The exact date you’ll have to start paying to enter the EU from next year – and how much it’ll cost
IF you're planning a holiday to Spain, Italy, France or Portugal next year, you'll have to pay to enter the EU.
This is because of a new visa system being introduced for all UK travellers entering the Schengen zone from 2023.
Called the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), Brits will need to have one if travelling for less than 90 days during an 180 day period.
The cut-off point, when all holidaymakers from the UK will need to have an ETIAS in order to travel to the EU is May, 2023.
An ETIAS is required if travelling to any EU Schengen country by plane, boat or car, and is also needed even if only transiting through Europe.
It also applies to other countries joining in the near future, such us a, Cyprus, Bulgaria and Romania.
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Once in the EU Schengen zone, travellers can move freely between the countries.
It will cost €7 (£5), and any travellers between 18 and 70 years old will have to have one.
They must be applied for before travelling and can be completed online, with Brits needing to complete it at least 96 hours before departure.
Applicants will be asked for information about their identity, passport, education, job, recent travel, and criminal convictions, including if you have ever been kicked out of a country.
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The information will be screened using EU security databases, with the majority of applications will be processed within minutes though some may take longer.
Once approved, the ETIAS visa waiver will be sent to the applicant electronically.
According to ETIAS application can be denied if there is anything wrong with it, like the following:
- The person applying has used a travel document that is reported as lost, stolen, misappropriated or invalidated in the Schengen Information System – SIS II
- The applicant poses a security risk for the citizens and travellers of the Schengen Area
- The applicant poses an illegal immigration risk
- The applicant poses a high epidemic risk
- An applicant is a person for whom there is an existing alert in SIS for the purpose of refusing entry and stay
- The applicant fails to reply to a request for extra information or documentation within the deadline given
- The applicant fails to attend an extra interview when required
- Airlines will also have to check the visa before passengers can board the plane.
Thankfully they will last three years, although will expire if you have to get a new passport.
If you need to stay more than 90 days, you will need a different form of visa, depending on the reason.
The new visa system was meant to be rolled out this year, but was delayed by the new European Union Entry and Exit System (EES) system being rolled out across Europe later this year.
The new digital system will check the person’s name, biometric data and the date and place of entry and exit.
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Here are some of the other new rules Brits need to be aware of when travelling to Europe since Brexit.
And holidaymakers heading to the US will now have to pay more to get a ESTA, the US visa, with the price going up by 50 per cent from today.
