A visa is a stamp or a document attached to your passport, and also your application to enter a particular country. You will often have to pay a fee to get a visa, but the price can  vary from country to country.

Check the visa requirements before you travel! Not all countries require a visa, but if you try and enter a country where you need one, without one, you could be fined or not allowed to enter. To find out whether you need a visa,  contact the Consulate or Embassy of the country you plan to visit. Don't leave getting your visa until the week before you travel... as the application process can sometimes take a while.

Which countries require a visa?

If you are a British citizen then you do not need a visa to enter certain countries:

British Territories: There are 14 British Territories where you won't need to get a visa to enter - e.g. Gibraltar, Bermuda, Falkland Islands.

Europe: If you are a British Citizen you don't usually need a visa to travel to another country in the European Union. So if you're Scottish and want to travel to e.g. Spain, France, Italy, Germany then you don't need to get a visa as these countries are all in the EU. Find out what countries are in the EU by going to the Europa website.

You need to check whether you need a visa for all other countries outside the European Union. Have a look at the travel advice section of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website or the Consulate or Embassy of the country, to see if you will need a visa. There's also loads more useful information on there about passports, health and how to stay safe when you're travelling.

If you are still unsure whether you need a visa or not, contact the freephone Young Scot Infoline on 0808 801 0338. 

What type of visa do I need?

If you are going on holiday you will usually apply for a tourist visa. But if you want to work or study in the country then you will need to apply for a special visa. There are working visas, business visas and student visas.

Different visas have different allowances and requirements and you should make sure you get the right one for your needs. Remember, if you work on a tourist visa then you might be breaking the law and could be fined. Have a look at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website for visa details.

Being Scottish, and therefore a citizen of the European Union, you don't need a visa to work, train, or study in the EU. You will need a visa to work, train or study in most countries outside of the EU.

How long will my visa last?

Some countries will have a maximum amount of time you will be allowed to stay in the country, and you will need to leave the country before this time. The maximum length of stay will depend on the type of visa you have applied for. When you get your visa, check the expiry date and book your onward travel plans around this.

Do not stay longer than your visa allows, as there could be serious consequences. Ending up in a foreign prison because you stayed longer than your visa allowed would not be a good end to your holiday!

If you are desperate to stay in the country but your visa is up, you can often apply for a visa to re-enter from a neighbouring country. You will need to leave the country and stay in the neighbouring country for a minimum period before you can re-enter. Check the re-entry conditions with the county's Embassy and Consulate before doing this.