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showPassports
If you're travelling on an international flight, you’ll need a passport or an equivalent travel document that is valid for the full duration of your trip. Your children will also need their own passports, even infants under two years.
Some countries additionally require that the passport is valid for a minimum period beyond your trip, usually three or six months. Visit the IATA Travel Centre to check the passport validity requirements of your destination.
If you are flying solely within the UK, including Northern Ireland, you do not need a passport but we advise that you carry photographic identification with you when travelling, such as your passport or driving licence. This may be requested at certain points in your journey. Children under the age of 16 years do not require identification to travel within the UK.
If you are a citizen of the UK or Republic of Ireland who was born in that country you do not need a passport to travel between the two countries but you do require some form of photographic identification, such as a driving licence.
All other travellers require a valid passport to travel between the two countries.
Processing times for passports vary but it may take six weeks or longer to receive a passport after applying, so we advise that you wait until your passport has arrived before making a booking. Many countries offer fast-track applications where required.
If you need a passport or need to renew an existing one you can apply directly to your nation’s passport office. In the UK, that’s the UK passport service.
If you’d like help with your application, British Airways has partnered with VisaCentral, a company that will do all of the hard work for you. You’ll get a 30% discount on VisaCentral’s service fees as a British Airways customer.
showVisas
Depending on your nationality and the purpose of your journey, you may need a visa or an equivalent form of authorisation for every country you enter as part of your journey — even if you are only connecting from one flight to another. This is in addition to a valid passport.
For free, accurate and up-to-the-minute advice on visa requirements and certain types of entrance fees, visit the IATA Travel Centre. You’ll also be able to check passport and health requirements, as well as customs, currency and airport information for your destination:
If you need a visa for your journey, you can apply directly with the embassy or high commission of the country you want to travel to — visit their website or local consulate to learn more about the process.
We have partnered with VisaCentral who can do all of the hard work for you:
Get a visa through VisaCentral
If you're transiting through a number of Chinese cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai or Chengdu that British Airways flies to, you can stay in China for 72 hours without a visa provided you remain in the city municipality of your arrival and have evidence of an onward journey to a third country within the 72 hour time window.
You can use this transit scheme if you're a citizen from one the following countries:
| Albania | Argentina | Australia | Austria |
| Belgium | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Brazil | Brunei |
| Bulgaria | Canada | Chile | Croatia |
| Cyprus | Czech Republic | Denmark | Estonia |
| Finland | France | Germany | Greece |
| Hungary | Iceland | Ireland | Italy |
| Japan | Latvia | Lithuania | Luxembourg |
| Macedonia | Malta | Mexico | Montengro |
| Netherlands | New Zealand | Poland | Portugal |
| Qatar | Republic of Korea | Romania | Russia |
| Serbia | Singapore | Slovakia | Slovenia |
| Spain | Sweden | Switzerland | Ukraine |
| United Arab Emirates | United Kingdom | USA |
If you are transiting to a different city in China, you do need a visa. Your will need to leave China within 24 hours and you will not be permitted to leave the airport.
More about the 72 hour visa free transit for China
If you are travelling to India, you may be able to obtain an eTourist Visa online, just four days before you travel. The visa will be valid for 30 days and you will need to present a printed copy when you check in to be able to travel.
Find out more and apply for India e-Tourist Visa
If you are a pilgrim
You must enter the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) through Jeddah with a valid Hajj visa during the following pilgrimage period, or on an Umrah pilgrimage visa outside this period:
You cannot:
If you are travelling from the UK, we recommend to book through our specialist partner Masterfare who can arrange your flight and Hajj/Umrah visa through a KSA Ministry of Hajj approved agent.
If you are travelling from another country, or you book on ba.com, it is your responsibility to ensure you get the correct pilgrimage visa from a KSA Ministry of Hajj approved Hajj or Umrah agent.
If you do not have the correct documentation, or have booked to travel outside the official pilgrimage dates, you will not be allowed to travel or be able to get a refund.
If you are not a pilgrim
Please note
•The above restrictions do not apply to residents or citizens of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
•KSA visa restrictions change at short notice. Please check the IATA Travel Centre before you book.
showFaster entry to the UK with the Registered Traveller service
If you are a national of Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan or the USA, you can join the 'Registered Traveller' scheme and enjoy faster entry to the UK, as long as you have a biometric passport.
