new zealand travel to mexico

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Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade 195 Lambton Quay Private Bag 18 901 Wellington 5045 New Zealand

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Do I need a visa for Mexico?

Nationals from 69 countries don't need a visa to travel to Mexico , including those from Australia , New Zealand , Canada and the United States.  While you don't need a visa, you do need a valid passport and a Mexican tourist card/tourist permit to stay in the country for up to 180 days. Additionally, you don't need to obtain a visa for a variety of other reasons, including if you're already holding a visa for Canada, Japan , the United Kingdom , the United States, or for a Schengen country. 

The fees associated with both depend on the visitor’s nationality, how they are entering country and for what length they are staying.

How can I get a tourist card/permit? 

The Mexican tourist permit is not a visa and is obtained by filling in a multiple immigration form (FMM). This form can either be completed online before departure or once you’ve arrived in Mexico, where it will be stamped by Mexican immigration and must be kept until departure. 

The fee for a tourist permit is approximately MXN 500 (USD$27), which will be included in the cost of your ticket if you are arriving by commercial flight. If arriving by land, you will need to arrange to pay the fee with immigration unless you are staying for less than seven days, in which case it is free. Most border crossings will have banks where you can pay the fee immediately.

The countries that need to obtain a visa and a Mexican tourist card/permit before arrival to Mexico currently include, but are not limited to, China , South Africa , and  India , and this can be done either online (for specific countries) or at your nearest Mexican embassy or consulate.

Applying for an e-visa  

To ensure the e-visa application process goes smoothly, you'll need a valid ID (usually a passport) which you'll upload electronically as part of the process. You'll also pay for the visa at the time of application, which can be done by debit or credit card and is usually around USD$36 but this can depend on your nationality. If you're eligible, applying for a visa online is recommended as it's the easiest and most convenient way to ensure legal travel in Mexico. 

Applying for a visa via Mexican embassy or consulate

If you can't apply for a visa online, more supporting documentation is needed for you to submit an application via a Mexican embassy or consulate successfully. This documentation can include: 

itinerary information, including accommodation reservations

return flight details

a recent passport-sized photo

financial statements proving you have enough money to stay in Mexico for the duration of your holiday 

If you submit your application via a Mexican embassy or consulate, the visa fees can only be paid in cash.

It could take up to two days for your visa to be approved, but we still recommend starting the process once you've booked your holiday to avoid delays or interruptions to your travel plans. Once your visa is approved, you can stay in Mexico for up to 180 days. 

The page is for general information only and may be subject to change. It is your responsibility to obtain relevant visa and travel information required for entry, departure and travel to each country or region you visit on your trip. You should confirm these with the relevant embassies and/or consulates. 

Last updated: 14 June 2023

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What you need to know about traveling to Mexico right now

Aug 31, 2021 • 4 min read

Mexico is open to visitors but restrictions apply in some regions once you're there © Marco Bottigelli/Getty Images

Mexico is open for travel but COVID-19 cases remain stubbornly high, particularly in tourist hot spots. Despite this, the county is continuing to welcome visitors with almost no testing and quarantine restrictions—though local restrictions are in place across individual states through a four-tiered traffic light system.

Travelers should check the regulations and recommendations of their government before planning any travel. Currently the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is recommending that unvaccinated travelers avoid nonessential travel to Mexico . If you're traveling to Mexico, here's what you need to know.

Can I travel to Mexico right now?

Mexico is open to travelers from all around the world and commercial flights are operating in and out of the country. Travelers who go to Mexico are required to complete a health declaration form and scan the QR code it generates on arrival.

Passengers arriving at Mexican airports may be subject to health screenings including temperature checks. Those showing symptoms of COVID-19 could be asked to quarantine. Travelers entering by land may also be subjected to health screenings and temperature checks. Although a COVID-19 test is not required for entry, US travelers will need to take a COVID-19 test  before flying home to the US.

Read more: Best time to visit Mexico

On March 21, 2020 the US and Mexico closed their shared land border to non-essential travel, and those restrictions have been extended every month since. The current land border restrictions are in place until at least September 21, 2021. 

Mexico is on the UK's red list for travel. This means that any UK citizen or resident who arrives into the UK from Mexio will have to quarantine in a government-approved hotel for 10 days upon arrival.

For travel within Mexico, some restrictions on intercity and interstate transit apply, but those details vary from place to place; the US State Department’s Local Resources section has a comprehensive breakdown .

Will I have to quarantine when I arrive in Mexico?

Anyone who shows signs of COVID-19 upon arrival may be returned to their country of origin or asked to voluntarily quarantine , but it’s not mandatory at this time. The government is strongly encouraging preventative measures like social distancing and hand-washing, with masks required in some parts of the country though not all. A full breakdown of measures can be found here .

Where can I get a COVID-19 test in Mexico?

A negative viral COVID-19 test or documentation of recovery is required for anyone traveling by air to the US and they should be performed no more than three days before departure. The US Embassy says results for PCR and antigen tests are reliably available within 72 hours in Mexico. Many hotels, resorts and tour operators provide antigen tests for guests, and some airport have mobile COVID-19 testing stations in departure halls. PCR tests can be performed in hospitals and labortories.

What COVID-19 restrictions apply in Mexico?

Mexico is one of the few countries in the world that doesn't require mandatory testing or self-isolation upon arrival. But that doesn't mean that it's business as usual when you get there. The Mexican government has implemented a four-tier color-coded traffic light ( semáforo) system that corresponds to the level of COVID-19 transmission in each state. What's open depends on the rate of contagion in the area you're visiting. The levels range from green to red , with green for locations where COVID-19 is the least severe and restrictions are at their lowest level. Red is in place for locations where COVID-19 is most severe, and restrictions are at their highest level.

The traffic light system is updated every two weeks and the current restrictions are in place until September 5. However, the Mexican government warns that the classification of each place is subject to change at short notice, especially if there is a sudden increase in transmission.

Read more:  Top 5 road trips in Mexico

Green Level

Chiapas is the only state classified as green. All non-essential businesses are open here without restrictions.

