According to a recent report from ABTA, 18 per-cent of the population say they will travel to a country they have never been to before in 2016*. To help British travellers prepare for their holidays, Airport Parking & Hotels (APH) has created a guide comparing visa requirements for ABTA's top destinations to visit in 2016*. The research can be found in the Know Before You Go section of the APH website at www.aph.com/visarequirements.   

The research compares the visa requirements of 12 destinations, including Abu Dhabi, Canada, Iran and Peru and compares the cost of the visa, its validity and any stipulations faced when applying for the visa.

British citizens are required to apply for visas for six of the 12 destinations researched, including China, Iran and Sri Lanka. Of the destinations researched, British citizens can travel visa-free if visiting European countries, Canada and Peru. However, travellers should note that an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) will be required when flying to Canada from 15th March 2016.

The cost of visas vary between destinations, with fees ranging from £10 for the American Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) to £135 for a visa stamp fee for entry into Iran. Travellers will be issued with a free-of-charge visit visa upon entry to Abu Dhabi and if travelling to the city with Etihad Airways, travellers can also have their visa arranged by the airline upon request.  Travellers should keep in mind that cash is the only form of payment accepted when applying for a tourist visa in person at the Sri Lanka High Commission.

The validity of the visas researched also varies between destinations. For example, in Iran the visa is valid for 30 days whereas this extends to up to five years with eTA for entry into Canada.

With regards to the visa application process, a valid passport is required for all visa applications with five of the destinations researched such as China and Sri Lanka requiring a minimum period of at least six months passport validity. For Iranian visa applications, women and girls over nine-years-old must wear a headscarf in their visa application photographs, and for eVisitor visas to Australia travellers must be free of tuberculosis. Likewise, travellers who have visited Iran, Iraq, Sudan or Syria since March 2011 will not qualify for entry to the US under the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) and will need to apply for a visa from the nearest US Embassy or Consulate.

For further information on Airport Parking and Hotels (APH),
Visit www.aph.com or call 01342 859515.

ENDS 

* Information taken from ABTA Travel Trends 2016 which can be found at: bit.ly/1QhHrOT

About Airport Parking and Hotels (APH)
Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) is an award winning airport parking operator and retailer, after winning the Best Airport Parking Company for a sixth year running at British Travel Awards 2015. This year APH also celebrated its 35th year as a retailer and operator of pre-booked airport parking and travel extras. APH offers parking at all major UK airports as well as airport hotels and airport lounges. APH is also a carbon balanced company and has, through support of the World Land Trust, helped purchase more than 1,000 acres of endangered rainforest.

Whether you're taking golf-clubs, a snowboard, a bike or a baby seat on holiday, finding out which regulations you have to adhere to can be a headache. To help cut through all the mouse-clicking, Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) has created an online baggage allowance finder which is easy-to-use and regularly updated with the latest information. The tool can be accessed at:  http://www.aph.com/community/baggage-allowances/.  

Media Enquiries
Fiona Anderson / Lauren Hill / McCluskey International / 020 8747 2170 / aph@mccluskey.co.uk