Latest news with #Etias
Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
British tourists face price hikes for holidays to Europe under planned EU travel policy
Holidays to Europe will cost more if EU proposals to increase its planned entry fee go ahead. Currently, plans are for holidaymakers from outside the bloc to pay €7 (£5.98) for an online permit when entering as part of the Etias scheme. The system is due to be rolled out from next year, following the introduction of the Entry/Exit System, which will eventually require biometric data to be provided at the border. But the European Union is considering raising the price to help with repayments on a €350 billion (£299 billion) debt used to fund the post-Covid recovery, according to Politico. Etias, which stands for European Travel Information and Authorisation System, is emerging as one of the most popular tax options ahead of budget proposals next month, the publication said. This would be a further blow to Brits, who already face longer queues and more red tape since Brexit. 'A possible adjustment of the fee' is being considered, a European Commission spokesperson told Politico. And a note seen by the website saw the Polish rotating Council presidency write: 'It seems that there is a possibility of a gradual increase of the fee, strengthening the long-term revenue potential.' The Mail has contacted the European Commission for comment. The proposed €7 fee is cheaper than the £16 charged to apply for the UK's version, the Electronic Travel Authorisation, or the $21 (£15.60) price of the Electronic System for Travel Authorization used by the US. The news comes at a time of softening of relations between the UK and EU, with hopes that tourists will face easier experiences at passport control and suffer less bureaucracy on the continent. British tourists have begun using e-gates at Faro Airport after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed an agreement with EU leaders last month. However, they are still facing queues of nearly half an hour. Mark Francois, Conservative MP for Rayleigh and Wickford as well as chairman of the European Research Group of Tory Brexiteers, is unhappy with any potential price rise for the Etias. 'This just adds insult to injury over the Government's so-called Brexit reset,' he told GB News. 'Not only has it become apparent that promises of British tourists being fast-tracked through e-gates in EU countries were largely illusory, even when they do get through immigration, they will now pay extra for the privilege.'
TTG
28-05-2025
- Business
- TTG
All change: how and why travel to Europe is poised for a reset
by Gary Noakes Despite recent efforts to forge closer post-Brexit ties between the UK and the EU, a new reality for British travellers awaits with biometric checks and visa waivers on the horizon. Gary Noakes reports. You could argue it's only a passport stamp on arrival during the annual trip to Spain that's altered the travel experience for most people following Brexit. But starting this year, and particularly in 2026 – 10 years after the Brexit vote – it will be very different with the launch of two electronic screening systems: the European Entry-Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias) visa waiver. Two other changes are likely. By next year, we might see results of efforts to restore the right to work abroad in the EU, so-called posted working, and to open cross-Channel rail services to competition. The EU says EES is 'expected to start' in October after years of delays. EES means every arrival from the UK into an EU airport, apart from those in Ireland and Cyprus, must provide biometric facial and fingerprint data, which is expected to increase individual processing times to several minutes. Checks will also be carried out at Dover (for ferries), at London St Pancras station (for Eurostar) and at Folkestone (for Le Shuttle). Late arrival of screening equipment meant the planned introduction of EES this summer was postponed. This April, EU ministers voted for a phased six-month introduction, starting in the autumn. The industry awaits details, but the European Commission has promised several months' notice. It has confirmed the phased start will require member states to process 10% of passengers via EES from day one, 'followed by up to 50% by day 90, and 100% by the end of the 180 days'. However, the commission added: 'During the roll-out period, the launch could be temporarily suspended if waiting times become too long or there are technical issues.' Airports Council International Europe (ACI), whose members account for 95% of air traffic in the region, insists it is well prepared. 