British holidaymakers planning a trip to Europe next year will need to consider new entry requirements being introduced in countries like Spain, Greece and France.
As of 2025, UK tourists will need to get a travel permit to visit EU countries on holiday. The new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will operate in a similar way to the ESTA system used in the US.
Brits and other non-EU residents will need to acquire travel authorisation to enter the Schengen Zone, which is made up of 27 European countries, by applying online or through an app. Applications, which cost £6 to send, will be checked against EU border and security logs and most people will be approved within a few minutes.
Read more: Two major changes for all UK tourists visiting Spain including mandatory £6 charge
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However, applications that flag up irregularities will require further checks and these could take up to 30 days to carry out. Travellers will not be allowed to enter the Schengen Zone without the necessary permit, so holidaymakers will be urged to obtain their ETIAS authorisation before buying plane tickets or booking hotels.
ETIAS is set to launch in mid-2025 and holidaymakers won't be required to get authorisation until the online system is up and running. The permit will last for three years - or until the person's passport expires if that date is sooner - and will then need to be renewed for future travel.
People aged under 18 or over 70 won't need to pay to apply, however everyone else will have to pay £6 for each application. The form is expected to take around ten minutes to complete.
Another new EU system being rolled out in 2024 will change the way that travellers are processed at the airport while abroad. The Entry/Exit System (EES) is scheduled to launch on October 6 and will put an end to manual passport stamping in favour of self-scanning the document at an automated self-service kiosk.
The new scanners will register a person's name and their biometric data including fingerprints and facial image, plus the date and location of entry and exit.
Planning your next holiday abroad? Browse deals on package holidays on the Travel Republic website. If you're looking for a good deal on luggage, luxury suitcase brand Antler is offering half price off its Ryanair and Jet2-approved Prestwick Cabin Bag, now £85 in the sale.
