Published 14 October 2026. Last checked against GOV.UK on 14 October 2026.
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A passport that passes both Schengen rules gets you to the border. It does not answer everything a border officer might ask, and it does not cover a lost bag or a hospital visit. GOV.UK's travel advice and the Foreign Office checklist list the other documents worth having. This is that list, grouped by when you need to deal with each one.
Before you book
Check the passport first. The two Schengen rules, an issue date less than 10 years before arrival and an expiry date at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area, are explained in the two passport rules, and the checker runs both for your dates. Do that before paying for anything, because a renewal takes weeks, as the renewal timing article explains.
If you are travelling with children, GOV.UK's checklist says to check whether you need extra documentation. The child passport article covers validity, and your own airline or ferry company can say what it wants to see for a child travelling without both parents.
The weeks before you travel
Sign the passport
The Foreign Office checklist says to sign your passport and complete the emergency contacts page. It takes a minute.
The GHIC
For EU countries and Switzerland, GOV.UK's checklist says to apply for a new Global Health Insurance Card if your GHIC or EHIC has expired. The NHS page says a UK GHIC is free and lasts for up to 5 years, and you can renew up to 9 months before the current card expires.
Three practical details from the NHS page:
- Apply on the official NHS website only. The NHS warns that unofficial websites may charge a fee to apply.
- You should receive the new card within 15 working days of approval, sent by post.
- If it has not arrived before you travel and you need medically necessary treatment, you can apply for a Provisional Replacement Certificate.
The GHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance. The NHS lists medical repatriation, private medical facilities and ski or mountain rescue as things it does not cover, and GOV.UK's checklist says to get appropriate travel insurance as soon as you book. A Ad folder for the printed insurance documents keeps the policy number and the emergency contact where you can find them, and the checklist says to print the health insurance documents and carry a copy.
A driving licence, if you will drive
GOV.UK says you need to take your Great Britain or Northern Ireland driving licence with you to drive abroad. On the international driving permit page, it says you do not need an IDP to drive in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein with a UK photocard licence. Some countries have time limits on how long a UK licence is valid for a visitor: the page gives Belgium and Germany as up to 6 months, Portugal as up to 185 days, Denmark as up to 90 days and Cyprus as up to 30 days.
Paper licences, and licences from the Isle of Man, Guernsey or Jersey, may need an IDP in some countries. Where one is needed, GOV.UK lists it at £5.50 from participating PayPoint shops. If you are taking your own vehicle, you also need the V5C log book and the insurance certificate.
In your bag on the day
The Spain entry requirements page lists the evidence officers may ask for, and the France page shows the same pattern. An officer may ask you to show:
- a return or onward ticket
- proof of your accommodation, such as a hotel booking confirmation, or an invitation or proof of address if you are staying with friends or family
- that you have enough money for your stay, and GOV.UK says the amount varies depending on your accommodation
- proof of your travel insurance
GOV.UK also advises taking an extra form of photo ID with you, other than your passport. GOV.UK says officers may ask, not that they will, so this is a list to have ready rather than one to present at every desk.
A Ad travel document organiser wallet holds the passport, boarding passes and printed bookings in one place. A Ad waterproof document pouch is the better choice if you will be on a ferry deck, a beach or a walking trip.
Keep a backup of key information. The Foreign Office checklist says to have a backup plan for accommodation, flight, passport, contact numbers and insurance details, and to share it with someone or store it securely online. It also says to note how to contact the nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate, and gives the FCDO's 24-hour number in London as 020 7008 5000.
At the border
Since the Entry/Exit System began, a first crossing may involve registering fingerprints and a photograph, often at a booth. GOV.UK says there is no cost for EES registration, the digital record is valid for 3 years, and checks may take longer, so allow extra time. Children aged 11 or younger will not have their fingerprints scanned but can be required to have their photo taken. The EES and ETIAS article covers where each scheme has got to.
The visa-free limit is 90 days in any 180-day period, so a note of your own entry and exit dates makes the count easy to check. A note on your phone or a slip of paper in the document wallet is enough.
What cannot go in the bag
The Spain page covers two customs points that catch travellers out:
- You cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into EU countries, with exceptions including powdered baby milk, baby food, special medical foods and pet feed required for medical reasons.
- Cash or travellers cheques worth 10,000 euros or more must be declared. GOV.UK says that without a certified declaration your money could be seized when you leave.
Luggage tags are a smaller point. A Ad luggage tag with a cover over the address keeps your contact details on the case without showing them to everyone in the queue.