Later this year Brits will have to pay a £7 fee to enter the Schengen area, which includes popular holiday destinations such as France, Spain and Greece, under a new visa waiver scheme. The European Commission is launching the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) which will be mandatory for non-EU nationals who do not require a visa for the EU area.
The aim of ETIAS is to increase security of EU countries, monitor visitors and reduce bureaucracy and delays at borders. It will mean UK travellers will have to apply for a digital visa waiver before they travel, which will cost seven euros (around £6.20).
ETIAS is expected to be rolled out in November. There will be an application form which will include basic personal information and passport details, which can be completed on the official website or on the app.
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The visa waiver will be linked to your passport and it will last for three years, or until your travel document expires. Once authorisation is granted, UK travellers can stay in the EU for up to 90 days in each 180 day period.
Brits will need the visa waiver in order to enter countries within the Schengen area. Below is a full list of countries which will require UK travellers to have the ETIAS.
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- the Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- the Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Romania
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