Foreign Office advice for UK tourists heading to Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Portugal

Holidaymakers planning on making a trip abroad are being advised to familiarise themselves with travel guidelines. Many Brits will be heading to Europe to catch the summer sunshine in the coming months.

Popular destinations include Spain, France, Greece, Italy and Portugal. To make sure your trip faces minimal delays, it's important to check any rules for the country you are jetting off to.

The Foreign Office regularly updates its guidance on what tourists need to know before they leave the UK. Here, we look at some of the key bits of advice including passport requirements.

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Passport requirements

Passport rules are largely the same for Spain, France, Greece, Italy and Portugal, Liverpool Echo reports. Before you are allowed to leave the UK, your passport must be:

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

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

You should check your passport meets these requirements before you travel. If your passport was issued before October 1, 2018, then 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 most common types of travel. Authorities in the country you are visiting set and enforce entry rules.

If you are unsure if these requirements apply to you, contact the local embassy or consulates in the UK.

Do I need a visa?

You can usually travel to Spain, Portugal, France, Italy and Greece without a visa. The countries fall into what is known as the Schengen area of the EU which grants travel for up to 90 days in any 180-day period 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.

Do I need a vaccination?

COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements are not in force for peope 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."