EU Travelers Set to Bear €7 Fee Upon Visiting UK; Examining the Functionality of the EU Visa Waiver Programme for Summer 2022

The European Union is set to introduce a new visa waiver scheme called the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias), affecting 1.4 billion people from more than 60 countries. This includes UK citizens, who will be required to have a travel authorisation to enter 30 European countries for a short visit.

The Etias is expected to begin in the first half of 2025, according to EU officials. Once introduced, more than 95% of applications will be approved automatically within minutes, making the process quick and efficient for most travellers. However, in some cases, it may take up to 72 hours for an application to be approved.

The fee for the Etias will apply to anyone between the ages of 18 and 70. UK citizens travelling to the EU next summer will have to pay €7 (about £6) as part of the Etias. Travellers under 18 or over 70 will be exempt from the charge.

The Etias will last for three years and allow an unlimited number of visits. Applications for the Etias can be made online or via a mobile app, and the application form will take around 10 minutes to complete. It will require passport information, employment details, any criminal convictions, and medical conditions.

The introduction of the Etias is the responsibility of the European Union institutions, primarily the European Commission, which proposes such measures, while the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union approve and implement them. The EU is planning a six-month "transitional period" after the Etias is introduced, during which travellers will be expected to apply for the waiver but will not be refused entry at the border if they do not have it but fulfil other entry conditions.

The Etias will affect holidaymakers travelling during the May half-term and the summer holidays next year. It will change the current rule that allows UK citizens to visit the EU's borderless Schengen area for up to 90 days every 180 days without a visa. However, visiting Ireland or Turkey will not require an Etias authorisation.

Longer stays in the EU will require a visa under the Etias. The new visa waiver scheme aims to strengthen the EU's borders and improve security by screening travellers before they arrive. The Etias will apply to 30 countries in Europe, including France, Spain, and Germany.

It's important to note that applications for the Etias could be denied. Travellers are encouraged to apply for the waiver well in advance of their trip to ensure they can enter the EU without any issues. The Etias will require holidaymakers and business travellers to apply and pay for the waiver before they jet off, making it an essential part of travel planning for those visiting Europe in the near future.