliver Twist , by Charles Dickens. Tragic, romantic, and surprisingly funny, this classic exposed the underbelly of Victorian London and prevails on high school reading lists everywhere.  

Bridget Jones’s Diary , by Helen Fielding. The titular Jones is a sad, sardonic, desperately funny 20-something single woman working for a London publisher. The book centers on West London while the film adaptation transports most scenes to the southeast. Both will get you in the mood to explore.  

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes , by Arthur Conan Doyle. The book series and the companion TV show Sherlock take place around Baker Street in central London but investigate further afield into Piccadilly, New Scotland Yard, and the Tower of London  

London: The Biography , by Peter Ackroyd. Possibly the greatest contemporary history of the city, the weighty tome reaches back with wisdom and wit through Victorian London to the Plague and the Great Fire.  

Brick Lane , by Monica Ali. This instant classic, published just after the millennium, is an evocative peek into the lives of Bangladeshi immigrants in East London, based firmly in reality.  

Notting Hill , written by Richard Curtis of Four Weddings and a Funeral (and others), this 1990s hit comedy capitalized on the vulnerable charm of Hugh Grant—and the undeniable charm of bohemian London—and inspired generations of tourists to seek out that blue door.  

Rye Lane . Set around the eponymous market in Peckham, South London, this post-Covid romance begins with a meet-cute in   an   gender-neutral   bathroom.  

My Beautiful Launderette . An enduring favorite that introduced a young Daniel Day-Lewis to the world, this romance by Hanif Kureishi was set in South London during the Thatcher years and emerged as one of the first “queer fairytales” to reach a wide audience.

Related Topics

• HISTORY AND CIVILIZATION
• HISTORIC SITES
• PEOPLE AND CULTURE
• CITY GUIDES

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Our Terms and Conditions have changed. Please take a moment to review the new McDonald's Terms and Conditions by selecting the link, effective 09/05/2024, which includes updates to our age requirements and the arbitration and dispute resolution process. By continuing to use our website after that date, you agree to the revised Terms & Conditions agreement.

McDonald’s Launches Collector’s Edition Cups Inspired by Iconic Collectibles

August 07, 2024

Fans worldwide can now add McDonald’s new collectible cups to their collection beginning August 13

(CHICAGO – Aug. 7, 2024) – McDonald’s collectibles are as iconic as they come. From toys to vintage posters, plates, merch, games and trading cards, these keepsakes are more than just collector’s items – they unlock some of our fans’ favorite McDonald’s memories. Now, for a limited time, McDonald’s is introducing the global Collector's Edition with new collectible cups that inspire fans to relive those special moments and create nostalgic joy for a new generation.

Available in more than 30 countries, the Collector’s Edition cups, in embossed glass or tritan plastic, put a fresh spin on classic McDonald’s keepsakes from the brand, Coca-Cola, Mattel, Universal, Sanrio or TY Beanie Babies. Each cup spotlights iconic collectibles from different eras that our fans cherish, like the Grimace Mug in 1976, Pet Lovin’ Barbie in 1999, Shrek from ‘Shrek the Third’ in 2007 and more. Inspired by a variety of iconic characters and collabs, now is your chance to grab these reimagined designs among many others – this time, emblazoned on McDonald’s brand-new collectible cups.

“There’s an undeniable thrill when you snag that one elusive McDonald’s collectible or the final piece to complete your collection. We’re bringing back some of our most-loved keepsakes with a twist, giving fans a memory that they can hold in their hands,” said Morgan Flatley, Global Chief Marketing Officer and Head of New Business Ventures at McDonald's. “These new collectible cups commemorate some of our most unforgettable designs and global collaborations over the years, allowing longtime fans to relive treasured moments and helping a new generation make their own lasting memories.”

Whether you’re a collector, love the look, or simply feel nostalgic, check your McDonald’s App and/or local participating McDonald’s restaurant to see how you can snag the select Collector’s Edition cups available in your area.

About McDonald’s

McDonald’s is the world’s leading global foodservice retailer with over 40,000 locations in over 100 countries. Approximately 95% of McDonald’s restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local business owners. All marks and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

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Using the Library

We're a bit different to your local library. You can't take books out, but you can use our Reading Rooms in London and Yorkshire for personal study and to access our collection. All you need is a free Reader Pass.

Our users include academic researchers, undergraduate and postgraduate students and members of the public.

We're continuing to experience a major technology outage as a result of a cyber-attack . At the moment, our Reading Rooms in London and Yorkshire are open, but access to our collection and online resources is limited.

Consult the collection

We've released a searchable online version of our main catalogue, which contains the majority of our printed collections, but not everything is included.

Read our collection item FAQs below or watch our 'how to' video for more details.

What would you like to do?

Get your Reader Pass

A Reader Pass gives free access to our Reading Rooms and collection. Anyone can get a Reader Pass, you’ll just need to bring some identification to Reader Registration in London or Yorkshire.

Study in our Reading Rooms

All our Reading Rooms are open for personal study, with access to free Wi-Fi and limited access to collection items.

To use our Reading Rooms you will need your free Reader Pass.

Access our collection

Search our online catalogue to find the majority of books and special collections held at St Pancras and limited collection items at Boston Spa.

You will need to come onsite to order, and please note not everything is available. Please contact us to check availability.

Use our online resources

Our full website is currently unavailable, in the meantime there are some useful resources below. You can access these from home and you don't need a Reader Pass.

Speak to one of our team

Our Reference Services team are on hand to answer your research queries and advise on collection item availability. We're receiving a high volume of enquiries at the moment so please bear with us. We'll get back to you as soon as we can.

Frequently asked questions

Reader registration.

If you have a question about our registration process, please email [email protected] and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

How do I become a Reader?

Please visit Reader Registration in St Pancras or Boston Spa to be issued with your Reader Pass.

We’re now able to issue photographic passes again, and these will last for one year. The pass will allow you to use our Reading Rooms for personal study, use our free Wi-Fi, access items on the shelves and order collection items to consult.

If you have previously been issued with a temporary paper pass, you will need to revisit Reader Registration to exchange it for a photographic pass.

Please note you need to be over 18 to get a Reader Pass, and you must bring identification with you when you visit Reader Registration.

My Reader Pass has expired, how can I renew it?

Please visit Reader Registration in St Pancras or Boston Spa to be issued with your Reader Pass. This pass will last for one year. Your pass will allow you to use our Reading Rooms for personal study, use our free Wi-Fi, access items on the shelves and order collection items to consult.

