UK visitors entering EU nations, including holiday resorts, will soon need a visa to get into the bloc. Applicants will have to satisfy strict health and security guidelines to obtain the ETIAS visa (European Travel Information and Authorization System) and pay seven euros.
The system is expected to be fully operational within months. It will keep track of, and update necessary information about visitors to determine whether it is safe for them to enter Schengen countries.
The system will cross-check travellers against EU information systems for internal security, borders and migration before their trip, helping to identify ahead of time people who may pose a risk to security or health, as well as compliance with migration rules.
The set-up of ETIAS forms part of the EU’s ongoing work to create a state-of-the-art external border management system. Applicants will will asked to confirm information about a person's criminal record and if they have ever been asked to leave an EU country by officials.
Airlines will also be required to check a traveller's status before they are allowed to board a plane.
The European Commission states forms will be simple, fast and affordable with the seven euros one-off authorisation fee valid for three years. British citizens will be allowed to enter the Schengen member states as many times as they wish, for as long as the ETIAS is valid, and they have not stayed more than 90 days in a 180-day period
The scheme is expected to cover 60 countries, including the UK, Australia and the US. However, any ETIAS application can be denied, if:
- The person applying has used a travel document that is reported as lost, stolen, misappropriated or invalidated in the Schengen Information System – SIS II.
- The applicant poses a security risk for the citizens and travellers of the Schengen Area.
- The applicant poses an illegal immigration risk.
- The applicant poses a high epidemic risk.
- An applicant is a person for whom there is an existing alert in SIS for the purpose of refusing entry and stay.
- The applicant fails to reply to a request for extra information or documentation within the deadline given.
- The applicant fails to attend an extra interview when required.
A travel authorisation can also be rejected in cases where there are reasonable and serious doubts about the authenticity of the information given and the supporting documents.
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