Documents & health information for Europe

British Foreign & Commonwealth Advice:

Cox & Kings supports the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) Travel Aware campaign to help you stay safe and healthy overseas. Find out more at FCO Travel Aware. The FCO website provides travel information for many countries around the world which includes advice on safety and security, entry requirements and health, as well as general information. Cox & Kings strongly recommends that you, and everyone on your booking, visit the FCO website and read the advice about the country you are planning to visit prior to booking. You should also revisit the advice regularly prior to your departure as it may change frequently. It is also possible to sign-up to receive FCO e-mail updates for your destination so you are aware of any changes to advice they issue and we recommend you do this. There are different levels of advice, and sometimes this includes advice against travelling to certain areas or countries. To check the current travel advice, visit gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice and follow @FCOTravel on Twitter and Facebook.com/fcotravel.

Health & entry requirements

All the destinations featured online have specific entry regulations and many have recommended health precautions. The requirements and recommendations in force at the time of publication are detailed below. If there are any alterations, you will be informed at the time of booking or as soon as these are known to us. However, it is your responsibility to check the relevant requirements and recommendations before departure to ensure that you comply with them, and to take with you the correct documentation for the country or countries that you are visiting.

Please note that the entry requirements listed are only valid for British citizens. All other nationalities should check with the relevant embassy/consulate for advice. Regarding any inoculations or health precautions that may be needed, Cox & Kings recommends that you consult your GP or travel clinic for personal advice.

Requirements and recommendations are as follows:
Albania: AC†EGHK.
Austria: AGJ.
Armenia: AEGHJK.
Azerbaijan: AB†GI.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: AGEHJK.
Belarus: ABEGKL.
Bulgaria: AEGHK.
Czech Republic: AGK.
Croatia: AEGK.
Cyprus: AG.
Denmark: AG.
Estonia: AGJK.
Finland: AG.
France: AGH.
Georgia: AEGHIK.
Germany: AGH.
Greece: AGH.
Greenland: AEGHKJ.
Hungary: AG.
Iceland: AG.
Italy: AGH.
Kosovo: AEGHIK.
Latvia: AEGIJK.
Lithuania: AEGK.
Macedonia: AEGHK.
Malta: AC*G.
Moldova: AGI
Montenegro: AEGHIK.
Northern Cyprus: AG.
Norway: AGH.
Poland: AEGHK.
Portugal: AG.
Romania: AEGHIK.
Russia: ABC*EGHIJK.
Serbia: AEGHIJK.
Slovakia: AG.
Slovenia: AGK.
Spain: AGH.
Sweden: AG.
Switzerland: AGH.
Turkey: AB†EGHIK.
Ukraine: AGI.

Key to the codes:
A: Full valid British passport required (minimum six months validity from the intended date of return).
B: Visa required (see note).
B*: Visa required and can be obtained on arrival, please check requirements with your travel consultant.
B†: Visa required, to be completed online.
C: Yellow fever precautions advised.
C*: A yellow fever certificate is required if travelling from an infected country.
C†: A yellow fever certificate is required for all travellers more than one year old when travelling from an infected country.
D: Cholera precautions advised.
E: Typhoid, polio and hepatitis A precautions may be advised.
F: Malaria precautions advised.
G: Tetanus precautions advised.
H: Areas of high altitude – check with your GP for confirmation that it is safe for you to visit.
I: Food and drink precautions advised.
J: Entry prohibited if you have an Israeli stamp or stamps from other countries bordering crossing points with Israel in your passport.
K: Diphtheria precautions advised.
L: Hepatitis B precautions advised.

Changes to requirements and recommendations:
The above information is accurate at the time of writing (July 2018). Cox & Kings will advise you before accepting your booking should there be any subsequent changes to the above recommendations and requirements. You should contact your GP or visit the Masta (Medical Advice Service for Travellers Abroad) website where you can receive professional advice as well as arrange any vaccinations. Further country-specific useful health advice for travellers can be found via: the NHS and FCO.