Please bring your expired pass with you to Reader Registration, as your new pass will need to carry your expired Reader number to order any collection items.

You must bring identification with you when you visit Reader Registration.

I have pre-registered as a Reader but haven't completed my registration, what do I do?

Please bring your pre-registration confirmation email with you to Reader Registration, as your photographic pass will need to carry your Reader number to order any collection items.

What ID do I need to bring to register as a Reader?

At the moment we can only issue one-year photographic passes.

Whether you are renewing, replacing or getting a new pass, please bring:

• a state-issued photo ID, printed with your photo, name and address (driving license or national ID card) or
• two separate documents, one showing your name and one showing your home address.

Types of documents we can accept include:

• State-issued documents e.g. passport
• Bills and financial documents
• NHS documentation e.g. NHS appointment letters and prescriptions
• DVLA documentation or correspondence
• Residency e.g. tenancy agreements.

Please note:

• We can accept original documents, photos, online versions or scanned copies of the documents above. Please ensure all text is legible
• Some driving licenses and national identity cards do not show your address. If yours doesn't, we can't accept it as your sole ID
• All documents need to be valid, or the paperwork issued within the last 12 months
• If necessary, it's up to you to provide official translations for foreign documents
• If you would like to bring a guest aged over 18 into our Reading Rooms, they will also need a Reader Pass. If you require a carer or have an adult dependent, they will also need a Reader Pass.
• Unfortunately, we can't issue a Reader Pass without seeing the ID listed above. Without a Reader Pass, you won't be able to use our Reading Rooms.

Can I pre-register for my Reader Pass before I visit the Library?

At the moment you can only get a Reader Pass by visiting the Reader Registration in St Pancras or Boston Spa, and you can’t pre-register online.

With this Reader Pass you will be able to use the Reading Rooms for personal study, use our free Wi-Fi, access items on the shelves, and order collection items to consult.

My temporary paper pass is still valid, what should I do?

You can continue using your temporary paper pass until it expires.

If you have a temporary white paper pass but you need to order collection items, you can revisit Reader Registration to exchange it for a photographic pass before its expiry date.

If you have a temporary blue paper pass you can continue to use it until it expires, and then exchange it for a photographic pass.

With a photographic pass you will be able to use the Reading Rooms for personal study, use our free Wi-Fi, access items on the shelves, and order collection items to consult.

You must bring identification with you when you visit Reader Registration, even when replacing your temporary pass. You may want to consider visiting the Reader Registration in the afternoons, when it is likely to be quieter.

Reading Rooms and our collection

All our Reading Rooms are open for personal study, and you can now search an online version of our main catalogue . Please read our FAQs for more information about how to search for and order collection items at the moment.

Are the Reading Rooms open?

All of our Reading Rooms are open during their normal opening hours , for personal study, and for accessing books and other items from our collection, subject to availability and certain restrictions. See FAQs below for more details. Digital and audio-visual collections are not currently available.

When will more services be restored?

The cyber-attack caused substantial damage that is complex and challenging to repair, and includes the installation of a completely new computing infrastructure for the entire Library.

As we approach the new academic year our CEO, Sir Roly Keating, has issued a new blog about the rebuild of our systems and services.

Further improvements and restoration of services you can expect in the coming months:

• Access to more collection items held in Boston Spa – August: Due to technical work taking longer than expected, material stored in our Additional Storage Building in Boston Spa should now be available by the end of August, rather than July. Access to materials held in the National Newspaper Building is more complex and will take longer. In the meantime, you can find a wide range of newspaper titles available in microform in the Newsroom at St Pancras.
• Digital collections acquired through Non-Print Legal Deposit (NPLD) – September: A solution has now been developed to enable the restoration of access to Non-Print Legal Deposit content to our partner libraries in the Legal Deposit network: the National Library of Wales, the National Library of Scotland, the Bodleian Libraries, Cambridge University Library and the library of Trinity College Dublin. The technical solution will be in place by early September, after which, each library in the network will restore access arrangements in their own reading rooms, once they have the capacity to do so.
• Learning websites and digitised manuscripts – September: We hope to begin to restore some of our unique collection of digitised manuscripts, and our popular Learning resources, including Discovering Literature, in September
• Remote ordering – September: An interim remote collection ordering method will be in place by the start of the new academic year in September, and we’ll share more about this process once it’s in place.

How can I find out what's currently available?

There are a few ways to explore what's in our collection and find out what's currently available:

• You can now use a searchable online version of our main catalogue . This catalogue contains records of the majority of our printed collection and some freely available online resources
• You can consult printed catalogues in the Reading Rooms
• You can work with our Reading Room staff on-site to search for items in our special collections, such as archives and manuscripts
• You can search Jisc Library Hub Discover , WorldCat , The National Archives and The Archives Hub for records of items held in our collection, and see if they are held elsewhere.

The following table can help you find the collection types you require:

We're working hard to expand access to all of our collection as soon as we can, and will update our website and social media channels with more information.

Online ordering is not currently possible, so you will need to come to the Reading Rooms to order your collection items. Please contact our Reference Services Team before you visit to check what you need will be available, by contacting us .

What's in the online catalogue?

The online catalogue is a searchable version of our main catalogue of books and other printed material. It contains records relating to the following collection item categories:

How do I order collection items in your St Pancras Reading Rooms?

To order an item you'll need to place a manual order in one of our Reading Rooms by completing a paper order form. Our staff can help you with this.

To identify the items you need, you can use our online catalogue to search for the item you require. If a record is marked ‘Not available’, this means the item is unavailable at the moment. If a record is marked ‘Should be available’, you will be able to see a shelfmark reference. You can take note of the shelfmark, because you will need it to place a manual order in the Reading Rooms by completing a paper order form.

We can’t guarantee that items marked ‘Should be available’ are available to order; they may be in use by another Reader or restricted for other reasons. To check the availability before you visit, contact our Reference Services team by contacting us .

In the Reading Rooms you can also consult our printed catalogues, which contain items not currently included in the online catalogue.

To see if items are held elsewhere, you can search Jisc Library Hub Discover , WorldCat , The National Archives and The Archives Hub .

Orders for same-day delivery close at 16.00.

How can I find out if a collection item is available before I visit?