Yellow Level

Baja California , Baja California Sur, Sinaloa, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Guanajuato , and Yucatán are at yellow level.

Under yellow, markets, supermarkets and golf courses can operate at 100% capacity. Hotels, restaurants, cinemas, theaters, beaches, public parks, theme parks, water parks, and tour guide services are typically capped between 50% and 70% capacity.

Orange Level

Sonora , Durango, Zacatecas , San Luis Potosí , Nayarit, Jalisco , Aguascalientes , Veracruz , Querétaro , Michoacán , Estado de Mexico, Ciudad de Mexico , Morelos , Tlaxcala, Oaxaca , Campeche , and Quintana Roo are at orange. Popular tourist resorts of Cancún ,  Tulum and Playa del Carmen are classified as yellow.

Nonessential businesses are open with stricter capacity limits. Hotels, restaurants, beaches, open-air parks, historical sites and gyms are limited to 50% capacity. Markets and supermarkets can operate at up to 75% capacity. While shopping malls, theaters, museums, and cultural events will be limited to 25% capacity.

Colima, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Nuevo Leon, Puebla , Tabasco , and Tamaulipas.

Under red level, only essential businesses and services may operate. Hotels are only open to critical workers. Parks open at 25% capacity. Residents are encouraged to remain at home and face coverings are required in public.

COVID-19 snapshot

This story was first published on August 18, 2020 and last updated on August 31, 2021.

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Air New Zealand flights to Mexico from $1,113*

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Embassies and consular services for Mexico

Our relationship with mexico.

In 2013 New Zealand and Mexico commemorated the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 30th anniversary of the opening of the New Zealand Embassy in Mexico City. In recent years our relationship has broadened from a focus on trade and cooperation within international forums to include a wide range of business, research, political, cultural and people-to-people links - including the introduction of a working holiday scheme in 2008, and student and staff exchanges between our universities and polytechnics. 

New Zealand and Mexico are close friends in the multilateral arena, and we cooperate closely in a number of areas, including disarmament, human rights and environmental issues - particularly climate change, whale conservation and fossil fuel subsidy reform. We also share a keen interest in Asia-Pacific regional developments.

2016 statistics

New Zealand and Mexico have largely complementary economies, with New Zealand’s strength being in agriculture and Mexico’s in manufacturing. Agriculture is an area with great potential for growth in trade and investment/technology transfer, particularly as Mexico seeks to diversify its trade profile through adding value to its traditional agricultural exports. Agricultural and trade links between Mexico and New Zealand have been strengthened by trade missions in both directions and a number of visits by officials, scientists and technical experts.  

New Zealand and Mexico share a strong commitment to trade liberalisation and regional economic integration. Mexico is also a signatory to the TPP , and we are working closely together on the developing regional trade architecture in the Asia-Pacific, through both TPP and the Pacific Alliance.

Working Holiday Scheme

New Zealanders aged between 18 and 30 can apply for a 12-month working holiday visa for Mexico. Applications are made through the Mexican Embassy in New Zealand, and an interview in person is required. New Zealanders living in other countries can apply through the nearest Mexican Embassy or Consulate. 

For more information, read the Mexico Embassy website (in Spanish) (external link) .

The New Zealand Embassy in Mexico City operates a Head of Mission Fund to support small scale, community-based development projects. Funding is granted each year to a range of groups in Mexico - in keeping with the New Zealand Aid Programme's objective to support sustainable development in developing countries.

The New Zealand Aid Programme funds  Scholarships for Latin Americans (external link) .

New Zealand is represented in Mexico by the  New Zealand Embassy, Mexico City

Mexico is represented in New Zealand by the  Mexican Embassy, Wellington (external link)

Recent official visits

New zealand to mexico.

• 2017: Trade Minister Todd McClay visited Mexico in February to meet with his counterpart, Secretary of Economy, Ildefonso Guajardo.
• 2016: Speaker, Rt Hon David Carter MP, led a delegation to Mexico in April 2016, to build links with parliamentarians and foster international cooperation.
• 2016: Minister Amy Adams visited Cancun, Mexico in June 2016 to speak at a panel on digital economy, to discuss the improvement of networks and services through digital convergence.
• 2016: Land Information Minister Louise Upston, visited Mexico City  in October 2016, where she gave a keynote speech at the Open Government Partnership Summit and undertook bilateral meetings
• 2015: Deputy Prime Minister Bill English visited Mexico in October to discuss closer bilateral cooperation and links with Mexico.
• 2015: Trade Minister Tim Groser visited Playa del Carmen, Mexico in May 2015 to attend the 2015 World Economic Forum (WEF) Latin American meeting.

Mexico to New Zealand

• 2016: Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Carlos Alberto de Icaza González visited to discuss New Zealand and Mexico’s trade and economic links, and our evolving relationship.
• 2014: Minister of Foreign Affairs José Antonio Meade Kuribreña visited to discuss closer bilateral cooperation and links with New Zealand
• 2012: Minister of Economy Secretary Bruno Ferrari visited to discuss Mexico’s participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations
• 2011: Prime Minister’s Fellow Dr Jaime Zabludovsky, who is an authority on trade policy issues in Mexico, visited to exchange views on trade and economic developments in Mexico as well as New Zealand’s economic reform experience
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Find cheap flights from Mexico to New Zealand from $1,349

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KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from Mexico to New Zealand.

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KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to New Zealand from Mexico is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

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Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional return ticket. You could then fly to New Zealand with an airline and back to Mexico with another airline.

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Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to New Zealand from Mexico up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

Top airline flying from Mexico to New Zealand

The flight was delayed instead of leaving at 11 it left at 12.20

T hey did a great job. Flight was on time .

EWR terminal C United Club is great. Flight and everything else mediocre

The crew’s attitud was not good, only worried for pilot’s comfort, so I ask myself why do I pay so much for so less. The plane is old and broken. I will rey another airline

Flight was on time. Staff were friendly. I paid for Economy Plus but was required to check my standard carry-on luggage due to lack of space on the aircraft. This cost me 30 minutes, unexpectedly, in waiting at the baggage claim. This experience did not meet my expectations.

