1. The 90/180 rule
British citizens can spend 90 days in any 180 across the Schengen area without a visa. Track it with the UK calculator.
2. Passport validity
- Issued less than 10 years before the date you enter.
- Valid for at least 3 months after the date you intend to leave.
Extra months added to old passports before 2018 can make an otherwise "valid" passport non-compliant.
3. Entry/Exit System and ETIAS
EES records your fingerprints and photo on first entry, replacing passport stamps. ETIAS, a €20 online authorisation, is expected to follow. Neither changes the 90/180 allowance.
4. At the border
You may be asked for a return ticket, proof of accommodation and sufficient funds. Use the non-EU passport lanes.
5. Health cover
Apply for a free UK GHIC for state healthcare in the EU, and buy travel insurance — GHIC is not a substitute.
6. Working, second homes and long stays
Paid work usually needs a work permit. Second-home owners need a national long-stay visa to exceed 90 days. Ireland is unaffected thanks to the Common Travel Area.
7. Practicalities
- Mobile roaming: most UK networks charge again; consider an EU eSIM.
- Driving: a UK photocard licence works in the EU; display a UK sticker.
- Pets: EU pet passports from GB are no longer valid; you need an Animal Health Certificate.
- Duty-free: limits now apply to goods brought back to Great Britain.