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UK Citizens to Face €7 Visa-Waiver Fee for EU Travel Starting May 2025. UK citizens traveling to the EU from May 2025 will need to pay a €7 visa-waiver fee under the new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias), The Guardian reports. Etias will require non-EU citizens, including those from the UK, US, Australia, and Canada, to apply for a travel authorization before entering the Schengen area, which includes 25 EU member states. The visa waiver will be valid for three years or until the passport expires and is similar to the US Esta system. The EU will launch the long-delayed Entry and Exit System (EES) on 10 November 2024, requiring biometric information at the border, like fingerprints and facial scans. These new systems aim to enhance security, making it harder for criminals or terrorists to enter the EU using fake passports. The introduction of EES and Etias will lead to new checks for travelers at UK ports, including the Port of Dover and London’s St Pancras. Travelers under 18 or over 70, and those heading to Ireland or Cyprus, will be exempt from the Etias fee. The visa waiver will require online applications, with personal information, employment details, and criminal records submitted. Most will be approved within minutes, but some could take up to 72 hours. The EU plans a six-month transitional period after Etias is introduced, during which travelers without a waiver may still be allowed entry if they meet other conditions. The timeline for these changes comes after multiple delays, with the EES originally planned for 2022 but now set for November 2024.
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