Before you visit, you can use our online catalogue to search for the items you require. If a record is marked ‘Not available’, this means the item is unavailable at the moment. If a record is marked ‘Should be available’, you will be able to see a shelfmark reference. Please take note of the shelfmark as you will need it to place a manual order in the Reading Rooms by completing a paper order form.

How quickly will my orders be delivered to the Reading Room?

We will endeavour to deliver your order within 70 minutes. However, please bear in mind that in some cases it may take longer if our staff have to do extra checks to ensure that the items you ordered are available. Orders for same-day delivery close at 16.00.

Can I order collection items to your Boston Spa Reading Room?

We’ve now restarted the transfer of collection items between our two sites, which has expanded the range of collection materials available for you to order. This means Readers in Boston Spa can access material stored in St Pancras, and vice versa. This has restored access to material that can be retrieved manually from our stores in Boston Spa, but as we are currently unable to access our automated stores, not everything is available.

If your item is being transferred from another site please allow two working days for delivery. You still need to visit in person and complete paper forms to order collection items at the moment.

We recommend contacting our Boston Spa Reading Room team before you visit to check what you need will be available, by emailing [email protected] .

We plan to restore access to more collection items stored in Boston Spa, including those held in our automated stores, over the coming months.

Can I access special collections such as archives and manuscripts?

The majority of special collections held at St Pancras are now available, including restricted material. Our specialist archive and manuscripts catalogue is not online at the moment, please contact us using LibAnswers or LibChat (via the green Ask Us tab on the right of the catalogue) so we can help you find what you need and advise on its availability.

Where can I consult restricted material?

Asian & African: India Office Records and Private Papers, Asian and African Collections (manuscripts and printed items) and the Visual Arts collection (by appointment in the Print Room)

Manuscripts: Restricted western manuscripts

Rare Books & Music: Restricted printed books and restricted music collections

Maps: Restricted maps collections

To access restricted material you must have a Reader Pass issued after 21 March 2024. If your pass was issued before this date, please visit Reader Registration to replace it .

How do I arrange to view restricted material?

You will need to submit a request either in person in one of the special collections Reading Rooms (Asian & African, Manuscripts, Rare Books & Music, and Maps), or via LibAnswers or LibChat (via the green Ask Us tab on the right of the catalogue).

If you wish to consult Select manuscripts in the Manuscripts Reading Room, you will need to provide a “Letter of introduction”. Please ask via LibAnswers or LibChat if you need more information about this.

Approval to consult restricted material may take up to 3 working days (excluding Saturdays) and making an item available might take longer. We therefore recommend you plan your visit to the Reading Rooms carefully.

Please note self-service photography is not permitted for restricted items.

Once your request to access special collections is approved, we will let you know how to order and view your item

Can I access your sound and vision collection?

How up to date is the online catalogue.

The catalogue is a snapshot as of April 2023, and we will not be adding any new records to it for the time being. Please see the table above for details of the categories of collection data it includes.

Is this version of the online catalogue just an interim solution?

Yes - we will ultimately bring back a fully integrated catalogue with online ordering and other features. However, this will take some time to implement so in the meantime we will work iteratively to improve the service we can offer to Readers using this version of the main catalogue as a basis.

How many items can I order?

You can order up to six collection items per day. Please note that as usual it is possible for only four manuscripts to be in process at any one time.

Can I increase my daily order limit?

Please speak to a member of our team in the Reading Rooms for help with this.

Can I order the collection items I require in advance of coming to the Reading Rooms?

We hope to implement a system for this soon but unfortunately it's not possible at the moment.

Can I reserve my items to view again?

Yes, you can reserve your items for up to three working days. Please speak to a member of our team in the Reading Room for help with this.

Can I extend the reservation period?

That may be possible, please speak to a member of our team in the Reading Room for help with this.

Can I consult material on the shelves in the Reading Room?

Yes, you can access collection items held on the open shelves in the Reading Rooms.

Can I access your digital collection?

Most of our digital collection and electronic resources are currently unavailable, but some freely available online resources are included in our online catalogue.

You can also access the resources below from home without a Reader Pass:

• search HathiTrust or Archive.org for older and out-of-copyright digitised material
• use Google Books to search a huge range of digitised content from our collection
• access 1 million images of items from our collection on Flickr
• search millions of newspaper articles via the British Newspaper Archives
• explore Artstor's digital library.

We plan to restore access to a range of other digital and digitised content over the next few months.

Can I access online services in the Reading Rooms?

• digital content including electronic resources
• online and advance ordering
• Reading Room PCs.

Why do I have to surrender my Reader Pass in the specialist Reading Rooms when collection items are issued to me?

To help us maintain collection security, we need to monitor the collection items consulted in the specialist Reading Rooms.

What time do I need to return the special collection items I'm consulting?

We would appreciate if you can return these items to the Issue Desk 45 minutes before closing time.

Will I be able to take photographs from special collection items?

Please ask our staff in the Reading Rooms who will be able to assist you.

Can I access the Print Room?

Yes, prints, drawings, photographs and related visual material held in the Visual Art collection can be consulted in the Print Room located in the Asian and African Reading Room. The Print Room is open by appointment only on Monday and Friday between 10.30 and 12.30. Please contact the Visual Arts team via email ( [email protected] ) to check the availability of required items and to book an appointment. Please note that advanced booking is required.

Can I access UK doctoral theses?

Our online catalogue now provides access to digital doctoral theses held in UK institutional repositories. To access these documents, search for a thesis and then click on a title of interest to view the full details for that work. The link can be found under the section labelled "View Online - External Resource Available" (in green) just above the "I want this" section (in red) at the bottom of the page.

Are the Eccles Centre Fellowships going ahead in 2024?

The Eccles Institute has unfortunately decided to suspend the Visiting Fellowship programme for 2024-25. We know that this will be disappointing, and this decision has not been taken lightly. We anticipate that there will be some opportunities for Eccles Institute support after key Library services have resumed.

How can I access high-res images of items from your collection?

At the moment, most of our digital collection and electronic resources are unavailable, but you can use alternate online resources including our Flickr and Images Online sites. You can also find digitised resources on a number of our blogs , and on the IDP website .

We can supply hi res images for all images that are available on Images Online, and are working on adding some additional images without captions/metadata that have been kindly given by previous users.

If you have any questions about the image you'd like to use please email [email protected] and we'll come back to you as soon as we can.

If you have previously been supplied images by the Library please get in touch as we can redistribute them to users who may need them.

