New Requirements for Travellers to the EU
The European Union will be introducing a visa waiver for residents of most non-EU countries entering the EU from early next year, planned from May 2025.
The need for a visa waiver includes UK residents holidaying in the union and will cost €7 per person. The fee will apply to anyone between the ages of 18 and 70, but the waiver will be free for children and the over-70s.
Under the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), travellers are required to apply for a visa waiver that will be valid for 3 years, or until their existing passport expires.
Applications for an ETIAS visa waiver will be via a form on the ETIAS website or a mobile app. The form will take no more than 10 minutes to complete.
Travellers from the following countries will be exempt from the scheme, Ireland, Cyprus, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
A further new scheme for entry into the EU is expected to start in November this year. The Entry/Exit Scheme (EES), will require all travellers entering the EU to register fingerprints and a photo instead of having their passport stamped.
Full information can be found on the EU’s ETIAS and EES websites by clicking the links below.
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