General health advice

Please see the advice regarding inoculations for specific countries above. For more general advice, please note the following:

• Drink only bottled water and check the seal is secure when you receive it.
• Do not eat raw vegetables, unpeeled fruit, and raw or uncooked seafood.
• Avoid drinks with ice in unless you know that the ice was made from filtered water.
• Avoid food and drink from street vendors and restaurants that might have suspect refrigeration and sanitary practices.

European Health Insurance Card
British citizens and other European nationals visiting countries within the EU should carry the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) as it entitles travellers to reduced cost, or sometimes free, medical treatment in most European countries. Online applications normally arrive within seven days. For more information and for applications please telephone 0300 330 1350 or visit the website to apply online at www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/EHIC/Pages/aboutthe-ehic.aspx.

Passports & embassies

This advice is only valid for British citizen passport holders. Holders of any other type of British passport (eg British subjects) or of any other nationality must contact the relevant embassy/consulate (details listed below). It is important that you hold a valid 10-year British passport and we recommend that your passport is valid for a minimum of six months from your date of return to the UK. Passport application forms can be obtained from the post office or online at www.gov.uk/browse/abroad/passports. The passport advice telephone line is on 0300 222 0000 (calls are charged at national rate). Whether renewing your passport or applying for a new one, all relevant information can be found on the website or by telephoning the number above. The cost for a postal application is £72.50 and takes a minimum of three weeks to obtain from the date of application.

Information on visas may be obtained from the respective embassies and high commissions at the following addresses:

• Albanian Embassy, 33 St. George’s Drive, London SW1V 4DG. Tel: 020 7828 8897.
• Armenian Embassy, 25a Cheniston Gardens, Kensington, London W8 6TG. Tel: 020 7938 5435.
• Azerbaijan Embassy, 4 Kensington Ct. Kensington, London, W8 5DL. Tel: 020 7938 3412.
• Embassy of the Republic of Austria, 18 Belgrave Mews W, London SW1X 8HU. Tel: 020 7344 3250.
• Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 5 Lexham Gardens, London W8 5JJ. Tel: 020 7373 0867.
• Embassy of Belarus, 6 Kensington Court, London W8 5DL. Tel: 020 7938 3677.
• Embassy of Bulgaria, 186-188 Queen’s Gate London SW7 5HL. Tel: 020 7584 9400/9433.
• Croatian Embassy, 21 Conway Street, London W1T 6BN. Tel: 020 7387 1144.
• Cypriot High Commission, 13 St. James Square, London SW1Y 4LB. Tel: 020 7321 4100.
• Embassy of the Czech Republic, 26 Kensington Palace Gardens, London W8 4QY. Tel: 020 7243 7942.
• Embassy of Denmark, 55 Sloane Street, London SW1X 9SR. Tel: 020 7333 0200.
• Estonian Embassy, 16 Hyde Park Gate, London SW7 5DG. Tel: 020 7838 5388.
• Embassy of Finland, 38 Chesham Place, London SW1X 8HW. Tel: 020 7838 6200.
• Georgian Embassy, 4 Russell Gardens, London W14 8EZ. Tel: 020 7603 7799.
• German Embassy, 23 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PZ. Tel: 020 7824 1300.
• Greek Embassy, 1A Holland Park, London W11 3TP. Tel: 020 7229 3850.
• Greenland – see Embassy of Denmark.
• Hungarian Embassy, 35B Eaton Place, London SW1X 8BY. Tel: 020 7201 3467.
• Embassy of Iceland, 2A Hans Street, London SW1X 0JE. Tel: 020 7259 3999.
• Italian Consulate, Harp House, 83-86 Farringdon St, London EC4A 4BL. Tel: 020 7936 5900.
• Embassy of Kosovo, 8 John Street, London, WC1N 2EB. Tel: 020 7405 1010
• Latvian Embassy, 45 Nottingham Place, London W1U 5LY. Tel: 020 7312 0041.
• Lithuanian Embassy, 2 Bessborough Gardens, London SW1V 2JE. Tel: 020 7592 2840.
• Macedonian Embassy, Suites 2.1-2.2, Buckingham Court, 75/83 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6PE. Tel: 020 7976 0535.
• Maltese High Commission, Malta House, 36-38 Piccadilly, London W1J 0LE. Tel: 020 7292 4800.
• Montenegro Embassy, 18 Callcott Street, London W8 7SU. Tel: 020 7727 6007.
• Moldova Embassy, 5, Dolphin Square, Edensor Rd, London W4 2ST. Tel: 020 8995 8818.
• Northern Cyprus – see Turkish Consulate.
• Royal Norwegian Embassy, 25 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8QD. Tel: 020 7591 5500.
• Polish Consulate, 73 New Cavendish Street, London W1W 6LS. Tel: 020 7291 3900.
• Portuguese Consulate, 3 Portland Place, London W1B 1HR. Tel: 020 7291 3770.
• Romanian Embassy, MEIC House, 344 Kensington High Street, London W14 8NS. Tel: 020 7937 9666.
• The Embassy of the Russian Federation, (consular section), 5 Kensington Palace Gardens, London W8 4QS. Tel: 020 3668 7474.
• Embassy of Serbia, 28 Belgrave Square, Belgravia, London SW1X 8QB. Tel: 020 7235 9049.
• Embassy of Slovakia, 25 Kensington Place Gardens, London, W8 4QY. Tel: 020 7313 6470.
• Embassy of Slovenia, 17 Dartmouth Street, London, SW1H 9BL. Tel: 020 7222 5700.
• Spanish Consulate, 20 Draycott Place, London, SW3 2RZ. Tel 020 7589 8989.
• Embassy of Sweden, 11 Montagu Place, London, W1H 2AL. Tel: 020 7917 6400.
• Turkish Consulate General, Rutland Lodge, Rutland Gardens, London SW7 1BW. Tel: 020 7591 6900.
• Ukraine Embassy, 60 Holland Park, London, W11 3SJ. Tel: 020 77276312.