Once you apply, the UK Border Force will carry out checks to see if you are eligible to join, and once you're accepted you won't need to fill out a landing card for the UK. You'll be able to enter the UK at the ePassport gates or the UK/EU lanes at several UK airports, including all London airports, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester.
More information about the Registered Traveller scheme (pdf, 67kb, English only)
showTravelling to the US - ESTA
If you're a citizen of a country covered by the Visa Waiver Programme (such as the UK) you are able to travel to the USA without a visa provided you hold a valid Electronic System Travel Authorisation (ESTA) and meet the requirements of the programme.
In addition, you will need to have a valid e-Passport along with your ESTA. e-Passports include an integrated computer chip capable of storing biographic and biometric information, such as the digital photograph of the holder. You can identify an e-Passport by the 'chip' symbol on its front cover.
When you can't use an ESTA
Applying for an ESTA
You can apply for an ESTA online and should receive approval straight away, although we recommend applying at least 72 hours before your departure. An ESTA is valid for multiple journeys for up to two years or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner.
More about the Visa Waiver Program and ESTAs
Help with your ESTA application
Our partner VisaCentral can take all of the hard work and offer a safe, secure and easy way to obtain your ESTA. Benefits of this exclusive service include:
showTravelling to the US – Global Entry scheme
UK citizens can get through US passport control faster by joining Global Entry, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) programme. The scheme allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travellers arriving in the United States. Benefits include:
Membership lasts for five years and the application process includes background checks (at a non-refundable cost of £42 payable to the UK government), online enrolment with the US Customs and Border Protection Agency (at a non-refundable cost of USD100) and attendance at a face to face interview at an official enrolment centre.
showTravelling to the US from London City
When you're travelling with us to New York (JFK) from London City airport, you can clear US Immigration and Customs during a short stop (up to 45 minutes) in Shannon, Ireland. This means you can arrive in the US as a domestic passenger and bypass New York passport control.
This service is only available if you're travelling on the first flight of the day (flight number BA001). If you're travelling on flight BA003 you will need to clear US Immigration and Customs on arrival at New York JFK.
showTravelling to Canada - eTA
Unless you're a US citizen or need a visa to enter Canada, you will need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before you travel. This requirement includes all British citizens. The cost of the eTA is CAD7 per person and the validity is five years, or until your passport expires.
showTravelling with children under 18 years
Some countries' immigration departments require additional documentation for all children under 18 years travelling into, out of or transiting their country. This varies depending on the country so please check before you travel on the IATA Travel Centre. Just make sure you use the date of birth of your child to receive the correct information.
showAdvance passenger information (API)
Many countries require us to collect some passport and travel information about who's flying into their country.
You will need to supply some or all of the following details:
Additionally, when travelling to the US, you will need to provide:
If you're a US citizen and have a 'Global Entry' number, you don't need to provide this as part of your API. When you arrive in the US your Global Entry status will be recognised when you use the dedicated Immigration kiosk.
The information you provide is sent securely to the necessary government authorities. Some governments require us to provide them with information from flight bookings, which will contain additional passenger details to those listed above.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of the US Department of Homeland Security requires us to collect information from you for purposes of watch list screening, under the authority of 49 U.S.C. section 114, and the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. Providing this information is voluntary; however, if you don't provided it, you may be subject to additional screening or denied transport or authorisation to enter the post-security area. TSA may share information you provide with law enforcement or intelligence agencies or others under its published system of records notice. For more on TSA Privacy policies, or to view the system of records notice and the privacy impact assessment, visit tsa.gov.
You can add Advance Passenger Information to your booking on ba.com using Manage My Booking. If there is any information you need to provide, you'll see a red exclamation mark against the passenger information section at the top of the page.
showEntering Argentina (US, Canadian and Australian citizens)
If you're a US, Canadian or Australian citizen travelling to Argentina you will need to pay a Reciprocity Fee online before you travel. It is not possible to pay this fee when you enter the country. On arrival, you will then need to present a printed receipt at Immigration Control who will check and register it.
Find out more and apply for Argentina Reciprocity Fee [Spanish only]