Unfortunately this is not a happy ending comment. Positive: flown United before no issue Negative: it only takes one bad experience to not plan future travel with United Cancún departure was delayed by 1h20 minutes, connection in Chicago was 1h30 minutes. Flight departure time 6:08 Miraculously 7 of us ran 4 kilometres through Chicago to arrive at 6:00 to be told very rudely by the 2 unprofessional United attendants you missed your flight and that we should of arrived early. Did I mention that reason I was flying? I received a call that my brother was dying and to get home. They provided no assistance would not answer any of our questions, ignorantly walked away. Deplorable

Aircraft has better leg room than any of United's larger planes. We had requested mobility assistance for this and related flights. United's response to all was superb.

The overall ambiance was good. Seating ain the last row not so pleasant.

Honestly, best experience I've had with an airline in recent memory. Flight was on time, comfortable seats, snacks and entertainment was top notch.

If United expects people to use their own devices for entertainment they should put charging outlets in each seating area. I arrived with 14%battery power. That is not good when you arrive anywhere and need to communicate for transportation.

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Mexico Working Holiday Visa

Apply for this visa if you want to work and study in New Zealand. You must be between 18 to 30 years old and a citizen of the United Mexican States.

Length of stay

18-30 years

Processing time

With this visa you can.

• Work in New Zealand for up to 12 months.
• Study or train for up to 6 months in total.

Things to note

• You can only apply for a Working Holiday Visa online.
• You can’t accept a permanent job or work for the same employer for more than 3 months.
• You can’t bring children with you on a working holiday. If you have a partner who wants to come to New Zealand, they’ll need to apply for their own visa.

This visa is closed as the quota for the year has been reached.

Use the filters below to display relevant tips as well as detailed fees and receiving centre information

What you need to apply

Check if you are eligible to apply for this visa and what supporting documents and information you need to provide.

View All Evidence

You must provide proof of your identity

When you apply online, you must provide your passport details. 

Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after your visa will expire.

Your passport must be valid for at least 15 months after you first arrive in New Zealand.

Enter your identity details carefully, ensuring information is exactly as recorded on your passport.

You must be in good health

You may need to have a chest x-ray and a medical examination as proof of your good health.

Working holiday visa medical requirements

If you need to have an x-ray or medical examination after you apply online, we’ll send you an email explaining what to do.

You must be of good character

When you apply online, you must answer questions about your character.  After you apply online, we may ask you to provide Police Certificates as proof of your good character.

Good character

Who needs to provide police certificates

Genuine intentions

You must genuinely intend to meet the conditions of your visa

When we decide if your intentions are genuine, we consider all the information:

• you provide to support your application
• we have about your personal circumstances, and
• you provided in any previous applications.

Genuine intentions to visit, study or work in NZ

You must be 18 – 30

We will use your passport details to confirm your age.

Citizenship

You must be a citizen of the country this visa is for

You must have a valid passport from your country of citizenship.

We’ll check your passport when you arrive in New Zealand.

Onward travel

You must have a ticket to leave New Zealand or enough money to buy one

Evidence can include:

• your travel ticket
• proof you have enough money to buy a ticket out of New Zealand, in addition to the funds you have to live on.

We may ask to see your evidence when you arrive in New Zealand

You must have enough money to live on while you’re in New Zealand

You must have at least NZ $4,200 for your stay. Evidence can include:

• bank statements
• credit card statements
• bank drafts
• travellers’ cheques.

You must have at least NZD $4,200 for your stay.

Previous approvals

You must not have had approval for a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa before

We’ll check our records for any previous New Zealand Working Holiday Visa approvals you may have had.

You can’t apply for this visa, if we’ve already approved an earlier application for you to have a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa. This applies even if you didn’t use that visa.

It’s OK to apply for this visa, if you’ve had approvals for working holidays in countries other than New Zealand.

Medical insurance

You must have full medical insurance for the length of your stay

You must be able to provide proof that you are fully insured, including cover for hospitalisation. Evidence may include:

• a copy of your insurance certificate
• an approval letter from your insurance company.

Process and costs

The information below will help you understand the process, timeframes and costs involved in applying for this visa, so you can plan ahead and have the best chance of submitting a complete application.

1 You apply online

You must apply online and in English.

Immigration costs

Application cost – This is the charge for Immigration New Zealand to process your application. We do not refund application costs if we decline your application. A non-refundable immigration levy is charged and is included in the cost. You can pay for your application online by Visa or Mastercard. An International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) of NZD $35 is charged and is included in the cost.

2 We may ask for evidence to support your application

If you need to provide any evidence, we send you an email explaining what you need to do.

If you are concerned about receiving emails, It is a good idea to check your junk mail settings.

3 We make a decision about your application

If your visa application is approved, we will contact you by email advising that the status of your application has changed. You can then log in to Online Services to check the status of your application. If approved, you will be granted an eVisa .

If there is anything else you need to do, we will be in touch.

If you are in New Zealand, and your current temporary visa expires before your new visa is granted, we will normally issue you an interim visa to let you stay in New Zealand lawfully.

Interim Visa

Timeframes - Processing

80% of applications are currently completed within this time.

How to submit

Payment methods and receiving centre details if applicable.

Payment methods

Credit Card You can pay by Visa, MasterCard or UnionPay credit card.

Debit Card You can pay by Visa, MasterCard or UnionPay debit card.

Phone enquiries Monday to Friday 06:00 to 22:00

Closed Saturday and Sunday

+649-914-4100

0508-558-855 (NZ callers only)

These are the conditions that you must meet once you have your visa.

You must come to New Zealand within 12 months of the date your visa is granted.

After you arrive in New Zealand, you can come and go from New Zealand as many times as you like before your visa expires.

Your visa is valid from:

• the date you enter New Zealand, if you are outside New Zealand
• the date your visa is granted, if you are already in New Zealand.

Entry permission

You must apply for entry permission when you arrive in New Zealand. You can do this by completing a digital New Zealand traveller declaration (NZTD), or an NZTD paper declaration.

New Zealand Customs and Biosecurity also check that you meet their entry requirements.

