Yahoo News Euro 2024 travel advice for Brits heading to Germany including passport and stadium rules
Millions of football fans will be getting ready to head abroad this summer for one of the biggest and most highly-anticipated tournaments in the world.
The UEFA European Football Championship, otherwise known as Euro 2024, will take place in Germany from June 14 to July 14. More than 30 million people from over 200 countries applied for the tickets to the matches back in December, with England among the countries with the highest number of fans vying for a spot to witness sporting history - three years after England lost out to defending champions Italy on penalties in the Euro 2020 finals at Wembley.
With 2.7 million tickets having been made available for the competition, Germany will be flooded with football fans next month across its 10 host cities including Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt and Munich. If you're one of those lucky people, here's everything you need to know when it comes to entry requirements, match tickets and stadium rules.
READ MORE: Travellers entering EU countries like Spain set to have fingerprints scanned from this year
Passport and entry requirements
Germany adheres to EU passport rules, which means that your passport must have both been issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country, and be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave, in order to be valid. You may also need to show a return or onward ticket and prove that you have enough money for your stay at the German border.
Germany is also part of the Schengen Area, which means a trip there will count towards the 90-day visa-free limit. Your total stay in the Schengen Area, which includes 27 countries, must be no more than a total of 90 days in every 180 days, regardless of how many countries you visit.
Check your passport is stamped if you enter or exit the Schengen area through Germany as a visitor, as border guards will use passport stamps to check you're complying with the 90-day visa-free limit for short stays in the Schengen Area. If relevant entry or exit stamps are not in your passport, border guards will presume that you have overstayed your visa-free limit, the FCDO warned.
Match tickets
Entrance to the Euro 2024 matches will be electronic, with tickets set to be distributed via the official UEFA Mobile Tickets app at the end of May, and you will need your mobile phone to validate them when you get to the stadium. Make sure your phone is charged and take into account roaming charges in Germany - the FCDO advises checking with your phone provider before you travel.
While the main ticket sales phase has now ended, tickets for the Knockout Stage are due to be released from June 23 depending on which teams qualify. You should only buy match tickets from official providers, as match tickets bought through unofficial means may not be valid - and if you sell tickets through unofficial means, you could be prosecuted.
Stadium rules
Entry restrictions may be different for each stadium, and visitors are advised to check the Euro 2024 venues guide for more information, as well as the Euro 2024 app. You are allowed to carry a small power bank so that you have enough power on your phone to show your ticket.
There are some general rules which apply to all the stadiums, including:
Bags larger than A4 size won't be allowed into the stadium
You can bring a small power bank, no larger than your phone
Make sure you have a valid form of ID on you
Professional cameras and cane umbrellas are not permitted inside the stadium. However, you can bring a small, fully collapsible umbrella
All Euro 2024 stadiums are smoke-free venues. So smoking, e-cigarettes and any other tobacco products are not allowed
Each host city will have a football village, where fans can spend time before and during the matches. Restrictions on what you can take into football villages and live viewing areas may vary between cities.
