Important Information - Visas

How do I find out about visas?

For full details of any travel restrictions, entry and stay requirements, visa and travel advice to your particular destination, visit the Foreign Office website at www.fco.gov.uk/travel. Visas may be required for entry into non-EU countries. Information about visa requirements may be found by accessing individual country pages on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website. Non-British citizens including other EU nationals should contact the embassy, high commission or consulate of the destination for up to date advice on immigration, visa and entry requirements.

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Do I need a visa to travel to Egypt?

For package holidays and flights to Egypt, British visitors will need a full passport (valid for 6 months after leaving Egypt) and a visa. We recommend you obtain your visa from the Egyptian Consulate before departure. Alternatively, it is available upon arrival at the airport in Egypt. It may be slightly cheaper to purchase your visa upon arrival but there are likely to be queues at the visa counter in the airport. Please note, if you are staying in Sharm el Sheikh, a visa is only required if you travel outside the Sinai Desert and if you go sightseeing or diving outside Sharm el Sheikh. If your passport contains an Israeli stamp, please call the Passport Office for advice. For enquiries on the purchase of visas, please contact the Egyptian Consulate on 020 7 235 9719 (Mon - Fri 09.30 - 12.30). For Cruise holidays, if you are combining your cruise with a stay on land, a visa will be required. We recommend you obtain this from the Egyptian Consulate before travel (approximate cost £15). British passport holders on a Cruise holiday are not required to obtain individual visas for any of the destinations featured. Should this situation change you will be advised before departure. For full details of any travel restrictions, entry and stay requirements, visa and travel advice to your particular destination, visit the foreign office website at www.fco.gov.uk/travel.

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Do I need a visa to travel to America?

Most British Citizen passport holders do not need a visa to visit the US on business, pleasure or in transit if they intend to stay in the US for less than 90 days and as long as they have a Machine Readable Passport. This is called the Visa Waiver Programme, and more information on this is available on the US Embassy website. The requirement to have a machine readable passport was introduced on 26th October 2004. The US also announced a requirement that all new passports issued on or after 26th October 2005 must contain a digital photo image to enable the holder to travel to the USA visa free. This means that in order to travel under the VWP:

• From 26th October 2005, if you are holding a British Citizen passport, you will still be able to enter the US with a machine-readable passport, with or without a digital photo image (since 2003 all UK passports have been issued with digital photographs).
• From 26th October 2006, all passports issued on or after that date will have to include biometric data.

For more information please visit the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice pages at www.fco.gov.uk.

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How do I apply for a visa to go to the Cape Verde Islands?

To find out more about visas and to apply online, please visit www.thomson.co.uk/cape-verde-visas. Here you can find out everything you need to know about travelling to Cape Verde. You can also follow the link to apply online for a visa before you travel.

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Do I need a visa to travel to India?

All foreign nationals including British citizens must have a visa when travelling to India. The Indian High Commission has recently changed it's policy and with immediate effect Tourist Visa Applications can be applied for in person or by post. Visas must be applied for at the Indian High Commission (London), the Indian Consulate (Birmingham) or via selected visa agents. For the full and most up to date information please contact the Indian High Commission at www.hcilondon.net, or telephone 0207 6323 149 / 0207 6323 152 / 0207 6323 153.