and have acted in good faith and didn't know this would be an issue, would you have to pay your fare back have you got any redress against their govt there or against insurance co because of the cost of the lost holiday and additional flight home?

I've just always assumed UK will share info with USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand so won't take the risk of going on holiday at a cost of several grand and then likley not to be able to recover it if you're sent back, besides which I probably wouldn't get a visa anyway if I was open and honest with them - see https://hub.unlock.org.uk/section/travel/specific-countries/ - and I wouldn't be anything else. Plus there's the point that a visa doesn't entitle you to enter a country, the immigration control can still refuse you.

Having re-read all the stuff in the hub link I feel a bit more confident about Australia and Canada as you can get some sort of confirmation of entry before travelling.

New Zealand seems a bit more problematic as it seems there's an absolute visa waiver for UK citizens so no option to apply for a visa or any advance official 'ok' which leaves it open for them to turn you back if they have info from UK when you arrive and apply for a visitor visa through completing the passenger arrival card though this only flags up a Q if you've been imprisoned for 12 mths or more www.biosecurity.govt.nz/files/enter/personal/passenger-arrival-card/english.pdf

Post Edited (forever changes) : 10/06/2014 22:32:48 (GMT+2)