A new travel fee has emerged that will apply to tourists travelling to top holiday destinations like Greece, Croatia, Italy, Spain, France and Portugal will soon get more expensive.
Holidaymakers are facing a €7 travel fee that will be brought in to enter the countries.
The entry fee comes as the European Union introduces a new visa-waiver form for non-EU countries, meaning visitors will need to pay an extra €7 for a visa-waiver form ahead of entry to member countries.
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Just like an ESTA visa is needed for travel to the US.
The good news is that the European Union has delayed launching its €7 travel fee for tourists on holiday until late 2023.
The European travel information and authorisation system was initially expected to come into operation next month, but has since been pushed back until next year.
It’s not the only rule faced by UK tourists in Spain, as British tourists may be asked to prove that they can spend at least €100 per day.
Under post-Brexit rules, Spanish officials can ask travellers to show that they have ‘economic resources’ to cover the cost of their trip, and if they have a minimum of €900 spending money for the duration of their stay.
Officials will accept proof including foreign currency, traveller's cheques, cash, payment letters or credit card allowances.
In addition, UK tourists may be asked to show proof of a return or single ticket, and evidence that they have a place to stay during their time in the country.
Will Irish tourists have to pay?
Irish tourists won’t have to pay the €7 travel fee to enter Spain, or any other countries.
Under the system, anyone travelling from the UK to one of 26 Schengen States will have to apply via an official website/app prior to the operational launch of ETAS, handing over €7 for their trouble.
Following the completion of an online application form, the system will in turn conduct checks against EU systematic information for borders and security.
In most cases, a travel authorisation will be issued in minutes, but more investigative occurrences, where further checks on travelling parties are necessary, clearance could take up to 30 days, Chronicle Live reports.
According to the European Commission, 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."
The new charge will apply to anyone aged from 18 to 70. Each application will last for three years.
The 26 countries of the Schengen area
- 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
- Switzerland
The rules for UK tourists have been hit with criticism with many tourists unhappy with the rules.
One disgruntled tourist took to Twitter in response to the €7 fee and said: "I will not be going to Greece, France, Portugal or Spain. Spend my hard earned money elsewhere"
While a second said: "The UK should charge the same for people to visit here."
Manuel Butler, Spanish Tourist Office director (UK), said: "The requirement for UK travellers to be able to illustrate sufficient means for the duration of their stay and the return is established in the Schengen Borders Code and is not a Spain-specific requirement."
Mr Butler added: "This is not a new requirement and has been in place for some time for visitors from outside of the European Union or Schengen area."
The UK government plans to implement an Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme, which obliges visitors to apply for permission in order to visit the country, including European visitors.
More specifically, the new scheme intends to establish a ‘contactless’ border crossing from 2024, meaning that some passengers will be able to enter the country exempted from using an electronic passport gate or speaking to the Border Force officer, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
The UK scheme will aim to reduce the waiting time, visitors will have to upload a photo of themselves and send it to the Home Office before their trip.
In 2023, the Home Office will start introducing a ‘Permission to Travel’ scheme, with everyone wanting to travel being required to present permission.
The UK and Irish passport holders will be exempted from the requirements, but everyone else will need to apply for a visa or ‘Electronic Travel Authorisation.’
The scheme will be on trial from March 2023 with visitors from Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Bahrain, before it is potentially introduced to all worldwide visitors by the end of 2023.
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