Passports and Visas in Europe
Since the lifting of many immigration restrictions for European Union members in January 1993, border-crossing for most EU nationals has become a much less formal procedure, with holders of most passports just having to wave their documents at border officials. Border controls between some countries, Scandinavian states in particular, are virtually nonexistent, and ten EU states (Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain), known as the Schengen Group, now have joint visas valid for travel in all of them, and in theory no border immigration controls between them - though this may mean more ID checks within those countries. There is talk of other EU states joining the group, though two have left and others seem to be holding back.
Citizens of the UK (but not other British passport holders), Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA do not need a visa to enter most European countries, and can usually stay for one to three months, depending on your nationality; for some countries, your passport must be valid at least six months beyond the end of your stay. Always check on visa requirements before travelling, as they can and do change, though EU countries should never require visas from British or Irish citizens.
Everyone needs a visa to visit Russia. UK and Irish citizens need them for Turkey (available at the border). Americans need visas for Turkey (available at the border); Canadians also need them for the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Romania and Turkey (last two available at the border). Australians require visas to visit the Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Turkey (last two available at the border); New Zealanders need them for Latvia, Poland, Romania and Turkey (Romanian visas available at the border). Note that the three Baltic states (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) all allow entry to Canadians and certain other nationalities who have a visa for any one of them. Note also that you will need transit visas to cross the Ukraine and Belarus (if travelling for example from Poland, Slovakia, Hungary or Romania to Moscow).
When crossing a border, it pays to look reasonably well turned-out, and to be polite at all times, even in the face of the most overweening officialdom. On entering some countries you may be asked to show an onward ticket or sufficient funds to support yourself. Remember that governments are eager for rich tourists with lots of money to spend, but accept poor, scruffy backpackers under sufferance. Non-Whites may also get the feeling that they are only accepted under sufferance by border officials in some countries, and will often be subjected to much greater scrutiny than their white fellow travellers.
Finally, do not leave it too late to get a passport before leaving home, since by post this can take four weeks or longer in the summer and is rather irksome to do in person.
Customs and duty-free restrictions vary throughout Europe, but are standard for travellers arriving in the EU at one litre of spirits, plus two litres of table wine, plus 200 cigarettes (or 250g tobacco, or fifty cigars). Since the inauguration of the Single Market, there is no longer any duty-free allowance for travel within the EU, but travellers between EU countries can effectively carry as much in the way of duty-paid goods as they want (so long as they are for personal use). Remember that carrying contraband such as controlled drugs, firearms or pornography is illegal, not to mention foolhardy in the extreme. If you are carrying prescribed drugs of any kind, it might be a good idea to have a copy of the prescription to flash at suspicious customs officers. If in doubt consult the relevant embassy.
