EU chiefs’ crunch meeting to decide whether Brits will need a £52 visa to travel to Europe in event of Brexit no-deal
The UK will either be added to the 'visa required' list or it will go on the 'no visa' list
THE EU is set to decide whether Brits will have to pay for visas to visit Europe in the event of a no-deal on Brexit.
Officials from the College of Commissioners are meeting in Strasbourg to decide if the UK will join the “visa required” or the “visa free” list.
Countries on the “visa required” list for entry into the EU include China, Russia, Thailand, Africa and India.
The visas cost €60 (£52) and must be applied between three months and 15 days before travel, by filling out a four-page form.
Those on the “visa free” list include the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Malaysia.
People entering from these countries can stay in the EU for 90 days within any 180 day period.
They must have a passport with three months left on it that was issued within the last 10 years.
However, unlike now within the EU, there is no right to entry and travellers can be questioned by border control about where they are staying or if they have return tickets booked.
While it’s unlikely that it will be ruled that the UK has to apply for visas, movement around the EU will be limited as opposed to the way that it is now.
The EU said: “You can come as a tourist, to visit friends or family, to attend cultural or sports events or exchanges, business meetings, for journalistic or media purposes, medical treatment, for short-term studies or training and any similar activities.
“However, the visa waiver does not apply to persons travelling for the purpose of carrying out a paid activity in the Member States, i.e. for those who come to work in the EU.”
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There have been fears that it would become harder for people to go on holiday to Europe after the UK leaves the EU.
However Spanish officials meet with UK tour operators last week to draw up a contingency plan so that UK citizens can head to Spain on holiday with the ease they do now - even in the event of a no-deal.
The EU previously threatened to ground all UK flights after Brexit, which could cause misery for British holidaymakers.