British citizens will now have to obtain an EU visa waiver before travelling to Europe. It has been announced that the new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias) will apply to most non-EU citizens including British citizens.
The EU visa waver will cost 7 Euros to obtain and allows visitors to travel to the Schengen area for the same duration a visitor can currently travel for, i.e. for up to 90 days every 180 days, for an unlimited number of visits and will be valid for up to 3 years.
The visa waiver will not be a physical document and will be linked electronically to your passport. Whilst this may be a benefit, it means that if your passport expires in less than 3 years from the time your visa waiver is issued, you will need to apply for a new one when you receive your new passport.
Although the EU has announced they intend to roll this out in Summer 2025, they have not confirmed a start date, and they have also stated there will be no enforcement to this rule for at least the first 6 months.
The system is being introduced to strengthen security checks on nationals who are usually free to travel to Europe, and to hone in on the migrant crisis. The EU will use this system as a ‘pre-screening’ process that their border officials could not possibly predict within seconds at the point of entry.
How to apply?
The application will need to made online or via a mobile App. This form has been described as a procedural and administrative step and should not take longer than 10 minutes to complete. You will need access to your passport and you will also be required to disclose your criminal records and medical conditions.
The EU intends for these decisions to be made promptly (i.e. within minutes of submission) and up to 72 hours in straightforward cases.
Where there may be exceptional circumstances, the EU have warned a decision could take as long as 4 weeks.
The Entry/Exit System
The EU also has plans to replace passport stamps with biometric enrolment on 10 November 2024. This system has been enforced to identify individuals abusing the system and using entry to Europe as a way to overstay. It has been warned that this will take a significantly longer time to pass through border security when arriving in Europe.
How Gherson can assist
Gherson’s Immigration Team are highly experienced in advising on UK visa matters. If you have any questions arising from this blog, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice, send us an e-mail, or, alternatively, follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn to stay-up-to-date.
The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please do not hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.
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