UK citizens will soon be required to pay a €7 visa-waiver fee when travelling to the EU as the European Union prepares to implement the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias).

This system, expected to come into effect by May 2025, will mandate that UK travellers and those from other visa-exempt countries like the US, Australia, and Canada obtain travel authorisation before entering the Schengen area, which is a border-free zone for EU citizens. The waiver, valid for three years or until the passport expires, mirrors the US ESTA system.

The EU has also announced that its delayed Entry/Exit System (EES) for Schengen countries will launch on 10 November 2024. This will require biometric information, such as fingerprints and facial scans, to be provided at the border, aiming to prevent the use of fake passports by criminals or terrorists.

The EES will impact travel through major UK entry points, including the Port of Dover, Folkestone’s LeShuttle, and London’s St Pancras Eurostar terminal.

Children under 18 and adults over 70 will be exempt from the Etias charge. The requirement does not apply to those travelling to Ireland or Cyprus, as they are outside the Schengen area.

Most visa waiver applications will be processed within minutes, although some may take up to 72 hours. Following the introduction of Etias, a six-month transitional period will allow travellers to adjust to the new system without immediate risk of entry refusal.

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