British holidaymakers planning trips to European hotspots such as Spain, France, Greece and Portugal will soon be required to pay for a visa under new rules. This change is part of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), expected to be implemented from late 2026.
ETIAS: A New Requirement for Short Stays
Similar to the UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme, ETIAS will apply to visa-exempt travellers visiting 30 European countries for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Michelle Cooper, Director of Travel Insurance at Saga, explained: "Travellers may not realise that visiting Europe will soon involve an additional pre-travel authorisation step. From late 2026, British holidaymakers will need to apply for ETIAS approval before travelling to many popular European destinations."
The authorisation will be linked directly to the passport, meaning travellers could be denied boarding if their ETIAS details don't match their travel document or if the authorisation has expired. Most applications are expected to be processed within minutes, but delays could occur if additional checks are required. Cooper advised holidaymakers to apply well in advance of departure to avoid last-minute disruptions.
Similar Systems Worldwide
Similar systems already exist elsewhere, such as the US Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA). These systems are becoming more common globally, so it's important to check requirements for each destination well ahead of travel. Cooper noted that travel insurance is unlikely to cover costs if a trip is cancelled due to failure to obtain valid ETIAS or ESTA approval.
Confusion Among British Travellers
Research from Saga Travel Insurance found that 50% of holidaymakers are not confident about the new visa and travel requirements for visiting Europe after Brexit. A survey of 500 Brits revealed that 16% didn't know when their passport expired, 10% had less than a year left, and 8% still held expired passports.
Extended Stays and the 10-Year Passport Rule
For stays longer than 90 days, Brits will need to apply for a new Schengen Visa. The Schengen area comprises 29 countries, including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Additionally, the 10-year passport rule has caused confusion. EU and Schengen countries require passports to be less than 10 years old on the day of entry. Passports issued before 2018 remain valid for 10 years and nine months, so travellers must check both issue and expiry dates to avoid problems at the border.
