Scots planning trips to Europe next year need to be aware of a major change in visa rules following Brexit, that will affect plenty of holiday hotspots including Greece, Spain, Portugal and France.
Why? The Schengen area entry rules are set to change from 2023, with a new visa system in place.
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Non-EU tourists will need to apply and pay for a European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) before departing, as reported by Chronicle Live.
The new visa is expected to cost €7 (approximately £6), and will apply to anyone aged 18-70.
It's due to launch next year although no date has yet been confirmed.
To apply, you'll need a passport or equivalent and it's estimated that for the majority of people, their ETIAS will be approved within minutes. However, those who are flagged as a potential risk could face a wait of up to 96 hours.
UK holidaymakers who haven't been authorised may risk being turned away at the border, in a similar system for those who need an ESTA for USA holidays.
The ETIAS system was first proposed back in 2016, before the UK had voted to leave the EU. UK passport holders will not require an ETIAS to visit the Republic of Ireland.
There are currently 26 countries in the Schengen Area, all of which will fall under the new system: Austria, Belgium, 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 and Switzerland.
ETIAS will also apply for countries applying to join the Schengen area such as Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania.
That makes a total of 30 destinations which will require ETIAS for UK visitors.
"ETIAS will be a largely automated IT system created to identify security, irregular migration or high epidemic risks posed by visa-exempt visitors travelling to the Schengen States, whilst at the same time facilitate crossing borders for the vast majority of travellers who do not pose such risks. Non-EU nationals who do not need a visa to travel to the Schengen area will have to apply for a travel authorisation through the ETIAS system prior to their trip", the EU's ETIAS website states.
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