Arriving in New Zealand

You can be refused entry permission if:

• you do not meet our character requirements
• your circumstances have changed since you were granted a visa
• you refuse to let us take your photo or to provide us with your fingerprints or an iris scan, if asked for them
• you are unable to provide evidence of any onward travel or funds required by the conditions of your visa.

If you are refused entry to New Zealand

Before you travel to New Zealand

You must have either:

• a travel ticket out of New Zealand
• enough money to pay for a travel ticket out of New Zealand, in addition to your living costs.

We may ask to see evidence of your onward travel arrangements when you arrive in New Zealand.

You must have at least NZ $4,200 to live on while you’re in New Zealand.

We may ask to see evidence of your funds when you arrive in New Zealand.

You must maintain your medical insurance while in New Zealand. 

We may ask to see evidence you’re insured when you arrive in New Zealand.

You can work in any employment you like, as long as:

• you do not work for more than 3 months for any one employer
• you do not work for more than 12 months in total
• you do not get a permanent job
• the work you do is legal
• you do not provide commercial sexual services
• you do not run or invest in a business that provides commercial sexual services.

You don’t need a job offer.

Everyone who has a job in New Zealand pays tax on what they earn. You’ll need a New Zealand bank account and IRD number to pay tax. You can apply for an IRD number online through Inland Revenue .

Apply online for an IRD number

You can do some study or training, as long as it’s not for more than 6 months of your stay.

Visa expiry

You must leave New Zealand before your visa expires.

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New Zealand tightens visa rules after migration hits ‘unsustainable’ levels

Net migration to New Zealand hit a near record high in 2023 after a new temporary work visa was introduced after the pandemic

New Zealand will tighten its visa rules for some migrants as the coalition government moves to overhaul the immigration system it says has led to “unsustainable” levels of migration.

Last year, annual net migration to New Zealand hit a near record high of more than 173,000 non-New Zealand citizens in the year to December, Stats NZ reported .

Immigration minister Erica Stanford announced on Sunday changes to the accredited employer worker visa (AEWV), the main temporary work visa, which was introduced in mid-2022 to help fill workforce shortages after the pandemic.

The government’s changes to the scheme would include introducing English-language requirements for low-skilled jobs and setting a minimum skills and work experience threshold for most employer work visas. The maximum continuous stay for most low-skilled roles will also be reduced to three years from five years.

The changes would be immediate, she said.

“The government is focused on attracting and retaining the highly skilled migrants such as secondary teachers, where there is a skill shortage,” Stanford said in a statement. “At the same time we need to ensure that New Zealanders are put to the front of the line for jobs where there are no skills shortages.”

New Zealand, which has a population of about 5.1 million, has seen a rapid growth in migrant numbers since the end of the pandemic, raising concerns last year that it was fanning inflation. A Reserve Bank-commissioned report released last month into the possible links between migration levels and inflation was inconclusive.

Stanford said the changes would also reduce the vulnerability of migrants to exploitation.

In February, the Public Service Commission released its review of the AEWV scheme, which former immigration minister Andrew Little ordered after complaints of exploitation. The commission found that a small number of “unscrupulous employers” targeted the scheme and took payments from people wanting to move to New Zealand.

“By having an English-language requirement migrants will be better able to understand their rights or raise concerns about an employer early,” Stanford said.

The government had scrapped plans to add 11 new roles to the Green List – a list of highly skilled roles that New Zealand is struggling to fill – including welders, and fitters and turners.

Neighbouring Australia, which has also seen a big increase in migration, has said it would halve its migrant intake over the next two years.

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Solar eclipse 2024: A traveller’s guide to the best places to be when the light goes out

O n 8 April 2024, a total solar eclipse will sweep across North America , providing an astronomical experience in many alluring locations.

Only a tiny proportion of humanity has ever witnessed a total eclipse – but tens of millions of people will be able to experience one as the “path of totality” sweeps from the Pacific to the Atlantic during the course of that magical Monday.

Here’s what you need to know about why you should see it and where to be.

What happens during a total solar eclipse?

The greatest show on earth comes courtesy of the lifeless moon. Normally the orbiting lunar lump merely provides earth with tides, moonlight and somewhere to aim space rockets. But roughly once a year the natural satellite aligns with the sun and, thanks to a geometric miracle, blots out the hub of the solar system to create a total eclipse.

“Even though the moon is 400 times smaller than the sun, it’s also about 400 times closer to earth than the sun is,” says Nasa. “This means that from earth, the moon and the sun appear to be roughly the same size in the sky.”

A narrow band marking the “path of totality” carves an arc of darkness across the surface of our planet. If you are somewhere on that line at the predicted time, and you have clear skies, then the experience will become a lifelong memory.

The closer you are to the centre of the path of totality, the longer the total eclipse will last. The astronomer Dr John Mason, who has guided dozens of eclipse trips (and will be doing so again in 2024), says: “People down in southwest Texas will get about four minutes 20 seconds, and that reduces to about three minutes 20 seconds up in the northeast. That’s a pretty good, long total eclipse.”

What’s so good about seeing an eclipse?

In the days leading up to the eclipse, locations in the path of totality acquire something of a carnival atmosphere as astronomical tourists converge in excited anticipation.

On the day, the cosmological performance begins with a warm-up lasting more than an hour, during which the moon steadily nibbles away at the surface of the sun.

Suddenly, you experience totality. The stars and planets appear in the middle of the day. The air chills.

To testify to the heavenly fit between our two most familiar heavenly bodies, faint diamonds known as Baily’s beads peek out from behind the moon. They actually comprise light from the sun slipping through lunar valleys.

A sight to behold – so long as you can see the moon blotting out the sun and appreciate the mathematical perfection of nature in our corner of the galaxy.

Eclipses are entirely predictable: we know the stripes that the next few dozen will paint upon the surface of the Earth. But the weather is not. Cloud cover, which blighted the Cornwall eclipse in 1999, downgrades a cosmological marvel to an eerie daytime gloom.

Almost as predictable as the eclipse is that traffic towards the path of totality will be heavy on the morning of 8 April 2024.

Accommodation rates are astronomical: even humdrum motel rooms in Niagara, central in the path of totality, are selling for C$600 (£350) for the night of 7-8 April 2024.