British Library On Demand

We are now offering an interim manual interlibrary loan and scan from print service to business account holders. We'll be contacting account holders with more details about this service. British Library On Demand from digital collections and some of our print collections remains unavailable. We're working on restoring the whole service as soon as we can.

In the meantime:

• all requests submitted before Saturday 28 October and in our system will be cancelled, with the option for you to reapply once our service is up and running should items still be required
• renewal charges will not apply, and you can continue to return your items to us when no longer required.

I have an outstanding request, when will this be fulfilled?

All requests in our system will be cancelled, with the option for you to reapply once our service is up and running, should items still be required.

Should I still send my items back?

Yes, you can continue to return your items to us when no longer required.

Can I renew my items?

Renewal charges will not apply, so you can keep hold of your items if you need them for longer and send them back to us when no longer required.

Can I request an interlibrary loan?

We are now offering an interim, manual interlibrary loan and scan from print service to business account holders. We’ll be contacting account holders with more details about this service.

Access digitised content

Most of our digital collection and electronic resources are currently unavailable, but some freely available online resources are included in our online catalogue. See our collection item FAQs above for more information about what's included.

Out-of-copyright material

Search HathiTrust or Archive.org for older and out-of-copyright digitised material.

Access 1 million images of items from our collection on Flickr . Find and buy images from our unique collections on our images online site.

Google Books

Use this filtered search to access over 700,000 digitised books from our collection on Google Books.

Search millions of newspaper articles via the British Newspaper Archives .

Theatrical playbills

The British Library Playbills collection gives access to 80,000 theatre posters. It includes high resolution images with searchable text of English, Scottish, and Irish playbills made between 1600 and 1902 (mostly 19th century).

Other available resources

Research repository.

Search our open access Research Repository for outputs from our staff, open access data sets, 3D models of collection items and content from other heritage organisations.

English Short Title Catalogue

Access a temporary search interface for the English Short Title Catalogue (ESTC), to search over 480,000 pre-1801 records, many with links to Early English Books Online (EEBO) . Created by Nikolai Vogler for the collaborative research project Print & Probability .

Open University

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Money blog: Is this the end of the British pub?

Welcome to the Money blog, your place for personal finance and consumer news and tips. Read our deep dive into the demise of the British pub below - and we'll be back with live updates on Monday. As always, you can comment on anything we're covering in Money below.

Saturday 10 August 2024 09:21, UK

Weekend Money

• Is this the end of the British pub?
• Reader comments : How to eat a Twix properly, the best crisps of all time and the deterioration of chocolate bars compared with 1980/90s
• Weekly news round-up : Where tumultuous week for markets leaves economy

Best of the week

• The rise of 'doom spending' - what it is and how to stop
• Five budget ways to increase your house value
• Where kids can eat for free or cheap
• Top chef picks Cheap Eats in North Yorkshire and at home
• What do nutritionists think of Aldi's new copycat?
• Is it time to get a will - and what happens if you don't?
• Best of the Money blog - an archive of features

Ask a question or make a comment

By Brad Young , Money reporter

Mourning his mother's death and celebrating her life at the Old Neighbourhood Inn was the obvious choice for Martin Leach, 72, from Chalford Hill, near Stroud. 

The wood-beamed pub opposite his home had been woven into the fabric of the village for 150 years, so it made sense for 90 friends and family members to gather there in 2015 to say their final goodbyes to Nellie "Lilian" Leach. 

But seven years later, the village would say goodbye to the Old Neighbourhood too; its only pub shuttering its doors in a scene playing out hundreds of times over across the UK – and at an accelerating pace. 

"Entirely pissed off," said Mr Leach, when asked how he felt about the closure of the pub, which had once played host to local bands, mobile bakeries, artisan vendors and an affectionate black Labrador. 

"The pub was all that was left to represent that [village] community, and that's gone. And I think it's important to have that sense of community otherwise we just turn into a bunch of hamsters in cages."

Some 239 pubs closed in England and Wales during the first three months of the year, according to government figures – 56% more than in the same period in 2023. 

"There's a sense of death by a thousand cuts or 'what fresh hell is this?'" said Dr Thomas Thurnell-Read, a sociology expert at Loughborough University who has extensively researched pub closures. 

"Everything cumulatively is building up and that's why, sadly, there isn't a magic bullet for the problems in the sector."

Gen Z's changing habits 

Young people are more health and fitness conscious and more time-poor than their parents were, said Dr Thurnell-Read. 

The financial burden of university is rising, meaning students are taking part-time jobs and reducing the social time when drinking habits could form, he said. 

Freshers' week, once a party-filled gateway to three years of drinking, has become a box to tick and leave behind. 

"A generation of young people are finding other ways to socialise without automatically reaching for alcohol."

COVID played some part in this trend, said Dr Thurnell-Read. His students who started their degrees during social restrictions don't routinely go for big nights out or spontaneous, post-lecture pints. 

Between 2011 and 2022, the proportion of non-drinkers increased from 16% to 19%, according to Drinkaware's analysis of NHS data.

It's a trend driven by 16-24-year-olds (26%) and resisted by adults aged between 55 and 64 (14%).

Less cash, more alternatives 

"The younger generation don't drink as much. That's definitely a noticeable thing, but I don't think anyone really does any more. I don't really see the culture of when people used to go out and drink – like properly drink," said Simon Goodman, 44, owner of the Duke of Cumberland Arms, Henley.

The publican, who has been in the industry for 18 years, said that trade between the start of the year and the start of summer was "the quietest I have ever seen it". 

"People just weren't around. It's very bizarre after being in the business like this for so long."

The public have little money left over after paying their bills and more places to spend it, said Tom Stainer, chief executive of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). 

This was a trend that began in 2003, when the Licensing Act gave new types of venues the right to sell alcohol, not just pubs and clubs. 

Now the cost of living crisis looms large. One in five people who would usually go weekly to pubs and restaurants said they were doing so less often in a survey by consultancy firm CGA in April.

At the same time, skyrocketing rents and mortgages have led to a squeeze on leisure time, with people spending longer commuting in order to afford homes in cheaper locations, added Dr Thurnell-Read. 

"The big shift I think has been home entertainment. One of the other effects of COVID was it showed everyone how easy it was to get just about everything delivered to your front door," Mr Stainer said. 

This is a setback profoundly familiar to the manager of the Queen Inn, Great Corby, in Carlisle, which closed on 30 June.

