Travel tool
Visa & Entry Requirement Checker
Get a general starting point on whether your passport typically needs a visa, e-visa or travel authorization for a destination.
Not official immigration advice. Visa rules change frequently, vary by purpose of travel and length of stay, and can differ for dual nationals or connecting flights. Always confirm current requirements on the destination country's official embassy, consulate, or e-visa website before booking or travelling.
General guide only, not a ruling. Entry decisions are made by the destination's border authority.
What the labels mean
- Free movementEU/EEA/EFTA freedom of movement applies - no visa.
- Visa-freeNo visa needed for a short visit, within the stay limit.
- ETA / eVisa neededAn online travel authorisation must be held before you board.
- Visa on arrivalIssued at the border. Shown only where our data supports it.
- Visa requiredApply for a visa in advance through the official channel.
- Not enough dataOutside the rules we hold - check the official source.
The checker holds structural rules for the Schengen Area, the US Visa Waiver Program and UK visa exemption, plus three standing arrangements: the UK-Ireland Common Travel Area, US citizens to Canada and Canadians to the US, and Australia-New Zealand. It does not hold a country-by-country matrix, so visa on arrival and eVisa are not assigned to any pair - for everything else it says "Not enough data" and points to the official source.
Popular checks
Quick answers
Do I need a visa for my trip?
It depends on your passport, where you are going, why you are going and for how long. Pick your passport and destination for a general starting point, then confirm on the official source the result links to before you book.
What does "Not enough data" mean?
The checker holds structural rules for the Schengen Area, the US Visa Waiver Program and UK visa exemption, plus the UK-Ireland Common Travel Area, US-Canada and Australia-New Zealand arrangements. For any destination outside those it says "Not enough data" and links to the official source instead of guessing - a wrong answer can cost you a flight.
How up to date is this guidance?
Entry-scheme details (ETIAS, ESTA, UK ETA and similar) were last checked 10 October 2026. Rules and fees change, so treat the result as a starting point and verify it with the destination's official source.
Do I need a visa or authorisation just to change planes?
Sometimes. The US requires an ESTA or visa even for a connection, Canada asks visa-exempt travellers flying through for an eTA, and some nationalities need an airport transit visa for the Schengen Area even without leaving the transit zone. If you have to collect bags and clear border control on separate tickets, the destination's normal entry rules apply. The transit notes below the checker cover each case.
Can I save or share a result?
Yes. Each check updates the page address (?from=...&to=...), so you can copy the link or use the share buttons. The Back and Forward buttons step through the checks you made.
Is this official immigration advice?
No. It is a general guide. Border authorities decide entry, and rules can differ for dual nationals, connecting flights and different purposes of travel.
Changing planes? Transit rules
-
Schengen Area
Nationals of some countries need an airport transit visa even if they never leave the transit zone (the EU has a common list, and individual countries add their own). If you leave the transit zone - to collect bags on separate tickets, for example - you are entering the Schengen Area and its normal entry rules apply.
European Commission - visa policy (opens in a new tab) -
United States
A connection through a US airport is still an entry. You need an ESTA if you are from a Visa Waiver Program country, or a visa if not, even if you only change planes.
Official ESTA site (opens in a new tab) -
Canada
Visa-exempt travellers other than US citizens need an eTA to fly to Canada, which in practice includes connecting there. Check with your airline for the exact rule on your route.
Government of Canada - eTA (opens in a new tab) -
United Kingdom
If you pass through UK border control on a connection you need an ETA (or a visa). Airside transit without passing border control is currently exempt from the ETA at the airports the Home Office names, but that exemption is described as temporary, and some nationalities need a Direct Airside Transit visa instead. Confirm with your airline.
GOV.UK - when you do not need an ETA (opens in a new tab) -
Separate tickets
If your two flights are not on one ticket you will usually have to collect your bags and clear border control at the connecting airport. Treat that stop as a normal entry, with all the paperwork that implies.
Last reviewed 10 October 2026. Airlines apply these rules at check-in, so ask yours if your route has a connection.
Before you go
Entry sorted? These are the three things travellers book next. Independent picks - we earn a small commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you. How this works.
Planning where to go next?
Our city guides carry places to stay, things to do and local food - pair one with the tools above.
The rules that catch people out
-
The 90-in-180 rule
Schengen short stays are counted across the whole area, not per country. On any given day, look back 180 days: your days in Schengen must total 90 or fewer. Leaving and coming straight back does not reset it.
-
Border records
Since 10 April 2026 the EU Entry/Exit System has been fully operational at every external Schengen border. It records the entry and exit of non-EU short-stay travellers with a photo and fingerprints instead of passport stamps, so overstays are detected automatically.
-
Passport validity
Many countries require your passport to be valid for a set period beyond your departure date - three months beyond for Schengen, often six months elsewhere - and some also require it to have been issued within the last ten years (Schengen does). Check before you book, not at the airport.
-
Blank pages
Some countries refuse entry without one or two entirely blank visa pages. An almost-full passport is a real reason people get turned away.
-
Onward travel
Airlines are fined for carrying passengers who are refused entry, so they enforce these rules at check-in. Expect to be asked for proof of onward or return travel.
Entry-scheme fees and dates on this page were checked 10 October 2026.
Ready to plan your trip?
Search flights, bus routes and hotels - all in one place