So, you know when we told you that British passport holders would have to pay for a visa to visit Europe later this year? Well, that’s no longer true. It’s been revealed this week that Brits won’t need to do that until April 2027, at the earliest.
The European entry/exit system (EES) has been pushed back, yet again and because of that, so has the Electronic Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which can only take effect six months after EES.
Informally referred to as a ‘euro-visa’, once it’s put in place the ETIAS will require British passport holders to apply and pay for a three-year visa waiver (kind of like the US’s ESTA) to travel into the Schengen Area. That’s Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein plus all EU countries except Ireland and Cyprus.
ETIAS can’t happen until EES is launched across the whole Schnengen Area. That was meant to happen on November 10, 2024 but was delayed when it became clear the tech wasn’t ready.
Now, the Independent has uncovered further developments in the EES saga. Rather than waiting to roll out the technology in one ‘big bang’, the EU has proposed implementing it gradually. It’s hoped that this way, the Entry/Exit System will be up and running throughout the Schengen Area by 2026.
When it comes to the euro-visa, the EU says: ‘Starting six months after EES, some 1.4 billion people from 59 visa-exempt countries and territories are required to have a travel authorisation to enter most European countries.’
But when that happens, it will be on a voluntary basis. It won’t be until another six months later that all Brits will officially require a £6 ETIAS. By those calculations, most of us can expect to start paying for the euro-visa from April 2027 onwards.
Phew! It’s a lot of digest, we know. To get a better grasp of the whole EES/ ETIAS situation, have a look at our comprehensive guide here.
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