'All our airports are ready,' said a spokesperson, albeit while adding: 'In some cases, member states' border authorities will be lacking human resources – border guards – but this is not under the direct control of the airport managing body.' ACI added the IT system central to EES 'is not yet fully stable', but stressed: 'If everything goes well, the European Commission will decide on the start date by the end of July.' Spain will bear the brunt of any delays, given its passenger volume. A Spanish Tourist Office spokesperson said installation of EES equipment had started in April 2024. However, they warned: 'Full implementation across all airports has been delayed due to technical challenges and coordination issues among EU member states.' The spokesperson said the Spanish government 'has confirmed that later this year, all installations will be completed across the entirety of Spain' but gave no firm date. However, they insisted Spain was 'far more advanced than France, Germany and the Netherlands and will be totally ready by the time the legislation is finally introduced'. Palma is 'fully prepared', they said, as is Murcia's Corvera airport. Tenerife South airport said that 'infrastructure is adapted and prepared in accordance with the requirements currently foreseen'. The port of Santander has been ready 'since October 2024'. On the right track Similarly, Eurostar said it was 'fully prepared and ready', but again, it is reliant on an IT system outside its control. The UK government said Eurostar will have 50 kiosks in three locations, while Eurotunnel will have 'more than 100 kiosks', estimating EES will add 'just over five minutes' to processing times. Dover will have 24 kiosks for coach passengers, and staff will register passengers in cars using tablets. UK nationals currently have patchy access to eGates on the continent, but the European Commission has confirmed 'there will be no legal barriers to eGates use' after the introduction of the EES. EES had been due to be followed six months later by another new system, Etias, a US-style Esta which will be required by all UK travellers aged 18 to 70 travelling to the EU. Again, the EU has altered its previous position, and is now saying Etias will follow 'in the last quarter of 2026'. The EU has said there will also be 'transitional and grace periods', but in a nutshell, most UK travellers will have to apply for their Etias online prior to departure and pay the €7 fee. Like Estas, Etias authorisations will be valid for three years. Continuing campaign Meanwhile, efforts to overcome a major Brexit setback, the ending of 'posted working provisions', have been renewed. Post-Brexit, UK businesses can no longer deploy seasonal workers like reps and chalet hosts in the EU while retaining them on UK payroll. Seasonal Businesses in Travel (SBiT) states overseas travel roles fell 69% after Brexit, but in 2021 it persuaded France's interior minister to let UK chalet staff work there by highlighting the potential effect on mountain areas – something it claims may have saved the UK ski industry. Last month, nearly 70 industry leaders signed a letter urging the UK to pursue youth mobility arrangements like those with Australia and other nations. A Westminster debate is scheduled for 25 July. However, following a summit convened last month to 'reset' the UK's relationship with the EU, the government said: 'We have agreed we will work towards a youth experience scheme' which will be 'time limited, on terms to be mutually agreed', with a limit on the number of participants. Abta wants workers to stay for three years, saying this will give businesses 'confidence and flexibility to plan operations beyond 12-month periods', arguing other schemes are up to three years. However, the recommendation from parliament's business and trade committee is the proposed youth experience scheme allows only one year 'with a limited number of participants' and is 'visa-based'. 'I'm hopeful both the EU and UK see the benefits of a youth mobility scheme,' said Charles Owen, SBiT managing director, who cautioned any deal would not arrive in time for next winter's ski season recruitment. SBiT believes the scheme will be limited to those aged 18-30, and Owen said he hoped visas would be for four years. Opening up the market One final thing may coincide with next year's Brexit anniversary. Since launching in 1994, Eurostar has enjoyed a monopoly on international ex-UK rail services, but this may end. One barrier to competition has been tighter post-Brexit border controls, but once EES and Etias are live, electronic border clearance will mean quicker passenger processing. Another has been accessing Eurostar's maintenance depot near London. Channel Tunnel trains are taller and wider than standard, which means they must use this unique facility. The UK's Office of Rail and Road ruled in April there was sufficient space for new entrants, adding this was a 'critical requirement for more operators to take on the route'. The third factor impeding competition has been the special types of trains used, but many European rail brands now have compatible rolling stock, so the door is open, with one potential entrant into the market being a resurrected Virgin Trains. Maria Cook, general manager of rail holiday specialist Ffestiniog Travel, said around 65% of its packages used Eurostar, and adding more competition 'would be good news for all'. 'Increased capacity, departures and potentially cheaper fares would make rail travel more appealing and affordable,' she said. 'Recent increases in services on the Madrid-Barcelona line have resulted in reduced fares.' If agreed, it will be a while before new services are running. Hopefully by then we will be experiencing seamless entry to Europe once again. Previous Article Blanket travel restrictions 'do more harm than good' – UNWTO Next Article Sail in Greece plans fleet expansion after making waves with the trade
Times
21-05-2025
- Times
When does the Etias scheme start for UK travellers? Everything you need to know
