Exact date £6 'visa' to enter Europe comes into force for British travellers

01 January 2024 , 20:03

495     0

Border Force check the passports of passengers arriving at Gatwick Airport (Image: Getty Images)

The introduction of a new permit necessary for UK citizens to travel to selected European countries will be delayed until 2025 due to technical issues.

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which will cost around £7, will cross-check traveller's details with other EU systems to boost security. This means that holidaymakers who forget to get their ETIAS might not have enough time to secure one before their trip.

But unforeseen hiccups have led to it being delayed until Spring of next year at least. Meanwhile, a new EU digital border system requiring fingerprints and facial scans from British travellers is expected to launch in autumn 2024. The EU Council stated: "The new roadmap for the delivery of the new IT architecture foresees that the Entry/Exit system will be ready to enter into operation in Autumn 2024 and that ETIAS will be ready to enter into operation in Spring 2025."

Most of the nation will have to pay for the ETIAS permit, but it will be free for those over 70 and under 18, reports Bristol Live. The EU stated: "Recent security concerns with terrorism and the migrant crisis have called for better management of who is entering EU borders. The EU has continuously declared its goal of making travelling within its borders a more secure experience. To reduce procedures and wait times and address security concerns, the European Commission (EC) has come up with a solution ETIAS."

"The ETIAS will undergo a detailed security check of each applicant to determine whether they can be allowed to enter any Schengen Zone country. While citizens of countries who do not need a visa for travel purposes of up to 90 days in the EU do not need to go through a long process of applying for the visa, the ETIAS will make sure that these people are not a security threat."

UK and EU reach customs deal that could end Northern Ireland logjam, says report

* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]

Ben Hurst