British vacationers visiting Europe next summer will be required to pay a €7 cost for long-delayed tickets. Millions of people's travel plans will be impacted when the EU introduces the European Travel Information and Authorisation Scheme (ETIAS) in the middle of 2025.British tourists visiting Europe for the summer of 2019 will be charged €7 for long-delayed tickets. Millions of people's travel plans will be impacted when the EU introduces the European Travel Information and Authorisation Scheme (ETIAS) in the middle of 2025.
This means that before visiting 30 European countries, nationals of 60 visa-exempt nations, including the UK, will need to apply for a travel authorisation. Among them are popular travel destinations like Spain, Portugal, France, and Italy. It will resemble the British government's ESTA visa waiver program, for which applications are required before entering the US. For those between the ages of 18 and 70, the EU visa waiver will cost €7; however, it will be free for those under the age of 18 and those above the age of 70.
What is the ETIAS? At the moment, entry into the EU requires a visa application for visitors from non-EU nations. Nonetheless, for a maximum of 90 days, citizens of a specific list of 61 nations, which includes the US, Australia, Japan, and the UK, are permitted to enter and exit the EU's Schengen zone, which is an area free from border controls. However, because of the migration crisis and worries about terrorism, the EU has opted to impose tougher regulations. Travel to Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and other EU members will be permitted under the ETIAS. It will be associated with your passport and valid for three years, or until the expiration of your passport. Those who require a new passport must submit an application for one.
What do UK holidaymakers have to do?
Travellers need to apply online or via a mobile app, by completing a form the EU says will take 'no longer than 10 minutes'. You'll have to provide passport information and answer questions on your criminal record and medical conditions.
The EU says more than 95% of applications will be approved automatically within minutes, bit warns some cases may take up to 72 hours. The €7 fee will apply to anyone between the ages of 18 and 70, but the waiver will be free for children and the over-70s.
Which countries will require a travel pass?
There are 30 European countries that will require visa-exempt travellers to have an ETIAS travel authorisation. These include:
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
With a valid ETIAS travel authorisation, travellers can enter the territory of these 30 European countries as often as they want for short-term stays. This is normally for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. However, it does not guarantee entry.