The launch of the EU's European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias) has been postponed until the final quarter of 2026, with the exact date still to be announced. The long delayed visa waiver system is designed to work in conjunction with the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES) to vet visa-exempt visitors for security purposes. It will be a requirement for entry into the 29 Schengen countries plus Cyprus, and will cost €7 (£6). There are some exemptions though. If you're planning a trip to Europe, here's what you need to know. • When will EES start? Full guide to the EU's new Entry/Exit System The Etias is a visa waiver required for entry into the 29 Schengen states plus Cyprus. It is only applicable to those travelling under visa-free travel rules. If you are travelling under a visa or have a residence permit, you won't need to apply for an Etias. The Schengen states are the 29 countries in Europe that have agreed to an open border with each other. At the moment they are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. In addition, the Etias will also be required when visiting Cyprus, which is undergoing the process for joining the Schengen area. The Etias was first proposed in 2016 by the European Commission. The idea was to create a digital vetting system to 'identify security, irregular migration or high epidemic risks posed by visa-exempt visitors travelling to the Schengen States'. The Etias is designed for short stays (up to 90 days in any 180-day period). It is not considered a visa, according to the EU, partly because it's cheaper, quicker and easier to apply for. You don't need to apply at an embassy, for example, and you don't need to share as much information as you might have to for a visa. All you have to do is fill in a form before you travel, pay the fee, and you should usually receive your authorisation within minutes. See below for more details. • What is the EU's new entry system and what will it mean for my holiday?• Is my passport valid for travel to Europe? The Etias is a requirement for citizens of around 60 visa-exempt countries and territories who are travelling to the 30 countries listed above under visa-free travel rules. The list of visa-exempt countries includes the UK as well as: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, El Salvador, Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kosovo, Macao, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Macedonia, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Taiwan, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Uruguay, and Venezuela. If you are a citizen of any of the 30 countries requiring an Etias, or have a residence permit for any of the countries, you will not need a travel authorisation to visit one of the others. And if you are travelling under another type of visa, you won't need to apply for an Etias. An Etias is also not required if you're only transiting and staying in the 'international transit area'. The Schengen countries, as well as Cyprus, require an Etias. Within Europe, countries that don't require the Etias include Albania, Andorra, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ireland, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Ukraine and the Vatican. However, keep in mind that in some cases you may need to travel through a country where it is required (for example, to reach the Vatican you'll need to travel to Italy). Yes, you only need to apply for the Etias once and then you can travel to any of the countries requiring the document while it's valid. However, you can't stay for more than 90 days within any 180 days across all the countries. The new EES system will be able to track your travel to make sure this limit is not exceeded. If you are planning to stay any longer you can apply for a visa. As countries in the Schengen zone have an open border policy, you don't usually need to show your passport when crossing the border between the member states. The system should work in a similar way to the Esta that is used to enter the US. The 'largely automated IT system' will have a digital application form that you'll have to fill in. This will be available through an official website as well as on a mobile app, which have yet to launch. You will need a valid passport to fill in the form, and your passport will have to be less than ten years old, and have at least three months of validity left on it after the end of your stay. As part of the application, you will need to supply the following information: • Personal details including your name, date and place of birth, nationality, home address, parents' first names, email address and phone number• Travel document details• Details about your level of education and current occupation• Details about your intended stay• Details about any criminal convictions, any past travels to war or conflict zones, and whether you have recently been subject of a decision requiring you to leave the territory of any country Once completed, your details will be checked against databases held by EU countries, including immigration and Interpol. In 95 per cent of cases, a travel authorisation should be issued within minutes. It doesn't guarantee your entry into the Schengen zone — your details will still be checked at the border. Some applications may need to be manually checked, which could take up to four days. In some cases, you may be required to attend an interview and this could extend the application process to 30 days. Crucially, the EU now strongly recommends that you apply for your Etias before you buy your ticket or book your accommodation. The