Under current plans in Brussels, British travellers to the European Union and the wider Schengen area will be required to apply for a permit online in advance from November 2025.
EU officials have confirmed that the long-delayed “entry-exit system” will come into effect on November 10, 2024. From that date, every British traveler entering the Schengen area will, in theory at least, have to provide fingerprints and facial biometrics. (The requirement does not apply to British visitors to Ireland and Cyprus, who are in the European Union but outside Schengen.)
Six months after EES enters into force, i.e. in May 2025 according to the latest planning, the Electronic Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will be launched.
What is Etias?
British travellers and travellers from all other “visa-free third countries” (as the UK has chosen to become after Brexit) will have to provide advance information so that border officials know more about them upon arrival – and to identify the people the EU wants to keep out.
ETIAS, the next step in tightening border controls, is an online authorisation system similar to the US ESTA system (but cheaper at €7/£6 and valid for longer: three years or until the passport expires three months, whichever comes first).
“British nationals must have a valid ETIAS travel authorisation if they travel for a short stay (90 days in any 180-day period) to any of the European countries for which ETIAS is required,” the EU said.
“The main function is to verify whether a third-country national meets the entry requirements before travelling to the Schengen area.” The zone covers almost the entire EU (except Ireland and Cyprus) plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
When do I need one?
The European Union says: “From the first half of 2025, around 1.4 billion people from more than 60 visa-exempt countries will need a travel permit to enter most European countries.”
That sounds ominous for British travellers to Europe in the summer of 2025. But thankfully, the ‘mandatory’ part of that statement is not correct.
The EU also says: “The launch of ETIAS in mid-2025 will be followed by a transition period of at least six months. This means that travellers will already be required to apply for their ETIAS travel authorisation for travel during this period, but those without such authorisation will not be refused as long as they meet all remaining entry conditions.”
These conditions are in principle the existing requirements for the validity of a passport:
It will therefore only be mandatory for potential visitors to the UK to apply online for permission to enter the Schengen area from November 2025.
How can I apply?
The heart of the system is an ETIAS website. An app will follow (all apps now posing as official EU ETIAS apps are scams).
Travelers must provide personal information including name, address, contact details in Europe and passport details. They must also provide an occupation (with job title and employer). Students must provide the name of their educational institution.
The applicant must provide details of any serious convictions within the past 20 years.
Travelers must also state the reason for their trip (holiday, business, visiting family, etc.), indicate which Schengen country they will be arriving in first, and provide the address of their first overnight stay. This can be a problem for tourists who like to make plans on the go.
It is likely that the traveler will not be expected to update the information on subsequent trips.
The fee is €7 (£6) for all applicants aged between 18 and 70. People under 18 or over 70 must still apply for and hold an ETIAS, but do not have to pay.
What happens to the information?
Each application is checked against the EU and relevant Interpol databases, as well as a “special ETIAS watchlist”.
The system is designed to identify individuals suspected of involvement in terrorism, armed robbery, child pornography, fraud, money laundering, cybercrime, human trafficking, trafficking in endangered species, counterfeiting and industrial espionage.
Can I appeal if there is a case of mistaken identity?
Yes. If you are suspected of one or more of the above offences, but have in fact led a blameless life, you may plead your case. Details of how to appeal will be included with the denial notice.
How far in advance do I need to register?
The intention is that an ETIAS application will be approved within a few minutes in most cases. However, even a simple application can take up to four days.
If an application is flagged (i.e. there is a “hit” with one of the databases), the potential visitor may be asked to provide additional information. Alternatively, the EU says, the applicant may be asked “to participate in an interview with national authorities, which may take up to 30 additional days”.
The European Union says: “We strongly recommend that you obtain ETIAS travel authorisation before purchasing your tickets and booking your hotels.”
If I get an ETIAS, do I need to print anything?
No. The border guard will obtain all necessary information from the passport with which you applied for your ETIAS.
Is ETIAS a visa?
This answer to this FAQ depends on your interpretation of the semantics. Officially, it is the exact opposite of a visa. Europe says that ETIAS is “a pre-travel authorization system for visa-exempt travelers.” It is a similar concept to the US ESTA and Canadian eTA, which are not technically visas.
But ETIAS requires that visitors:
So I’m saying it comes down to a normal person’s view of a visa.
Does an ETIAS card entitle me to access the Schengen area?
No. “Mere possession of a travel authorization does not automatically entitle you to enter,” the EU says. As in the US, travelers can be turned away for any reason, with their ETIAS authorization revoked.
Do I need to apply for an ETIAS card every time I travel to Europe?
No. The permit is valid for three years, or until your passport expires three months before its expiry date, whichever comes first. (Also note that British passports must not be more than 10 years old on the date of entry into the European Union.)
Do I need an ETIAS when travelling to Ireland?
No. Ireland is not part of the Schengen area and the Common Travel Area, which includes the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, overrides European Union rules.
Do I need to apply for an ETIAS if I have a long-stay permit from an EU country?
No.
How can people without internet access apply?
They are expected to enlist the help of a friend, family member or travel agent to apply for them, much like the US ESTA and similar schemes.
Can you remind us of the 90/180 day rule?
This rule, which the UK wanted to adhere to after leaving the European Union, means that British travellers may not stay for more than 90 days in any 180-day period.
An example of what this means: if you were to spend the first 90 days of 2025 (January, February and almost all of March) in the Schengen area, you would not be able to return until the end of June.
Will the UK be punished for Brexit?
No. Work on strengthening the European Union’s external border was already underway before the UK referendum on membership in June 2016. Initially, British officials took part in the plans for the entry and exit system.
Neither the EES nor ETIAS would be relevant if the UK were still in the EU. But the country voted to leave the European Union and the British government negotiated how to classify British travellers as third-country nationals, adding to the bureaucracy.
Will Etias become the next online scam?
Yes. As with other online travel permits, commercial intermediaries are allowed.
But according to Frontex – the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, which implements ETIAS – there are many scam sites that are likely to charge fees well above the base price of €7 (£6).
Any site other than europa.eu/etias is unofficial and should not be trusted.
One ‘scam site’ claims to have processed 671 applications. This is impossible, as no applications have been processed anywhere.
Another site offers 40 percent off for early applications. Some use the EU logo, which is illegal.
Frontex also warns of the risk of identity fraud if personal information is provided to counterfeit sites.