Punters thinned out because they had a "vast amount of options at their fingertips" at home and supermarket alcohol was significantly cheaper, said Katie Wilkinson.

"It's a big shame," Ms Wilkinson said: "It means the village won't have a pub anymore and a lot of people rely on coming in each night for that social aspect."

She said this was particularly important for older people: "They see each other every night and now they won't.

"I think as we move forward more and more smaller village pubs will be closing."

The real estate incentive

As pubs become less profitable, companies that own the land are knocking them down to cash in on the real estate value "time and time again", said Dr Thurnell-Read.

"Pubs are being closed against the will of the people who run them and often against the will of the community who need them."

One of those community members is Tricia Watson, who moved to Chalford Hill, Stroud, as a new mum and used the Old Neighbourhood as a hub to connect with other parents. 

Now a Stroud district councillor representing the area, she has joined a campaign group fighting to stop the landlord's plans to convert it into a residential property. 

The Old Neighbourhood has been deemed an asset of community value under the 2011 Localism Act, meaning local groups like the Chalford Hill Community Benefit Society must be given time to make a bid to buy it for the community. But, ultimately, the owner can reject it. 

"The asset of community value regulations are absolutely toothless. So any community that wants to keep their pub going is at the mercy of the markets," she said, adding the site is worth £300,000 more as housing than as a pub. 

Without outside support, community efforts to purchase closing pubs have a success rate of less than 10%, according to the Plunkett Foundation, a charity promoting community-owned businesses. 

"Sadly that picture is very recognisable," said CAMRA's Mr Stainer. "It was recognisable pre-COVID and COVID has accelerated the process."

He added: "I think a lot of property owners are being tempted to take the fast buck."

Pub companies often finance buying pubs in such a way that they need to make big returns to service the debts, which can either be done by raising rents or selling off parcels of land, he said. 

"It is the tenants and the pubs that suffer because they are the ones that get chucked out of their business and often their homes."

'Daily struggle' of doing business 

The last four years have been "incredibly intense" for the industry, said Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA). 

She lists off some of the "thousand cuts" Dr Thurnell-Read was referring to: the pandemic, war in Ukraine, pressures on supply chains, the energy crisis, cost inflation and customers who are far worse off than they were 2019.

Mr Goodman, of the Duke of Cumberland Arms in Henley, lists the impacts of these wounds: "The price of food, alcohol, wages, electric, gas - it's never ending." 

He said: "It is definitely the trickiest the industry has ever been I think. It is a daily struggle."

Food costs in particular have been "insane since the beginning of the year", rising by at least 15%, and in some cases doubling since 2019.

And they are completely unpredictable: "The prices can just change overnight, quite drastically as well."

It's not just food. Despite wholesale energy costs easing, Ofgem research published in March found 88% of hotel and catering businesses were still concerned about the impact of energy prices on their business. 

Fixed energy contracts have come to an end at five Cornish pubs run by Chris Black and his husband Jason, who face new tariffs costing 25% to 50% more.

"Pubs are not particularly energy efficient. I think that can be a massive factor in where money is basically being wasted quite easily," said Mr Black, 39.

He went on to echo an argument being made across the industry: while world events may not be in the government's gift, taxation is, and pubs are being "overly taxed". 

"I don't think there has been enough done to support pubs and that's evident in the number of pubs that are closing," he said. 

Alcohol duty, a tax levied on booze, is worth approximately 54.2p in a pint of 5% ABV draught beer (38p in a 3.5% pint, 75.9p for 7%).

Food and drink served in pubs is also subject to 20% VAT (though this was reduced to 5% and 12.5% at different stages of the pandemic). 

Pubs contribute 2.5% of all business rates collected by the government, but generate 0.5% of total business turnover, which CAMRA and the BBPA argue equates to a £500m overpayment. 

Taken together, Ms McClarkin estimates £1 in every £3 goes "straight to the tax man". 

COVID loans hangover and WFH 

During his research, Dr Thurnell-Read was told by many publicans they could have survived COVID or the cost of living crisis – but not both. 

The term perfect storm is overused, but for CAMRA's Mr Stainer, it's the only appropriate description. 

The pandemic burned through pubs' savings and forced them to take on more debt, just before the cost of energy and ingredients rose dramatically and the amount of money customers had to spend plummeted. 

Now, loans taken out and rents deferred during COVID are being called in, said Mr Stainer. 

"Many pubs have survived COVID but maybe are in danger of not surviving the long-term effects of the lockdown."

Introduced in March 2020, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan was a scheme whereby the government would encourage banks to loan up to £5m to businesses by guaranteeing 80% of the money and paying any interest or fees for the first year. 

"It is definitely a contributing factor to these failures, the inability to be able to pay back these loans," said Ms McClarkin, of the BBPA.

She said some smaller brewers had gone into administration because they "simply cannot pay them back". 

Loans aren't the only COVID hangovers facing pubs, according to Ms McClarkin: "Working from home culture has definitely damaged the pub sector, to the point where some pubs simply don't open Monday, Tuesday."

The pub lunch has dwindled in cities and big towns, and some establishments are choosing to close early on weekdays and open earlier on weekends, she said, as customers switch to less frequent outings. 

Fewer, more costly staff

Staffing has been a problem since Brexit, says Jane Pendlebury, chief executive of the Hospitality Professionals Association (HOSPA). 

She explained the end of freedom of movement has made it more difficult to find staff - and choose the right ones. 

"The friendliness, the smiles, charm, the willingness to pour a drink or deliver some food with a smile on your face will take them [pubs] a long way, but... if you can't get the right staff then you're not going to be delivering that." 

Minimum wage increases, while great for workers, have added to the outgoings for struggling pubs, she said. 

April's increase (£1.02-£1.26 more per hour for each employee) will see the sector's salary bills rise by £3.2bn, according to trade body UKHospitality. 

"People's wages have gone up, and that's absolutely acceptable and they should go up, but when it all adds up in this industry, when do you start going out and you're paying over £50 on a steak?" said Mr Goodman, of the Duke of Cumberland Arms. 

Cornish publican Mr Black said: "We've run a lot tighter on labour to try and keep the cost down because labour costs can be real money down the drain if you've got too many staff on at the wrong times."

Exhaustion 

For HOSPA's Ms Pendlebury, it's important to remember pubs are run by people – and they have a limit. 

"People that run pubs, own pubs, are just exhausted. 

"They were enormously under pressure [during COVID] and then as the guests came back, they were more difficult to deal with because their expectations were so high.