final decision will be sent to you via email. Should you be rejected, a reason will be given along with details of the appeal procedure. Before you board your flight, train or another mode of transport, you may be asked to verify whether you have an Etias. On arrival at border control, your Etias authorisation will be checked alongside your passport or other travel documents but you should then be allowed through as normal, assuming all other requirements are met. Your Etias is linked to the passport you used for your application so if you get a new passport you will also need to apply for a new Etias. Everyone travelling under the visa-free agreement is required to apply for an Etias authorisation and a fee of €7 is required for applicants aged between 18 and 70. Those under 18 or over 70 will not have to pay the €7 but will still need to apply. In some cases, family members of EU citizens are also exempt from the fee. An Etias lasts up to three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. It can, however, be revoked any time. The EES system needs to launch first, and this has been delayed several times over the years. Currently the launch date for the EES is scheduled for October 2025, with countries required to roll out the system within a six month period of the launch date. The Etias is meant to roll out six months after the EES, and the EU is currently estimating a launch date in the final three months of 2026. Once the Etias arrives there will be a transitional period of at least six months. Travellers should still apply for an Etias travel authorisation, but those without one will not be refused entry as long as they fulfil remaining entry conditions. Although the Etias scheme is not yet operational, websites offering information and eligibility forms have appeared, many of which look official but are not. Any information on the scheme will come from the EU, and the official website is the most reliable resource to use. It's also worth noting that if any service charges you more than €7 to apply for the Etias, it is not the official website. The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) has now launched in the UK and is required for visitors from certain countries — including most of Europe, Australia, Canada and the US — before they travel to the UK, including children and babies. It costs £10 and is valid for two years (or until you get a new passport). You will need an ETA if you're travelling to the UK for the following reasons: • Up to six months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business or study• Up to three months on the Creative Worker visa concession• Visiting for a permitted paid engagement• Transiting through the UK if going through UK border control You won't need an ETA if you already have a visa for the UK; have permission to live, work or study here; you're a British or Irish passport holder, or travelling on a British overseas territories citizen passport — or if you're transiting and not passing through border control. Residents of Ireland may also be exempt in certain circumstances. Applications can be made on the website or via the dedicated app and you will usually receive a decision within three working days. • How to apply for the UK's electronic travel authorisation (ETA)• Travel insurance guide: everything you need to know
The Independent
12-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
British travellers to Europe won't need a ‘euro-visa' until 2027 thanks to further Brexit red-tape delays
British travellers will not need an online permit to visit the European Union and wider Schengen Area until April 2027 at the earliest. The Independent has studied documents issued in Brussels that reveal a staggered roll-out for the much-delayed Entry/Exit System (EES). The EES was supposed to replace the requirement for 'wet-stamping' of passports. For several months many UK visitors will need to have their passports stamped and biometrics taken, doubling the amount of red tape – and extending queues at airports, railway stations and ferry ports. The Electronic Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias), known informally as a euro-visa, cannot take effect until six months after the EES is working at all Schengen Area frontiers. These include land borders from the Norway-Russia crossing in the Arctic to the Greece-Turkey frontier in southeast Europe, as well as every airport with direct flights from the UK and other non-Schengen nations. The Schengen Area includes all EU nations except Ireland and Cyprus, as well as Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The EES was due to launch with a 'big bang' across all Schengen frontiers on 10 November 2024. But the plan was scrapped one month ahead of the deadline when it became clear that the central database and member states would not be ready. More information was promised 'within weeks' about the next steps – but it is only this month that details of the revised plan have become clear. From information published by the EU Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, The Independent can reveal that the haphazard launch of the EU Entry/Exit System has taken another twist. Brussels has proposed 'a progressive start of operations of the EES,' saying: 'This would give border authorities and the transport industry more time to adjust to the new procedures.' To roll out the system gradually, though, a new regulation must be passed