USA
Passports & visas
The Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) enables most people described as British citizens to enter the US for up to 90 days without a visa, provided that they hold a full, machine-readable passport (MRP). MRPs have two lines of text as letters, numbers and ‘<’ symbols at the foot of the personal information pages. If your passport does not have the two lines of text described, it is not machine readable, and you will need to obtain a B2 holiday visa from the US Embassy (the process for which takes several weeks and usually requires you to attend an interview) or apply for a new passport.
In addition to being machine-readable, all new passports issued on or after 26 October 2005 must incorporate a digital photograph, and all those issued on or after 26 October 2006 must contain biometric data. Biometric passports were phased in gradually by the UK Passport Agency throughout 2006 and are denoted by a rectangular symbol at the bottom of the passport cover. A further requirement is that everyone travelling under the VWP must also obtain Electronic Travel Authorisation.
The situation may change, so you should check with us, or visit usembassy.org.uk for up-to-date information. (This website also lists the circumstances in which you must apply for a visa, for example if you have a criminal record.) All visitors to the US are photographed and have their index finger digitally scanned on arrival, and your airline will pass on your personal details to the US immigration authorities prior to your arrival in the US, including details of your country of residence and the address of your first destination in the US.
Please check the validity of your passport. While it is not a requirement that your passport is valid for a further 6 months beyond your date of return from the US, we recommend that you nevertheless renew a passport which is shortly due to expire as it is our experience that customers have been denied boarding with passports with less than 6 months’ validity.
It is our understanding that currently no specific visas are required for travel between the US and Canada if you are combining New England and Nova Scotia, provided that you fulfil all the requirements outlined for each country.
New electronic travel system (ESTA)
Everyone wishing to travel to the US under the VWP must also obtain Electronic Travel Authorisation. This should be done by completing a simple online form on the website of the US Department of Homeland Security at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov. This system will be used to determine eligibility under the VWP, and a decision will normally be made within seconds. Travel Authorisation must be obtained at least 72 hours before your departure to the US, and is valid for two years (or for the validity of the traveller’s passport, whichever is the shorter). However, we strongly recommend that you seek authorisation before arranging your holiday to the US. There is currently no charge to obtain this authorisation, but it is likely that a fee of $10 (£6) will be introduced from January 2010.
Health requirements
There are no reciprocal health agreements between the UK and the US, and treatment costs in the US are very expensive. It is therefore all the more important that you have comprehensive travel insurance to cover you in the case of illness or an accident.
Time differences
Eastern US Time is five hours behind British time, and one hour behind Nova Scotia.
Canada
Passports & visas
Most British citizens (and some British Overseas Citizens and citizens of certain British dependent territories as listed at www.canadainternational.gc.ca) can enter Canada without a visa provided they have a valid, machine readable passport (MRP) and do not have a criminal record. MRPs have two lines of text as letters, numbers and ‘<’ symbols at the foot of the personal information pages. If your passport does not have the two lines of text described, it is not machine readable, and you should contact the Canadian embassy or apply for a new passport.
Please check the validity of your passport. Your passport must be valid for a further 6 months beyond your date of return from Canada.
Please note that your airline will pass on your personal details to the Canadian immigration authorities prior to your arrival in Canada.
It is our understanding that currently no specific visas are required for travel between Canada and the US if you are combining Nova Scotia and New England, provided that you fulfil all the requirements outlined for each country.
Health requirements
There are no reciprocal health agreements between the UK and Canada. It is therefore all the more important that you have comprehensive travel insurance to cover you in the case of illness or an accident.
Time differences
Eastern Standard Time (for Québec) is five hours behind British time, while Nova Scotia is four hours behind Britain. This means that Nova Scotia is one hour ahead of Québec (and New England).
Morocco
Passports & visas
British citizens require a full British passport to enter Morocco, but no visa is required for stays of fewer than 90 days. However, your passport must be valid for a further 6 months from the date of entry, so if yours is about to expire, you will need to renew it.
Health requirements
There are no reciprocal health agreements between the UK and Morocco. It is therefore all the more important that you have comprehensive travel insurance to cover you in the case of illness or an accident. It is generally recommended that you ensure you are up to date with your tetanus jabs and are immunised against hepatitis A, typhoid and polio, but you should seek advice from your doctor.
Time difference
Morocco’s time is the same as GMT all year round, and is therefore one hour behind Britain between late March and late October.
Language
Arabic is the official language, but French is very widely spoken.
Dress
So as not to cause offence, it is best to dress modestly with long trousers (or a skirt) and long sleeves. If you are female, you are not expected to cover your head, however.
India
Passports & visas
All British citizens require a tourist visa to enter India. A tourist visa is valid for up to 6 months from the date of issue, and your passport must be valid for a minimum of 190 days and have 2 blank pages. You can find full details and obtain an online visa application form by visiting http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk. Visa applications can be submitted and processed by post; we advise that you allow up to 3 weeks to obtain your visa this way. A 6-month tourist visa currently costs £30, and a service fee of £8.86 per passport is also payable. If you or any member of your party is not a British citizen or holds a non-British passport, you should check passport and visa requirements at http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk.
Health requirements
There are no reciprocal health agreements between the UK and India. It is therefore all the more important that you have comprehensive travel insurance to cover you in the case of illness or an accident.
You will need to take sensible health precautions while travelling in India, and we will send you full details with your holiday documentation. You should ask your doctor for up-to-date information on health requirements for India, and allow time to obtain the appropriate immunisations.
Time difference
India is five-and-a-half hours ahead of GMT all year round, and is therefore four-and-a-half hours ahead of BST.
Language
English is widely spoken in Delhi, but much less so in the mountain villages where the local dialect, Kumaoni, is prevalent. Most villagers will be delighted to try to communicate with you, while your guide will act as interpreter and even instruct you in the rudiments of Kumaoni!
Climate
From October to mid-December, and again from March until May, days are usually dry, clear and warm, although nights can sometimes be chilly. Temperatures are cooler from mid-December to
February, with colder nights and very occasional snow, but the walker is rewarded with blue skies and the clearest of views. The climate is generally consistent, although the weather can change fairly rapidly, especially on the higher terrain. Heavy rain is unlikely, but you should bring light waterproofs as well as warm layers for added warmth once the sun goes down.
Advance Passenger Information (API)
API details are also required by train operators in India.
Turkey
Passports & visas
All British citizens require a multiple-entry visitor’s visa to enter Turkey. These can be obtained at the port of entry on payment of £10 in cash (Scottish currency is not accepted) and are valid for 90 days. Your passport must be valid for a minimum of 6 months from your date of entry into the country.
Health requirements
There are no reciprocal health agreements between the UK and Turkey (the EHIC is not valid in Turkey). It is therefore all the more important that you have comprehensive travel insurance to cover you in the case of illness or an accident. It is generally recommended that you ensure you are up to date with your routinely recommended vaccinations such as tetanus.
Time difference
Turkey is two hours ahead of British time.