A new travel visa will hit Brits in the pocket and change the rules around European travel.
Since Brexit, there have been several changes to the way that UK citizens travel – for example, standing in line as they go through border control and the necessity to have their passports stamped.
Soon though, saying goodbye to the bloc will mean that British nationals must pay for a special visa when they travel to a member EU state.
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System – ETIAS for short – will be an entry requirement for all visa-exempt nationals travelling to any of the 30 member states.
An official European Union website – https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ – explains more about the visa.
It says: “It is linked to a traveller’s passport.
“It is valid for up to three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. If you get a new passport, you need to get a new ETIAS travel authorisation.
“With a valid ETIAS travel authorisation, you can enter the territory of these European countries as often as you want for short-term stays – normally for up to 90 days in any 180 days.
“However, it does not guarantee entry. When you arrive, a border guard will ask to see your passport and other documents and verify that you meet the entry conditions.”
The ETIAS scheme has been designed to strengthen border security in the bloc. It’ll also end the need to have passports stamped at borders.
Britons will need to apply for an ETIAS online. It is valid for three years and is expected to cost £6 (seven euros) for British adults.
However, children who are under 18 and adults over 70 are exempt from the payment. The ETIAS hasn’t been introduced yet and the launch has been delayed several times. It is currently expected to launch in mid-2025.
Filling out the application is expected to be simple and quick and the majority of applications are expected to be approved within minutes.
However, in a few cases, British tourists may need to attend an in-person meeting and the process could take 30 days.
The ETIAS countries that will require travellers to have an EU travel authorisation will be those that are currently so-called full EU Schengen States as well as countries that are European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Members, European Microstates With Open Borders as well as Future Schengen Members, explains the website.
Future Schengen Member Countries will need to implement ETIAS as part of joining the EU as a full member.
Below is a full list of these countries and their current classification.
Full Schengen Member Countries
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
European Free Trade Association (EFTA) on Schengen Agreement
Iceland
Liechtenstein
Norway
Switzerland
Future Schengen Member Countries
Bulgaria
Cyprus
Romania
European Microstates With Open Borders
Andorra
Monaco
San Marino
Vatican City