"So I think they are at their wits' end."

It's the smaller, more independent pubs that are closing, she said.

The scale of pub companies means more favourable borrowing rates, supply-chain priority and better value for money when bulk buying stock like menus, cutlery and loo roll, she said. 

They may have their own property managers – rather than more costly local tradespeople - and staff to manage their online reputation. 

"If it's all chains then we would, probably, ultimately lose some of our character as a country," said Ms Pendlebury.

It's not all bad

Walk across the River Ver, St Albans, north of London, almost 1,000 years ago and you would have seen the same building where Ronan Gaffney serves pints today. 

Pop into Ye Olde Fighting Cocks for an ale 400 years ago and you might even have bumped into Oliver Cromwell, who was said to have spent a night at the inn during the mid-1600s.

But centuries of history could not save the pub in February 2022, when the Fighting Cocks, the only inn to be officially recognised as the oldest in Britain, closed (though this was a title so disputed in the industry that Guinness dropped the category entirely in 2000).

Mr Gaffney, 27, and his colleagues lost their jobs in the pub where he – and generations before him - bought his first pint. 

But this isn't the story of another lost community asset: the pub reopened two months later, and Mr Gaffney was there to welcome the community back – with a promotion. 

The establishment's manager and head chef had banded together to take over the lease with a third business partner.

"It was super rewarding being able to reopen the doors and have been back in," said Mr Gaffney, now general manager.

"It was lovely to see the local community come in and say they're glad we're open again. A lot of people do have a lot of memories in this pub."

The pub is now in a much for comfortable position, though they must remain "very cautious on a daily basis", he said. 

He put its success down to attention to detail, big events, pricing and luck.

Bars can't get by on day trade anymore: birthdays, weddings and other large bookings are essential, he said.

"That is definitely one thing that our pub is not only very good at, but we're also almost reliant on it for a certain amount of our turnover."

Unless your pub is next to a train station, food is a must: "Being a simple boozer any more doesn't really seem to exist." 

He said he pays close attention to how staff are trained, products are bought and prices are set.

A lot of alcohol and food will return very slim – if any – margins, so you've got to make up for it on soft drinks, crisps and nuts, he said.

The same applies to the low and no alcohol products that have become so popular among younger people as they steer away from heavy drinking.

"It was quite strange," said Mr Gaffney. 

"It's not too rare for a pub to close or reopen these days, but it was quite rare to be able to be on both sides of that."

By Daniel Binns, business reporter

On Monday, stock markets around the world plummeted amid fears the US might slump into recession.

The UK's FTSE 100 closed down more than 2%, its worst day since July 2023. In the US, the S&P 500 index slid 3%, while Japan's Nikkei 225 plunged more than 12% - its biggest fall since "Black Monday" in October 1987.

It followed US jobs data, which came in much lower than expected for July, sparking fears of a recession in the world's largest economy.

If a recession was to play out (and that's a big if) there would be consequences around the globe, many negative but not all...

Concern over the strength of China's economy and several weak earnings reports from major tech firms added to the jitters, but from Tuesday onwards  stock markets started to slowly recover , making some gains as investors' worries calmed.

This was given further momentum on Thursday with the release of more jobs data - this time US figures showing a bigger-than-expected drop in jobless claims, alleviating - though not ending - fears of recession. 

More official US data on areas such as jobs and inflation in the coming months will help us get a better idea about the state of the country's economy and whether the recession worries this week were an over-reaction – or bang on the money.

The recovery in the stock market came as the pound's value also began to slowly climb back over the week.

It had dipped after an interest rate cut from the Bank of England last Thursday.

Generally, higher interest rates tend to attract foreign investors looking for more return on their money - lower rates are unappealing and can decrease a currency's value.

On Monday,  £1 could buy you $1.2811 or €1.1677 before its value against both fell.

But by Friday afternoon, Sterling had managed to climb back up to $1.2755 – not quite a full recovery but much better than its lows earlier in the week. 

It means those heading to the US will now get less buck for their bang, compared with if they had exchanged their cash last week.

However, the pound's strength against the Euro on Friday was almost back to where it was at the start of the week, valued at €1.677 by the markets. So those who exchanged money during the week may have got worse exchange rates, compared with those who waited until this weekend.

Several readers got in touch to ask how a US recession might impact exchange rates and holiday money - we took a look here...

The picture could be changed again next week when a few significant economic moments will play out in the UK.

Jobs data on Tuesday and inflation figures for July on Wednesday will provide an updated sense of where we've got to in the cost of living crisis - and likely impact expectations for the direction of interest rates.

We'll also hear how the broader UK economy is doing with quarterly GDP figures on Thursday.

As always, we'll have everything you need to know here in the Money blog.

Each week we feature comments on the stories you're talking about.

Our Bring it Back feature this week looked at Cadbury's Spira, which back in the late Eighties featured six hollow tubes allowing discerning chocolate fans to use them as a drinking straw for hot drinks.

While many mourn its disappearance, one reader pointed out there are alternative chocolate bars for dipping...

RE: Using confectionary as a drinking straw. You have clearly never heard of using a Twix. Nibble off a small amount at either end - then dip one end into very hot tea and suck hard. It's like dunking a Twix from the inside out. Highly recommended - and no mess lol.  Paul C

Other readers commented...

Not a question, more a statement, please continue this worthwhile crusade to BRING BACK THE SPIRA. Thanks. Razor

Hi Bring it Back team, can you please ask Heinz to bring back Toast Toppers. Their posts on Facebook are always full of people begging them to bring them back and I think there are three petitions online but as yet no joy. Can you ask them please? Lovetoast

Good news, Lovetoast - we'll be focusing on this next week. 

More comments came in...

The greatest ever chocolate bar was the Cadbury's Fuse. I recall my wife, when we were courting in our youth, telling me in the mid-90s that a Cadbury's representative came into the Spar she was working at and said: "It is more than just a chocolate bar, it's a full meal." Shaun Fielding

Campbell's need to bring back condensed pea soup - think about vegetarians. I used to live on pea soup, then they decided to put ham in it. No other pea soup will do, they just don't taste the same. I have tried ordering it online but it has been discontinued.  Mandy63

Brannigans beef and mustard crisps were and still are the best I have ever had - there is not a crisp out there today that comes close in flavour. Mr S

Mr S, we're looking into this one too.