Where will the great American eclipse 2024 be visible?

The path of totality makes landfall from the Pacific at Mazatlan on Mexico’s Pacific Coast and sweeps northeastwards to reach the US-Mexican border at Piedras Negras.

In the US, three big Texan cities – San Antonio, Austin and Dallas – are on the extremes of the path of totality; many citizens are likely to drive to locations near the centre of the line.

Arkansas will be an attractive place to see the eclipse , with both Texarkana (on the border with Texas) and Little Rock within the path of totality.

In the Midwest, Indianapolis and Cleveland share the distinction of being fairly central in the path of totality. In upstate New York, Buffalo and nearby Niagara Falls (shared with Canada) could be extremely attractive – though prone in early April to cloudy skies.

In Canada , Montreal is just touched by the path of totality. The line then reverts to the US, passing across northern Maine – which promises to be a superb with clear skies. Then back to Canada’s Maritime Provinces, with New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland all in the line of darkness.

Will I be able to see a partial eclipse from the UK?

Yes. The eclipse ends with the sunset in the eastern Atlantic, about 600 miles off the coast of Cornwall , before it reaches the UK and Ireland . But on the island of Ireland and western parts of Great Britain, a partial eclipse may be visible with the sun low in the sky.

If skies are clear and you have an open view to the west, it will start at around 7.55pm in Cardiff, Liverpool , Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

BBC Weather presenter Simon King said: “With the partial solar eclipse occurring late in the day UK time, the Sun will be low to the horizon and will actually set before the spectacle is over.”

Can I combine an exciting city with a partial eclipse?

Boston, New York and Chicago are among the big cities that will see a sizeable chunk of the sun blotted out. Viewer as far apart as Alaska and the far north of Colombia and the Caribbean will, if skies are clear and they use the correct eye protection, see a partial eclipse. But there is nothing to compare with a total eclipse.

Eclipse guru Dr Mason sums up the difference between a 99 per cent partial eclipse and a total eclipse as far apart as “a peck on the cheek and a night of passion”.

“There will be people who will look at the map and say, ‘I live in Cincinnati or I live in Columbus [Ohio] and I’m just outside the zone of totality. But I’m going to get a 99 per cent-plus eclipse, so maybe I won’t bother to travel’.

“What they don’t realise is there an enormous difference between 99 per cent and 100 per cent. And there’s a range of phenomena that they won’t see if they put up with 99 per cent.”

You must use special eclipse safety glasses or viewers when viewing a partial eclipse or during the partial phases of a total solar eclipse.

Where should I be for the total experience?

There are no guarantees of clear skies: all you can do is play the odds based on the record of cloud cover for the corresponding date in previous years.

Dr Mason says the average expected cloud cover amounts increase from around 40-45 per cent on the Mexico/Texas border to over 80 per cent in Maine, New Brunswick and Newfoundland.

Three particularly tempting locations:

• Southern Texas , close to San Antonio or Austin. Besides clear skies being more likely than not, access is easy with direct flights to Austin. Importantly there is much to explore in the region before and after the eclipse, from Big Bend National Park on the Rio Grande to Space Center Houston – an excellent place to continue the cosmological theme.
• Northern Arkansas , a picturesque part of the state, with the added attraction of Memphis just a couple of hours away.
• Niagara Falls : the dramatic border between the US and Canada could be an eclipse washout due to clouds. But the natural surroundings are impeccable – and there is plenty of accommodation, which will avoid the risk of being caught in severe traffic congestion on the freeways from Toronto and locations in New York State.

However, the most recent forecasts for cloud cover suggest that the Midwest around Indianapolis and the northeastern state of Maine could have the best prospects.

When are the next total solar eclipses?

Summer 2026 – Wednesday 12 August, to be precise – should bring a spectacular eclipse visible in northern Spain at the height of the European holiday season. The path of totality begins in the Arctic and crosses Greenland and Iceland before arriving in the northern half of Spain. The stripe of darkness will traverse the great cities of Bilbao, Zaragoza and Valencia in mainland Spain before arriving in Palma de Mallorca.

The following summer (2 August 2027), the southern tip of mainland Spain is in the path of totality for an eclipse that will sweep across North Africa and the Arabian peninsula : going east from the Strait of Gibraltar, it will encompass Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, the northeasternmost corner of Sudan, Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

Just under 12 months later, on 22 July 2028, Outback Australia will be the place to be. A total eclipse will make landfall in northern Western Australia, sweep across the Northern Territory and part of southwest Queensland – then clean across New South Wales, with Sydney in the middle of the path of totality.

Winter cloud cover could disrupt the experience in Australia’s largest city – and is very likely in the southern portion of New Zealand’s South Island where the eclipse reaches a finale.

Australia also features in the cosmological plans on 25 November 2030. This is early summer in the southern hemisphere, and likely to be good conditions for viewing in Namibia, Botswana and South Africa (Durban is on the path of totality) as well as South Australia.

The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking news brand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. We have grown a huge, global readership of independently minded individuals, who value our trusted voice and commitment to positive change. Our mission, making change happen, has never been as important as it is today.

The best travel VPN in 2024

The best VPNs to use on your travel, according to our in-house tests

• Top 3 at a glance
• 1. Best travel VPN overall
• 2. Best cheap travel VPN
• 3. Best travel VPN for groups
• 4. Honorable mentions
• How to pick a travel VPN
• How we test

Top 3 travel VPNs at a glance 1. Best travel VPN overall: ExpressVPN 2. Best cheap travel VPN: Surfshark 3. Best travel VPN for groups: Private Internet Access 4. Honorable mentions How to pick a travel VPN How we test VPNs VPN FAQs

Along with your passport, sunblock, and phone charger, a VPN is a must-have item before you jet off abroad. It will safeguard your private information while you’re online and it’ll enable you to unblock all your favorite sites and services from back home. It’s especially useful if you’re headed to a destination that has strict internet censorship, such as China, North Korea, or Russia.

