Foreign Office advice for UK holidaymakers going to Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Portugal

If you're planning a summer getaway to popular destinations like Spain, France, Italy, Greece or Portugal, it's important to familiarise yourself with the latest travel advice from the Foreign Office.

The Foreign Office regularly updates its guidance for UK tourists, including key information on passport requirements and other entry rules, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Below, we've pulled out some of the key bits of advice including passport requirements for UK travellers.

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Passport requirements:

For those heading to Spain, France, Italy, Greece or Portugal, the passport rules are largely the same. Before you jet off, your passport must meet certain criteria:

• issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check the ‘date of issue’)

• valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)

If your passport was issued before October 1, 2018, extra months may have been added to its expiry date.

This advice reflects the UK government's understanding of current rules for people travelling on a full 'British citizen' passport from the UK, for the most common types of travel. The authorities in the country you are visiting set and enforce entry rules.

If you're unsure how these requirements apply to you, contact the local embassy or consulate in the UK.

Do I need a visa?

Visa-free travels usually extend to Spain, Portugal, France, Italy and Greece given their inclusion in the Schengen area of the EU, which awards up to a 90-day stay in any 180-day interval without a visa.

This applies if you travel as a tourist, to visit family or friends, to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events, or for short-term studies or training. The area covers 26 countries in total which are all listed on the GOV.UK website.

Vaccination requirements:

There are no COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements for travellers entering Italy. Advice for Spain, Portugal, France, and Greece all state: "Countries may restrict travel or bring in rules at short notice. Check with your travel provider for changes."

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