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     PASSPORTS AND VISAS
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            VISAS

Most countries allow British
visitors in without visas, but
some insist you have a visa
and a valid passport.

Visas can cost up to £40 and
take weeks to arrive. Always
check well before your holiday
what is needed.

For full details of countries
requiring UK visas and
passports call 0891 141344.
This is a call charge service.

 COUNTRY  -  COST  -  DELAY

Australia - Free - 21 days
   £14 if stay over 3 months
Bulgaria - £20-40 - 7 days
China - £25 - 3 days
Egypt - £15 - 2 days
India - £3-16 - 3 days
Jordan - £33 - 3 days
Madagascar - £30 - instant
Nepal - £30 - 2 days
Romania - £20 - 3 days
Russia - £5+ - 14 days
Taiwan - £12.50 - 3 days
Thailand - £8 - 2 days
    if stay more than 15 days

Full UK passport holders don't
need a visa for the USA, if
they arrive on a major airline
and stay under 90 days.

If you arrive overland you
must fill in a visa waiver
form at the border.

You MUST have a visa if
arriving by private yacht or
plane, or have a one-way
ticket, criminal record or
handicap.


          PASSPORTS

From March 1 1995 the British
Excursion Document for short
trips to France is being
abolished. The one year
British Visitor's Passport is
to be abolished from 1 January
1996 - from  October 1995 for
trips to Spain. The UK
Passport Agency says to avoid
problems, travellers obtain a
standard passport. At £10 for
10 years, it is better value
than shorter validity
passports. The winter months
are the quietest period for
passport offices and
applications can be dealt with
within 10 days. Application
forms are available from Post
Offices.

Normal processing delays are:

January to June 20 days, July
and August 15 days, September
to December 10 days.

For full information call your
regional office:

Belfast    -  01232 232371
Glasgow    -  0141 3320271
Liverpool  -  0151 2373010
London     -  0171 7992290
Newport    -  01633 244500
Peterboro  -  01733 895555