A quick online search will show you that there are plenty of VPNs that claim to be perfect for travel. But the truth is, not all of them are secure enough to protect your data, unblock streaming services, and go undetected by foreign governments. Luckily, we’ve compared dozens of VPNs to ensure they tick all these boxes for a fair price, while also delivering fast speeds and good customer service. So keep reading to find out our pick of the best travel VPNs.

The 3 best travel VPNs at a glance

If you’re looking for a quick recommendation for the best VPN for travel, take a look at our top three tried-and-tested travel VPNs: 

1. <a href="https://go.expressvpn.com/c/4550836/1330033/16063?subId1=hawk-custom-tracking&sharedId=hawk&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.expressvpn.com%2Foffer%2Frecommended-deal%3Foffer%3D3monthsfree" data-link-merchant="expressvpn.com"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Best VPN for travel: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is our number one choice for travel, thanks to its impressive fleet of secure servers around the world. No matter where you’re headed, ExpressVPN will keep your data safe with its market-leading security features. It’ll also allow you to unblock location-restricted content from anywhere.

It also has fast speeds that are ideal for streaming on the go. If you want to try it out, it has a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can see if it’s right for you before you commit..

2. <a href="http://get.surfshark.net/aff_c?offer_id=61&aff_sub3=i%3Dbest&aff_id=1691&aff_click_id=hawk-custom-tracking&aff_sub2=hawk-article-url" data-link-merchant="get.surfshark.net"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Fast speeds for a low monthly cost: Surfshark

If you’re looking for a fast VPN that won’t break the bank or compromise your security, Surfshark could be your ideal solution. In testing, we found it had the fastest speeds overall.

It can give you access to a huge range of geo-blocked streaming services, and it comes with unlimited simultaneous connections, so you and everyone you’re traveling with can use one subscription. You can test it out risk-free thanks to Surfshark’s 30-day money-back guarantee.

3.   <a href="https://privateinternetaccess.com/offer/future_60e7q6mk5?aff_click_id=hawk-custom-tracking&aff_sub2=hawk-article-url" data-link-merchant="privateinternetaccess.com"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Great for large travel parties on a budget: Private Internet Access

PIA has a massive selection of over 20,000 servers based around the world, and you can use them to unblock sites and services from other regions in seconds.

It offers unlimited simultaneous connections, so you and your travel buddies can all share one subscription. It’s also one of the cheapest reliable options around, so it’s ideal if you want to keep your costs low without skimping on security. You can test it out by using PIA’s 30-day money-back guarantee.

The best travel VPNs in 2024

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

The best travel VPN overall: ExpressVPN

1. expressvpn.

The best travel VPN, and great for beginners

Number of servers: 3,000+ | Speed: Up to 750 Mbps | VPN locations: 160 in 105 countries | Maximum devices supported: 8 | 24/7 live chat: Yes | 30 day money back guarantee: Yes

✔️ You want to access sites and services from around the world while you’re traveling . ExpressVPN boasts 160 server locations across 94 countries, so you’ll have plenty of secure options that can unblock the content you want. 

✔️ This is your first VPN and you want something that’s easy to use. ExpressVPN’s intuitive interface is ideal for beginners, and its 24/7 customer support is very reassuring and helpful.

✔️ You want a secure VPN with plenty of features. ExpressVPN comes with a sophisticated kill switch, DNS leak protection, and an auto-connect feature.

❌ You're on a budget. ExpressVPN is definitely one of the more expensive options out there. So you might want to look at Surfshark or PIA if you’re on a budget.

❌ You want the fastest speeds around. Although ExpressVPN shouldn’t slow you down for most everyday activities, if you game or stream a lot, you might be better off with NordVPN or Surfshark.  

ExpressVPN  is the best travel VPN around, thanks to its large fleet of secure servers, excellent security features, and ability to unblock region-restricted content from anywhere.

If you want the best VPN for travel, you’d struggle to find better than ExpressVPN. With an impressive fleet of over 3,000 servers across 160 locations in 94 countries, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from.

It even has servers in locations that have restrictive rules around VPNs, such as China, Iran, and Indonesia. This means that you can still protect your data while traveling to these countries without impacting your speed.

Speaking of protecting your data, ExpressVPN is one of the most privacy-focused VPNs on the market. 

ExpressVPN can unblock location-restricted content from other parts of the world. It has the best coverage we’ve found in the US and Europe. And it has servers across 26 Asia-Pacific regions, giving you no end of options when it comes to accessing the content you want.

Unfortunately, ExpressVPN is one of the more expensive options out there, and it only comes with eight simultaneous connections, which is frustrating, considering the price, but this will probably be sufficient for a lot of users. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it before committing to a lengthy subscription.

The best cheap travel VPN: Surfshark

2. surfshark.

The best cheap travel VPN available

Number of servers: 3,200+ | Server locations: 160+ in 100+ countries | Maximum devices supported: Unlimited | 24/7 live chat: Yes | 30 day money back guarantee: Yes

✔️ You want the fastest speeds a VPN can offer. Surfshark is the fastest VPN we’ve tested, getting up to 950 Mbps. So you’ll be able to enjoy a smooth, lag-free experience.

✔️ You want a VPN solution for your whole travel party in one subscription. Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections, meaning that everyone going with you will be covered on all their devices with the same subscription.

✔️ You’re after a cheap VPN that doesn’t skimp on features. Despite Surfshark’s low monthly cost, it comes stuffed full of security features, as well as unlimited simultaneous connections and unrivaled speeds.

❌ You feel the need for a particularly robust kill switch. Although it works reasonably well, we found it struggled under intense testing. If you need one that’s completely foolproof, NordVPN and ExpressVPN would suit you better.

❌ You have an older Windows device. Surfshark doesn’t support Windows versions below 8.1, and Windows users don’t get a free 7-day trial option.  

Surfshark offers incredible value for money, with very reasonable low monthly subscriptions that come with unlimited simultaneous connections and access to 3,200+ servers across the globe.

If you want a solid VPN for travel without breaking the bank, Surfshark is an excellent choice, particularly if you’re going with a large group of people. That’s because Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections, so you can all use the same subscription on all your devices at once.

It has a fleet of 3,200 servers in 143 locations across 100 countries. Although this isn’t the largest offering around, it’ll give you plenty of options while you’re traveling abroad.

