British tourists have been given a 30-day warning if they are flying out to various European countries next year. Most UK nationals opt to hop across to the mainland for the sun, sand, sea and cheap hotel deals.
But, reports state that this summer may be the last before a new policy takes effect in 30 different countries – and it affects British holidaymakers. You will need additional documentation when travelling to any nation taking part from 2024.
The countries affected include popular spots like Spain, Greece and Italy. Next summer, anyone travelling from the UK to one of the countries without the documents will be turned back.
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The ETIAS, which stands for European Travel Information and Authorisation System, is an electronic pass linked to each traveller's passport. Holidaymakers could be asked by security officials to provide extra information or documents, or even go to an interview with national authorities to get the pass, reports Birmingham Live.
Official guidance has wanted that it could take as long as 30 days to get the travel permit. So you should sort out your ETIAS well in advance of your flights or train journey.
The EU's ETIAS website warns: "We strongly advise you to obtain the ETIAS travel authorisation before you buy your tickets and book your hotels. Most applications will be processed within minutes and at the latest within 96 hours.
"However, some applicants may be asked to provide additional information or documentation or to participate in an interview with national authorities, which may take up to an additional 30 days."
Passports can be used while applying, as long as the document is "valid for more than three months after the intended date of departure from the territory of the European countries requiring ETIAS and should not be older than 10 years."
Officials have announced ETIAS will cost just over £6 per person and can be paid via debit or credit card at the time of purchase. It will work in a similar way to the ESTA service in the United States.
The EU added: "You can apply for an ETIAS travel authorisation yourself by filling in and submitting an application, or you can authorise somebody else to do this for you, e.g. a friend, a family member or a commercial intermediary such as a travel agency. You will need to have a valid travel document and pay a EUR 7 application fee (£6 GBP).
"We advise you not to travel with a document that will expire soon. While it is possible to apply for an ETIAS travel authorisation using a travel document which is valid for less than three months from the date you submit the application, you should be aware that you will be refused entry at the border, unless you have very good reasons to be accepted (for example humanitarian grounds)."
You can not yet apply for the documents, but the ETIAS scheme is believed to be in the works to launch ahead of the 2024 summer season – though this has not yet been confirmed.
European countries that are not part of the Schengen Area but will require an ETIAS include:
- Bulgaria
- Cyprus
- Romania
The Schengen countries requiring ETIAS include:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Czech Republic
- Croatia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
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