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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Nadia Breen

UK travel: Visa waiver plans for holidaymakers entering European countries delayed to 2024

The expected date UK nationals will need to apply for a ETIAS travel authorisation from in order to enter a number of European countries has changed.

It had been expected the rule would come into place in November 2023, but it has now been delayed to 2024.

The date had also been pushed back previously.

Read more: Sun destinations you can fly to from Belfast as new routes announced

The EU's ETIAS website says : "It is expected that the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will be operational in 2024."

The application fee for the visa waiver is set to be €7 but travellers under the age of 18 or over the age of 70 are exempt from the payment.

What is an ETIAS?

The EU's ETIAS website says: "ETIAS travel authorisation is an entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling to any of these 30 European countries. It is linked to a traveller’s passport. It is valid for up to three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. If you get a new passport, you need to get a new ETIAS travel authorisation.

"With a valid ETIAS travel authorisation, you can enter the territory of these European countries as often as you want for short-term stays - normally for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

"However, it does not guarantee entry. When you arrive, a border guard will ask to see your passport and other documents and verify that you meet the entry conditions."

The European countries this rule is expected to apply to:

  • Austria

  • Belgium

  • Bulgaria

  • Croatia

  • Cyprus

  • Czech Republic

  • Denmark

  • Estonia

  • Finland

  • France

  • Germany

  • Greece

  • Hungary

  • Iceland

  • Italy

  • Latvia

  • Liechtenstein

  • Lithuania

  • Luxembourg

  • Malta

  • Netherlands

  • Norway

  • Poland

  • Portugal

  • Romania

  • Slovakia

  • Slovenia

  • Spain

  • Sweden

  • Switzerland

Micro-states

It is reported by Schengen Visa Info that ETIAS will also be required if you want to visit these micro-states:

  • Andorra
  • Monaco
  • San Marino
  • Vatican City

ETIAS is now expected to be launched in 2024. For more info and FAQs, CLICK HERE.

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