It’s a particularly strong choice if you’re visiting a country where VPNs are restricted, such as China. This is thanks to Surfshark’s NoBorders mode, which switches on automatically whenever it detects restrictions on your network. It will then present you with a list of servers that are strong enough to bypass the restrictions.

Surfshark is also brilliant at accessing geo-blocked sites and services. Plus, if streaming is important to you, you’ll really appreciate Surfshark’s unbeatable speeds. You can try it out risk-free thanks to Surfshark’s 30-day money-back guarantee.

The best travel VPN for groups: Private Internet Access

3. private internet access.

A great travel VPN for group holidays

Number of servers: 20,000+ | Server locations: 84 countries | Maximum devices supported: Unlimited | 24/7 live chat: Yes | 30 day money back guarantee: Yes

✔️ You want a huge selection of servers to choose from. PIA boasts an incredible fleet of 20,000+ servers. So wherever you are in the world, you’ll be sure to find plenty of options nearby that you can connect to.

✔️ You’re looking for one VPN subscription for everyone you’re traveling with. PIA gives you unlimited simultaneous connections, which means that everyone going on holiday with you will be able to use the same subscription.

✔️ Your privacy is important to you.  PIA operates a strict zero logs policy, which has been proven in court twice now, So you can trust that PIA really is as secure as it claims to be.

❌ This is your first VPN and you want something user-friendly. PIA has lots of customizable options, which is great if you know what you’re doing. But it’s not the easiest one to use if you’re not used to VPNs.

❌ You want to watch 10Play. While PIA is great at unblocking most region-restricted content, we weren’t able to use it to access 10Play.

Private Internet Access offers fantastic value for money, with low monthly costs and unlimited simultaneous connections.  

If you’re after a VPN while you’re abroad, you won’t go far wrong with PIA. With over 20,000 servers across 84 countries, you’ll never be far away from a server. It even has a server in every single US state, making it a fantastic choice if you’re traveling around the US. 

Even though it doesn’t have servers in quite as many countries as some of the other providers on our list, it has them in many locations where VPNs are restricted, such as China and Turkey. However, if you’re traveling to Iran, Cuba, Syria, or Myanmar, PIA won’t be able to bypass the restrictions. So make sure you check it works in your destination before you sign up,

PIA comes with unlimited simultaneous connections. So you and your travel companions can all use it on as many devices as you like while only paying for one subscription. Considering how cheap PIA is, this gives you excellent value for money.

Sadly, it’s not as fast as NordVPN or Surfshark. But its speeds are adequate for most online activities, including streaming. Speaking of which, PIA was able to bypass region restrictions on every streaming service we tested, apart from 10Play.

If you want to try it out, PIA offers a free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Other quality travel VPNs I've tested

The very best VPN I've tested

Number of servers: 6,000+ | Server locations: 140 in 110+ countries | Maximum devices supported: 6 | 24/7 live chat: Yes | 30 day money back guarantee: Yes

✔️ You want robust security. NordVPN is one of the most privacy-focused VPNs on the market, with features like Double VPN, Onion over VPN, and built-in antivirus protection.

✔️ You want to unblock region-restricted content while you’re traveling. Whatever you want to watch, NordVPN will help you access the content you want in seconds.

✔️ You need fast internet speeds. Thanks to NordVPN’s own NordLynx protocol, you’ll be able to enjoy fast and reliable speeds that are ideal for streaming and gaming.

❌ You want to access servers from the largest range of countries. Although NordVPN has servers in 60 countries around the world, Surfshark and ExpressVPN offer significantly more options.

❌ You need unlimited simultaneous connections . A NordVPN subscription only comes with six simultaneous connections. So you’ll need to pay for more than one subscription if you’re traveling in a large group or sign up to Surfshark or PIA instead.

NordVPN is one of the most reputable VPNs on the market, and with its outstanding security features, strong unblocking capabilities, and consistently fast speeds, it more than lives up to its reputation as being one of the best all-round solutions.

NordVPN might be the perfect travel VPN for you but it depends on where you’re going. Due to the fact it has servers in a comparatively small number of countries, it may not suit your plans. So make sure you check your destination is covered before choosing NordVPN.

However, if you’re happy with the list of server locations, NordVPN is a fantastic choice. Its obfuscated servers make it a perfect VPN for China, Iran, and other locations where VPNs are restricted. It works by disguising VPN traffic to make it look like regular traffic, so it can go undetected. This also makes it ideal for unblocking region-restricted content.

Elsewhere, it delivers consistently fast speeds thanks to NordVPN’s unique Wireguard-based protocol, NordLynx. If you’re traveling solo or with one or two others, it’s a strong and reliable solution that won’t let you down. You can try it out before committing, thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee.

5. CyberGhost

A good travel VPN with a long money-back-guarantee

Number of servers: 9,700+ | Server locations: 91 countries | Maximum devices supported: 7 | 24/7 live chat: Yes | 45 day money back guarantee: Yes

✔️ You want time to make up your mind. While most providers offer 30 days, CyberGhost gives a generous 45-day money-back guarantee. This gives you plenty of time to try it out before deciding if it’s the right provider for you.

✔️ You’ve never used a VPN before. CyberGhost is easy to use with plenty of tutorials and handy guides to help you get to grips with all CyberGhost has to offer.

✔️ You’re on a tight budget. Price-wise, CyberGhost is comparable with other great-value solutions, such as Surfshark and PIA. It also offers plenty of features, giving you great value for money.

❌ You want a wide selection of streaming options. In testing, CyberGhost struggled to bypass region restrictions on some of the most popular streaming services, such as the UK versions of Netflix and Disney Plus. 

❌ You want one subscription for your whole travel party. Unless you’re traveling alone or with one or two other people, you might find that CyberGhost’s seven simultaneous connections aren’t sufficient for you. Instead, you might be better off with Sufshark or PIA

CyberGhost is a brilliant travel VPN for beginners as it’s easy to use and is a very affordable solution. 

