Business travellers, tourists and other travellers from 60 non-EU countries who want to enter the EU will soon have to submit a separate online entry application.
The European Union will start charging visitors – corporate travellers, tourists and other groups – who want to enter the 26 nations of the EU and the Schengen area in May 2023.
According to the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias), travellers from 60 non-EU countries will no longer be allowed to enter the EU free of charge and without a visa for up to 90 days.
The Etias is modelled on the US Esta. The entry fee, which can be paid with a credit or debit card, will cost €7.
Those entering the country will also have to show a valid passport.
British passport holders could be turned away at borders if their ETIAS application is not approved, once the scheme is implemented. And there are a number of reasons people could see their application denied.
According to Schengen Visa Info, applications may be turned down on the following grounds:
The person applying has used a travel document that is reported as lost, stolen, misappropriated or invalidated in the Schengen Information System – SIS II.
The applicant poses a security risk for the citizens and travellers of the Schengen Area.
The applicant poses an illegal immigration risk.
The applicant poses a high epidemic risk.
An applicant is a person for whom there is an existing alert in SIS for the purpose of refusing entry and stay.
The applicant fails to reply to a request for extra information or documentation within the deadline given.
The applicant fails to attend an extra interview when required.
A travel authorisation can also be rejected in cases where there are reasonable and serious doubts about the authenticity of the information given and the supporting documents submitted by the person applying.
The ETIAS plan was originally shelved in 2016, before the UK voted to leave the EU.
It is being brought in, in part, to avoid the need for more complex visas - though travellers who need visas to enter the EU will still require them.
There will also be questions on a person’s criminal record and if they have ever been asked to leave an EU country by officials.
Airlines will be expected to check that a person has been authorised to travel to the EU under the ETIAS scheme.
Once accepted, it will allow British passengers entry into the Schengen area multiple times over a three-year period.
4 comments
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That's so cheap, should be the same as in USA, AUS, or other countries in the world, not less than 150€ per traveller, otherwise they can stay at their little Britain jumping from balconies.. oh wait.. there's only balconies at council houses in the UK. Those can't afford traveling. So travel here, spend your money and go back where you belong until next time.
Yes, the ourage to this seems a little made up. 7€ for a Visa that lasts 3 years and checks your eligibility for travel seems insignificant, and not a ridiculous idea at all. There's only so much checking that can be done at customs so this will enable at least slightly better controls to prevent criminals etc easily entering the EU or, for that matter, fleeing the UK.
Yeah, you and everybody else. What is it about Brits and "fury and outrage"? Is it the decades long conditioning by the Daily Mail and express? The UK has far bigger problems than 7€. You really should focus on that before moaning about stuff like this. You're not entitled. Live with it.
You Comment that the UK is "STILL paying the price od Brexit.." ..That ARE PAYING for it....and THEY WILL be paying for it for YEARS to COME...BUT that's wat they wanted SO.......NOW they are PAYING THE PRICE for that desicion..!!!