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Travel and passports
Results: 10
What passport strength is and how it is measured
"Passport strength" usually means the number of destinations its holder can visit without a visa obtained in advance. Indexes such as the Henley Passport Index count this number with a set method. This article explains the counting method, the limits of the number and the right way to compare two passports.
The countries of the Schengen area: the list of 29
The Schengen area has 29 countries: 25 EU member states and 4 non-EU countries, namely Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Bulgaria and Romania became the latest members on 1 January 2025. Cyprus and Ireland are EU members but not full Schengen members. This article gives the full list and what it means for travel.
The Schengen 90/180-day rule, simply explained
Non-European travellers may stay in the Schengen countries for at most 90 days in any 180-day period, counted together. The 180-day window is not fixed: it moves forward every day. This article explains how to count, the common mistakes and the role of the Entry/Exit System (EES).
Applying for a short-stay Schengen visa: where, when and with which documents
If your passport needs a visa for Schengen, you apply to the consulate of your main destination, at least 15 days and at most six months before the trip. The official fee is EUR 90 for adults and the usual decision time is 15 days. This guide explains the European Commission's official rules simply.
Travelling with a second passport: practical tips
Having two passports widens your travel options, but there are rules: which passport to book tickets with, which to enter and leave on, which passport to link visas and travel authorisations to, and how to manage both passports' validity. This article gathers the practical points.
Travel insurance: what it covers and where it is required
Travel insurance is sometimes optional and sometimes a visa condition; the UAE, for example, requires health insurance valid in the UAE for a tourist visa. This article explains what travel insurance usually covers, where it is an official condition and what to watch for when buying.
A short trip to the UK: visitor visa or ETA
For a short visit to the UK, depending on nationality, you need either a Standard Visitor visa, an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), or neither. Stays are usually up to six months. This article explains what visitors may and may not do, the official fees and points for holders of a second passport, based on GOV.UK.
Europe's EES and ETIAS: what has changed and what is coming
The European Union began recording the entries and exits of non-European travellers with the EES on 12 October 2025, and the system has been fully operating at all Schengen borders since 10 April 2026. ETIAS, the pre-travel authorisation for visa-exempt nationals, has not started yet. This article explains both simply.
The EU's new visa-exemption suspension mechanism and citizenship programmes
In 2025 the European Union revised its mechanism for suspending visa exemptions. One of the new grounds for suspension is citizenship by investment schemes that raise security concerns. This article explains what the rule is, when it was adopted and what it means for holders of a second passport.
A lost passport: what to do
Losing a passport, or having it stolen, especially when travelling, can be stressful. This guide gives the practical steps in order: reporting to the police, contacting the issuing authority, emergency travel, looking after visas and replacing the passport, and the points that prepare you in advance.