European Union Impose A Visa Waiver On British Citizens
The European Union is planning to introduce an EU visa waiver for some non-EU citizens, including British Citizens in the Summer of 2025.
New rules stipulate that visitors from a list of non-EU countries, including the UK, will need to apply for a waiver, similar to a United States Esta, before travelling to 30 countries in Europe. The waiver will cover travel to the Schengen area, which includes every EU state except for Ireland and Cyprus, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Here’s some information you will need to know about how the new scheme will operate and when it will start:
How will the new EU visa waiver scheme work?
The new scheme will be called the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, shortened to ETIAS.
As it stands, visitors from the United Kingdom can visit the EU’s borderless Schengen area for up to 90 days, every 180 days, without a visa. However, under the ETIAS scheme, this will change.
Visitors from the non-EU countries on the list, including those from the United Kingdom, will need to apply for a visa waiver to travel to the EU for the same duration of 90 days every 180 days. Longer stays will require a visa.
The document will be checked by border guards when crossing the EU border and the full list of non-EU countries eligible for ETIAS is published by the EU.
The visa waiver will last for three years and allow an unlimited number of visits, but it will be linked to your passport, so if your passport expires in less than three years, you will need to apply for a new ETIAS when you get a new one.
How much will it be to apply for the ETIAS?
The ETIAS visa waiver will cost €7 (£6) for most people, which the EU Commission says is “way cheaper” than the US Esta, which costs $14 (€12.50; £10.75) and this fee will apply to anyone between the ages of 18 and 70. There will be no waiver fee cost for the age groups above and below this.
When could the ETIAS scheme start?
The EU has not announced a firm start date for the star of the visa waiver scheme yet, with the EU website alluding to a start date in the first half of 2025.
However, the EU says the ETIAS requirement will not be enforced for a period of “at least six months” at first, although it recommends all visitors apply for a visa waiver. A Home Office spokesperson said the UK expects the EU to provide more information on the rollout of the scheme “in due course”.
How will waiver applications work?
All eligible passengers will need to apply online or via a mobile app. The form – which the EU describes as a “necessary and small procedural step” – will take around 10 minutes to complete, authorities say.
The details needed for the application form will include passport information as well as background questions about criminal records and medical conditions. It is claimed that more than 95% of applications will be approved automatically within minutes, the EU says. However, it warns that in some cases may take up to 72 hours.
Applications may also be denied or take up to four weeks to process in exceptional circumstances.
How about a Staycation?
With this latest news adding more to ever increasing holiday costs, it could be time to consider a Staycation, here in the United Kingdom. You can also read 14 more reasons as to why it’s time to try a staycation.
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