If you’re looking for your first travel VPN, CyberGhost is a solid choice, thanks to its simple, intuitive interface, cheap price plans, and generous 45-day money-back guarantee. On top of this, it offers a huge selection of 11,700+ servers in 91 countries, so you’ll almost certainly be able to access secure servers at your destination.

Despite its low monthly cost, CyberGhost has some of the fastest speeds around, beating the likes of ExpressVPN and PIA. Better yet, CyberGhost can unblock local banking apps with ease, which means you can do secure online banking without worrying about hackers.

However, it’s not quite as adept at unblocking location-restricted streaming services. In our testing, we found that it struggled to unblock the UK versions of Disney Plus and Netflix.

It also doesn’t have the most reliable customer service, unlike NordVPN and ExpressVPN. It’s pretty good for the price, however, and if you want to try it out, you get a full 45-day money-back guarantee, giving you plenty of time to decide.

How to choose the right travel VPN

When choosing the best travel VPN, you’ll need one that will successfully spoof your true IP address and make it appear as though you’re in a different location. This will prevent third parties, including foreign governments, from being able to see your online activity or restrict your internet usage. Therefore, you’ll want a VPN with plenty of robust security features to prevent anyone from being able to view any of your data.

It’s also important to check whether or not it has a good range of secure servers at your destination. If you’re headed somewhere that restricts VPNs, such as China, Iran, or Russia, you’ll also need one that has obfuscated servers so you can access the content you want without detection.

On top of this, a good travel VPN will be able to unblock region-restricted sites and services from around the world. If you’re traveling as part of a large group, it’s a sensible idea to pick a provider that offers enough simultaneous connections for everyone.

How we test travel VPNs

Before recommending the best VPNs for travel, we put all the market-leading providers through a rigorous testing process before selecting the best options.

Our expert team of in-house testers try out a huge range of options and decide on the best ones. We trial desktop and mobile apps on all major operating systems and check all of the settings in each app to ensure it works well.

We also run further tests every six months to keep our findings completely up to date and to ensure we’ve tested out any new features. And we test each VPN to see if it can consistently unblock all the major streaming services.

For more details, see our full methodology on how we test VPNs .

Travel VPN FAQs

Where is using a vpn legal.

VPNs are legal in most places around the world, including the US, Europe, Canada, and Australia. However, there are some countries that prohibit the use of VPNs, such as China, North Korea, and Iraq. If you’re caught using a VPN in one of these locations, you could risk a heavy fine or even imprisonment.

Is using a VPN safe?

Yes, using a VPN is extremely safe. In fact, provided you choose a reputable VPN, it will radically improve your online security by spoofing your real IP address and protecting your data from being viewed by third parties. 

Should I use a VPN while travelling?

Yes, it’s a very sensible idea to use a VPN while traveling because it will keep your data private and allow you to access sites and services from other parts of the world. It’s particularly helpful if you’re visiting a country that restricts internet usage, such as China, Russia, or Iran. 

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

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Olivia joined TechRadar in October 2023 as part of the core Future Tech Software team, and is the Commissioning Editor for Tech Software. With a background in cybersecurity, Olivia stays up-to-date with all things cyber and creates content across sites including TechRadar Pro , TechRadar , Tom’s Guide , iMore , Windows Central , PC Gamer and Games Radar . She is particularly interested in threat intelligence, detection and response, data security, fraud prevention and the ever-evolving threat landscape.

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When is Eid al-Fitr 2024 and how is it celebrated?

The three-day festival celebrates the completion of the fasting month of Ramadan by Muslims across the world.

As a new moon was not sighted on Monday evening after Maghrib prayers, Muslims in Saudi Arabia and neighbouring countries will fast one more day, completing 30 days of Ramadan. The first day of Eid will then be celebrated on Wednesday, April 10.

The first day of Eid al-Fitr is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon marking the start of the month of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic (Hijri) calendar.

Keep reading

A ramadan no palestinian will ever forget, the cost of a ramadan iftar meal around the world, ramadan 2024: where do your dates come from, in washington, dc: celebrating ramadan, protesting israel’s siege of gaza.

Lunar months last between 29 and 30 days so Muslims usually have to wait until the night before Eid to verify its date.

Other countries follow independent sightings.

When the sighting has been verified, Eid is declared on television, radio stations and at mosques.

How do Muslims celebrate Eid?

Traditionally, Eid is celebrated for three days as an official holiday in Muslim-majority countries. However, the number of holiday days varies by country.

Muslims begin Eid day celebrations by partaking in a prayer service that takes place shortly after dawn, followed by a short sermon.

On their way to the prayer, which is traditionally held in an open area, Muslims recite takbeerat, praising God by saying “Allahu Akbar”, meaning “God is great”.

It is customary to eat something sweet before the prayer, such as date -filled biscuits known as maamoul in the Middle East. This particular festival is known as the “sweet” Eid – and the distribution of sweets is common across the Muslim world.

Muslims usually spend the day visiting relatives and neighbours and accepting sweets as they move around from house to house.

Each country has traditional desserts and sweets that are prepared before Eid or on the morning of the first day.

Children, dressed in new clothes, are offered gifts and money to celebrate the joyous occasion.

Girls and women in many countries decorate their hands with henna. The celebration for Eid begins the night before as women gather in neighbourhoods and large family gatherings for the application of henna.

In some countries, families visit graveyards to offer their respects to departed family members right after the morning prayers.

It is common for Muslim-majority countries to decorate their cities with lights and hold festivities to commemorate the end of the fasting month.

Eid amid the onslaught in Gaza

For some 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza this Eid, this will be the first Muslim religious holiday after more than 33,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks. With little food aid, and very limited water, Gaza’s Eid al-Fitr will be mired in destruction amid the continuing attacks.

What are common Eid greetings?

The most popular greeting is “Eid Mubarak” (Blessed Eid) or “Eid sa’id” (Happy Eid). Eid greetings also vary depending on the country and language.

The video below shows how people say Eid Mubarak in different languages around the world.

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Iran launched dozens of drones at Israel on Saturday, Israel's military said. Iran has vowed retaliation for what it called an Israeli strike on its Damascus consulate earlier this month. Israel neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the attack.