Burtons fish and chips. A wee packet of savoury biscuits. Currently available in salt and vinegar, but not in the original fish and chip flavour. A favourite of tuck shops and much loved by 1970s school children. Ruth Currie

Bring back the Aztec bar. Best bar ever. Young people have no idea just how short-changed they are with mediocre chocolate bars. Cadbury Marvellous Creations? What a load of rubbish!! RuthiePuthie

They need to bring back white Maltesers! I could never get enough of them, so much so I've not had a Malteser since! CEdwards

Walkers crisps. Bring back the small bags of your discontinued (last year) Worcestershire sauce flavoured potato crisps. It was, and always will be, Walkers' best flavoured crisp. R. Lyon

Please bring back Kellogg's Puffa Puffa Rice, best cereal ever!! I used to eat this cereal morning, noon and night. It tasted delicious! I really wish they would bring it back Doglover

Bring back the Pyramint! Dark chocolate shaped pyramid filled with mint flavoured fondant. Made by Terrys. Yum!!! JessElizabeth

Bring it back: Ketchup Pringles! They are the most delicious Pringles and other countries sell them but can only get them imported here very expensively. They should stop creating all these weird flavours and bring back the best one! Sooty

We need to bring back the Cabana Bar - a mix of coconut, cherries and caramel wrapped in chocolate. A treat that this generation are sadly missing out on - Bring it Back! Please. Gillian Mackay

Bring back Pacers! A bit like the shape and texture of Star Burst (previously Opal Fruits) but minty with white and green stripes! Never could understand why they stopped making them! LorWil

Cadbury should bring back the Secret bar. Very fond memories of being sent to the local shop to get one for my mum and then having the last bite. Francesca D

PLEASE can you harass the hell out of whoever has the power to bring the Secret chocolate bar back? It was so unique! Help a girl out (With many thanks). SecretAgent

I'd love to see the Texan Bar brought back. It was like a big Chomp and I loved it. Also, Cowan's Highland Toffee was another favourite that I don't think you can get anymore. And Riley's Toffee Rolls too, which were a bit like Eclairs but chewier! LupusAquatica

The Money blog is your place for consumer news, economic analysis and everything you need to know about the cost of living - bookmark news.sky.com/money.

It runs with live updates every weekday - while on Saturdays we scale back and offer you a weekend feature, a round up of what readers have been saying this week, and an overview of the biggest news.

Check them out this morning and we'll be back on Monday with rolling news and features.

The Money team is Bhvishya Patel, Jess Sharp, Katie Williams, Brad Young, Ollie Cooper and Mark Wyatt, with sub-editing by Isobel Souster. The blog is edited by Jimmy Rice.

ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper staff have voted in favour of a walk-out in an ongoing dispute over pay, the RMT union has said.

Union members at the two publicly owned rail operators were separately balloted for strike action following a pay offer that was described by the union as "derisory".

Bexley has topped the list as London's cheapest area to rent .

The average rent in the southeast London region is £1,297 per month, a study by  BLG Development Finance and Online Marketing Surgery  found.

In second place is east London's Havering, with an average rent of £1,350 a month.

The most expensive average rent is in Kensington and Chelsea, with renters paying around £3,322 a month.

A secret advertising deal was struck between Google and Meta to boost Instagram's users, according to a Financial Times report . 

Google had worked on a marketing project for Meta aimed at targeting 13 to 17-year-old YouTube users with adverts promoting Instagram. 

That's despite Google's rules prohibiting personalising and targeting adverts to under-18s. 

Google has since cancelled the project after being contacted by the FT and investigating its claims.

The chocolate maker is giving customers the chance to star in one of its classic ads from the last 200 years with the use of AI.

As part of the AI-powered tool, users will be able to upload a selfie and select their era from one of seven Cadbury ads. 

Users can also select how they would like to be represented and the AI technology will then recreate their image.

Those who do give it a try will automatically be entered into a prize draw to win £200.

The My Cadbury Era campaign is being launched by the chocolate company's agency VCCP London to mark Cadbury's 200th anniversary this year. 

You can find out more here ...

Free Jude's ice cream is being offered for John Lewis reward members this summer.

Shoppers looking to indulge will be able to get one for free at The Place to Eat if they join the retailer's loyalty scheme .

The offer comes as a short-lived but intense spell of hot weather prepares to hit the UK this weekend, with temperatures expected to reach 33C in parts of the country.

The offer is valid until 27 September.

Eagle-eyed shoppers have noticed Heinz Ploughman's Pickle appears to have disappeared from supermarket shelves. 

The popular condiment might have been a favourite for your cheese sandwich, but there's bad news - Heinz has confirmed the product has, in fact, been discontinued. 

Concerned customer Sarah-Ann asked this on Twitter...

To Sarah-Ann's disappointment, Heinz replied: "Thanks for your message. Sorry to say but this product has now been discontinued."

So, is this one that should be brought back? 

We've been running a weekly series called Bring It Back where we look at the discontinued food items that you want back on our shelves. 

Here are the ones you've been calling for so far... 

Teachers and school support staff can now apply for a Blue Light discount card - but the sudden surge in demand has caused the official website to temporarily crash. 

The Blue Light card is a discount provided to emergency services, NHS workers, social care staff and members of the armed forces, and provides thousands of offers and discounts online and on the high street. It costs £4.99 to register for two-year access to more than 15,000 offers from large national retailers and local businesses. 

But it seems demand was so high, with teachers rushing to grab the card, that it promptly crashed the website.

"Due to the high demand we've seen over the last 24 hours we experienced some issues with our website and app," the organisation wrote on X. 

"Please accept our apologies for this error. We are in the process of refunding any duplicate payments and you should receive an email in the next 24 hours with more information." 

However, the move to accept teachers into the scheme has been met with some criticism. 

One A-level maths teacher wrote: "I'm not sure how I feel about this. Teaching can be hard, but we're not an emergency service, and our work isn't really in the same category as "blue light" jobs. If they're going to widen the eligibility criteria, it needs a name change, at the very least."

Another X user wrote: "This is precisely why fewer and fewer businesses accept the BLC. You really ought to rebrand to something like 'Key Worker Card'. The majority of jobs which meet your eligibility criteria are not 'blue light' roles -- the name 'BLC' is misleading now." 

But Blue Light Card hit back, saying: "Teachers are not just educators; they are mentors, guides and inspirations that are helping shape the future for our children. They are fully deserving members of our blue light community." 

What kind of offers can a Blue Light card get you? 

