Travel
UK tourists will have to pay to visit Europe next year under new visa rules
The new system will come into force next year
UK tourists will have to pay to enter Europe next year thanks to the introduction of a new visa system.
Travellers will have to pay a fee for a European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), an electronic permit designed to enhance security and enforce the borders of the Schengen zone.
The ETIAS will be required for anyone over the age of eighteen and under the age of seventy travelling to a European country, whether it be by airplane, boat or car.
It will even be required for those only transiting through Europe.
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The visa applications will ask questions regarding identity, passports, education, jobs, recent travel and any criminal convictions.
This new visa system will also replace the current system of passports being stamped, with the new visa documents to be scanned electronically instead.
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ETIAS registration is set to become mandatory in 2023, though there will be a six month transition period to allow travellers to become familiar with the new entry requirements.
The application form is said to be relatively straight forward, and it estimated to take around ten minutes to complete online. It must be completed at least ninety-six hours before departure.
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An ETIAS will reportedly cost €7 (£5), with successful applicants being permitted to travel within the Schengen Zone for up to ninety days per 180-day period.
The visa will remain valid for three years and for multiple trips to Europe, with people who apply during the transition period being permitted to use the permit for the next three years, unless their passport expires.
For more information and to see if you’re eligible to apply for the new ETIAS visa, visit the official ETIAS website here.