British citizens can also travel to Commonwealth countries for a period of time visa-free and the U.K. enjoys stable relationships with the United States and many African and Asian nations. All allow Britons to travel as a tourist for anywhere from a few days to a few months without applying for a visa, making a total of 166 countries Britons can visit for at least three days without a visa.
All visas require an application,obtained from the embassy of the country you plan to visit or at the embassy's website. Some countries require in-person interviews to apply but others only require you to send the application by mail.
Print out your itinerary or detailed travel plan, including copies of your return travel ticket when applying for your visa. These documents are required for many tourist and business visas. Even if they are not required to obtain the visa, it's a good idea to bring them with you when entering the country, in case the immigration officer requests information about your plans.
Student visas or work visas may also require documentation from your university or employer to state that you have been accepted by that organization. Some countries require tourists traveling with a special group or tour to have an invitation or letter of confirmation from the guide organization or hotel. In China, the National Tourism Administration or its provintical equivalent can provide this.
Passport-style photos are a requirement for any visa. These photos, taken in front of a white background, must be of the head and shoulders only with the subject facing forward, eyes open and looking straight into the camera. The U.S. State Department website has a detailed guide for producing quality passport photos that meet the standard for all visa photo documents.
With few exceptions, embassies charge a fee for processing and granting a visa application. The price of a visa varies dramatically by country and visa-type. The cost of a visa to China, for example, ranges from $50 for a single-entry tourist visa to $240 for a multiple-entry visa good for 12 or 24 months, as of 2010. Check the embassy for current information on visas to your desired destination.