Visas & charges

Of the destinations we feature online, only Azerbaijan, Belarus, Russia, and Turkey require a visa for entry (this applies to British citizen passport holders only). Current charges and application procedures are detailed below.

• Azerbaijan: British nationals travelling to Azerbaijan are required to get an e-visa in advance. This is done online via Asan Visa website: https://evisa.gov.az/en/. The cost of the visa is $23 + $3 service fee. After submitting the application be sure to print a copy to take with you as a precaution.
• Belarus: All British national passport holders can now enter Belarus for a maximum of 30 days without a visa. Entry and exit will only be allowed at Minsk International Airport and you’ll need to show documentary evidence of medical insurance to the value of €10,000 and funds equivalent to €25 per day. This can be in the form of cash, credit card or travellers cheques in any currency.
• Russia: Cox & Kings recommends using the visa service of VFS Global. They are a well-established company who will be able to process the application efficiently on your behalf. Visa applicants over the age of 12 must visit the application centres in London, Manchester or Edinburgh where biometric data  scanned fingerprints) will be collected. This applies to each Russian entry or transit visa application. For further information on application centres and the visa process, please speak to your travel consultant.
• Trans-Siberian Express: Visa package costs £318.90.
• Turkish visa: Must be purchased before arrival online at www.evisa.gov.tr/en. The cost of the visa is $20 per person.

If you require a visa for any of the above destinations, Cox & Kings can recommend a reputable visa assistance company who can help with your application. Please contact your travel consultant for details.

Neither Cox & Kings nor any visa assistance company can guarantee the granting of any visas, as this is a matter outside of their control. If a visa is not granted through no fault of Cox & Kings or any visa assistance company, neither will accept any liability for the consequences. Therefore Cox & Kings reserves the right to pass on to you any costs incurred as a result, including cancellation charges.