in Brussels – because the original insisted on the 'big bang' introduction. Home Affairs ministers have endorsed this plan, with the European Commission – the EU's civil service – to set a specific date in October 2025 for the EES to begin to be applied. Initially, though, as few as one in 10 frontier posts will be connected to the central database that is at the heart of the EES system, and biometric elements – face and fingerprints – will be only optional for the first two months. By April 2026, it is hoped that the Entry/Exit System will be working across the Schengen Area. The EU says it must be fully functional for six months before Etias is introduced – and then only on a voluntary basis for a further six months. The earliest, therefore, that any British traveller or other 'third-country national' will require an Etias, price €7 (£6), is April 2027. The UK travel industry has spent over £100m on getting ready for the EES, with the Eurotunnel, the Port of Dover and Eurostar installing new equipment and systems. Timeline for EES and Etias October 2025: EU Entry/Exit System starts across at least 10 per cent of frontier posts, with central registration of people crossing the border in or out of the Schengen Area. But the biometric elements – face and fingerprints – will not be mandatory for the first 60 days; it may be that some states do this anyway. Passports continue to be stamped. December 2025: Biometrics become mandatory at frontier posts operating the EES. January 2026: By now, 'member states should operate the Entry/Exit System – with biometric functionalities – at a minimum of half of their border crossing points'. In other words, a majority of visitors are likely to experience 'double red tape': providing EES biometrics but continuing to have passports stamped as well. April 2026: Roll-out of Entry/Exit System should be complete. Only when the EES is running flawlessly across Europe is will passports stop being stamped. October 2026 (or later): Etias may finally come into play. The EU says: 'Etias is expected to follow in the last quarter of 2026.' But for the first six months the will be optional.
The Independent
11-03-2025
- The Independent
Guernsey finally corrects misleading passport rules, four years after Brexit
Four years on from the post- Brexit passport rules taking effect, the government of Guernsey in the Channel Islands has finally stopped issuing misleading advice to citizens about expiry dates for travel to the EU and wider Schengen Area. Until The Independent contacted the authorities on the island, prospective travellers were warned, wrongly, that a British passport is 'valid for travel into Schengen countries for nine years and nine months from its original issue date'. After the vote to leave the European Union, the UK negotiated for citizens to become third-country nationals. As a result, a UK passport must comply with these conditions for travel to the EU and wider Schengen Area: No more than 10 years old on the day of arrival. At least three months remaining on the intended day of return. As The Independent confirmed in 2021, these conditions are independent of each other. Some airlines, travel firms and even the UK government have previously invented their own rule that 'UK passports are not valid for travel to the EU beyond nine years and nine months'. The government of Guernsey even displayed online a photo of a passport that was issued on 15 December 2015 and is valid until 15 September 2026. This document can be used for travel out to the European Union up to 14 December 2025 for a stay of up to 90 days, ie to 15 March 2026. But the island's authorities maintained 'the person's return date back into the UK & Islands' must be before 15 September 2025 – subtracting six months from its actual validity. The misleading information has been taken down. Online advice now refers users to the Foreign Office website, where they can search for their specific destination, and to official EU sources. A spokesperson for the government of Guernsey said: 'The advice we have on our website is provided to help the community ensure they are properly prepared for travel. While certain rules and areas do allow passports to be used for over 10 years, as you have correctly pointed out, many members of our community have previously encountered issues with airlines at check-ins where those airlines do not recognise this is the case and have not been allowed on to their flight. 'Our advice, therefore, is aimed to help the community ensure they do not encounter these issues. Going forwards we will ensure our websites simply refer people to the FCDO and EU websites.' The Guernsey government also says that travellers 'will need a visa to travel to Europe in 2025'. This is a reference to Etias, the Electronic Travel Information and Authorisation System – a proposed permit for visitors to the Schengen Area. But as The Independent has informed the island's authorities, there is no possibility that anyone from the UK or the Channel Islands will need an Etias in 2025 – and it is most unlikely that they will need one in 2026. Before Etias is introduced, it will require the much-postponed EU Entry/Exit System (EES) to be working perfectly across the Schengen Area for at least six months. The latest target date for the introduction of the EES is October 2025, and for Etias 'the last quarter of 2026'. Even when Etias is running, it will be optional for the first six months.