Among the offers is 12% off at Fenty Beauty and 15% off at Bose. 

Users can also get a £30 gift card if they spend more than £1,000 at British Airways or a £110 voucher if they sell their car via Carwow. 

Or if getting fit is more your thing, you can get 50% off an annual subscription to the Body Coach.  

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

Harris is talking about immigration more, and her allies think it could be a political advantage

WASHINGTON — All of a sudden, Kamala Harris is talking about the border — and relishing it. 

As Harris prepares to barnstorm battleground states this week along with her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz , her campaign is banking on an issue that, until recently, Democrats had ceded to Republicans and Donald Trump: immigration.

“The vice president has a compelling story to tell about prosecuting transnational gangs and drug traffickers as the attorney general of a border state,” a campaign official said. “That record will make it harder for the Trump camp’s attacks on her to stick.” 

It’s a remarkable turnaround for a party that until this year had largely avoided the subject — and as Republicans have tried to make it a vulnerability for Harris, arguing she is responsible for the ongoing flow of migrants at the southern border.

But in front of a cheering crowd in Atlanta last week, Harris was all smiles as she seemed to enjoy touting her border bona fides as California’s attorney general. 

“In that job, I walked underground tunnels between the United States and Mexico,” she said. “I went after transnational gangs, drug cartels and human traffickers that came into our country illegally. I prosecuted them in case after case, and I won.”

The turning point

For Democrats, the shift in messaging began this year when Trump urged House Republicans to kill a bipartisan border funding bill negotiated in the Senate. At the time, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said he preferred different legislation introduced in the House, and he argued that the Senate bill didn’t go far enough. 

One of those negotiators, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., was furious. It wasn’t just that Republicans had tanked the Senate bill; it was that they’d been so blatant about it. 

“We did not go into these negotiations thinking this was about politics,” Murphy said in an interview. “But after Republicans smashed it to pieces, we’d have been fools not to take the gift-wrapped political advantage.” 

Murphy said Democrats immediately conducted polling on the issue and days later made it a focus of a congressional special election in New York. Democrat Tom Suozzi made immigration one of his key arguments in the closing days of the campaign — and won.

“They were abandoning a very good border compromise because Trump told them to,” Murphy said. “It was the transparency of Republicans that made this a layup politically.”

The victory in New York signaled to Democrats that they might be able to flip the script on immigration. Still, though President Joe Biden tried to ramp up his attacks on Trump over immigration — and  issued an executive action  last month that tightened border restrictions — polls consistently showed he failed to gain much traction. 

Now, Democrats hope Harris — the former prosecutor — can make a more convincing case.

“Donald Trump does not care about border security,” Harris said loudly at the Atlanta rally to loud applause. “He only cares about himself.”

‘Root causes’

Shortly after he took office, Biden tasked Harris with overseeing diplomatic efforts with the Northern Triangle — Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. At the time, there was an influx of unaccompanied migrant children from the region. 

Harris repeatedly said she would examine the “root causes” of that migration, which the Biden administration said was due in part to typical immigration cycles, as well as major hurricanes and the coronavirus pandemic. Republicans labeled Harris the “border czar.” The White House rejected the title. Instead, Harris’ team highlighted that her efforts to tackle the root causes of migration raked in billions of dollars in private-sector commitments, but they argued she was not responsible for daily fluctuations in illegal border crossings. 

As NBC News reported last year , a former Biden administration aide said it was no secret that Harris, who was not as steeped in foreign policy as Biden, was wary of taking on the migration issues when he gave her the assignment. She instead preferred being an aggressive messenger on the issue of reproductive rights.

Some immigration advocates argued the Biden administration more generally had ignored the border.

“I think that the two go hand in hand,” said Jodi Goodwin, an immigration attorney in Harlingen, Texas, referring to the distinction between longer-term and shorter-term solutions. “Because if there’s an effective plan or policy to deal with ‘root causes,’ then that should alleviate the issues that we see at the border.”

At the New York Times Dealbook Summit in November, Harris reiterated the administration’s position that the immigration system was broken — but that it was up to Congress to act on a legislative fix.

“It needs to be repaired, and we are working on that in a way that we establish a safe and humane and orderly immigration system at the border,” Harris said. “There are political games being played with this because, in November of ’24, some people have decided that may be the best weapon against an incumbent Democrat.”

Still, her allies were frustrated trying to draw a distinction between the official assignment given to her and how her political opponents defined it. Early in the Biden administration, Harris’ press secretary — after having fielded several questions about her boss’ handling of immigration issues — gave a blunt response at an informal briefing with reporters.

“The vice president is not doing the border,” Symone Sanders said. “The president asked the vice president to take on the diplomatic efforts with Mexico and the Northern Triangle to address the root causes of migration.”

(Sanders has since left the vice president’s office and is now an MSNBC host.)

Questions about Harris’ role in shaping immigration policy — or lack thereof — have persisted throughout her time in office. Memorably, in June 2021, she drew criticism after an interview with NBC News’ Lester Holt when she insisted that “we’ve been to the border” — despite having made no trips there as vice president. She ended up making a trip to El Paso, Texas, a few weeks later. 

As illegal border crossings soared, Harris’ critics blamed the Biden administration — and Harris herself.

“I think everybody would agree she’s been missing in action,” said Chris Cabrera, a spokesman for the National Border Patrol Council.

At his rally in Atlanta on Saturday, Trump slammed Harris. 

“For 3½ years, ‘border czar’ Harris has allowed terrorists and criminals to pour across our wide-open border,” he said. “And now she’s denying it.”  

‘An active mistake’

Still, migrant crossings have  dropped dramatically  over the last few months after Biden tightened the asylum rules. Now that the numbers are down, Harris' allies argue that Republicans are making an “active mistake” by trying to link her to them. 

“If you’re going to say she’s the ‘border czar,’” a Harris aide said, “she also owns that border crossings are at a record low.” 

Publicly, Harris campaign officials are reluctant to directly compare the success of Biden’s messaging on the issue with hers. But at the same, they seem much more optimistic and eager to talk about immigration.

For Murphy, the senator, it’s a clear opportunity to win over voters in November. He’s convinced that swing voters will not like the immigration policies Trump is promising — including mass deportations — and will side with Democrats.

“We have to prove to people that we are not just compassionate,” Murphy said, “but that we are also tough.”

Gabe Gutierrez is a senior White House correspondent for NBC News.

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