Brits are expected to need to pay for a visa waiver to enter 30 European countries from the end of 2023
The EU is launching the ETIAS travel authorisation for travellers from countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA) to enter the Schengen Zone made up of EU and EEA countries.
Since Brexit, the UK is no longer in the EU or EEA, so once ETIAS is launched, UK passport holders will need to get ETIAS travel authorisation to travel to the 30 countries visa-free. It will let Brits to keep to the same arrangements that they currently have for travel into the Schengen Zone, which allows them to enter visa-free for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.
Read more: Cost of British passport is set to rise by £7 - and the wait will be longer too
"You must be in possession of a valid ETIAS travel authorisation during your entire stay," the EU says.
"You can leave and come back at any time, as long as you respect this time limit."
Once the scheme is active, an ETIAS waiver will be valid for three years.
"ETIAS is expected to be operational in November 2023," says the EU's European Commission, although the launch has been delayed a few times already.
A small fee, expected to be around €7, will be charged upon application. Around 95% of applicants can expect their ETIAS visa waivers to be approved "within a few minutes", the EU says.
The European Countries Brits will need to pay for ETIAS visa waiver to travel to
Once ETIAS is launched, there will be 30 countries that UK Passport Holders need an ETIAS visa-waiver to travel to for tourism purposes.
The European Commission says they include Schengen countries plus those that are in the process of joining.
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
Brits will not need an ETIAS visa waiver to travel to the Republic of Ireland as it is not in the Schengen Zone and shares a common travel area with the UK.
ETIAS will not allow UK passport holders to live and work in the 30 countries mentioned above, visas are or may be required for that.
Read next:
Travel rule changes for British holidaymakers across Europe - from visas to tourist tax
Northern Rail sale includes one of the world’s most scenic train journeys for £4
Ryanair, EasyJet, AerLingus hand luggage allowance vs 'small personal item' limit
All travellers should have this essential document before jetting off on a European holiday
Travellers warned of eight holiday scams you need to watch out for when booking trips
