EU officials have confirmed that Britons travelling to Europe next summer will need to apply for a visa waiver.
The visa waiver will cost €7 for people aged 18-70. There will be no charge for children and those over 70.
It will last for three years, or until the holder’s passport expires, whichever comes first.
Passengers will apply online or via a mobile app and most applications will be approved within minutes, say officials, although they have warned it might take up to 72 hours or even up to a month for more complex cases.
As part of the application process, ‘full disclosure’ is required regarding an applicant’s background, including travel history and any criminal record.
EU Home Affairs Minister Ylva Johansson said the visa waiver, officially called the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will follow the implementation of the automated EU Entry/Exit System (EES), which she has confirmed will launch on 10 November 2024 following years of delays.
She said introduction of the ETIAS will follow six months later, meaning it should be in place by mid-May 2025.
When the EES comes into force in the autumn, travellers with non-EU passports, including those travelling on British passports, will need to register their fingerprint and have their photo taken the first time they cross the border.
The new system is expected to lead to delays on arrival at EU airports and ports as it will take border guards up to two minutes longer to process each passenger.