British travellers planning holidays to popular European destinations such as Spain, France, Greece and Portugal will soon be required to pay for a visa under new regulations coming into force later this year.
New Travel Requirements for Europe
Significant changes have been made to the way Brits travel to parts of Europe, with the European Union's Entry/Exit System now fully operational and UK passports required to have been issued within the last 10 years. However, there is set to be another requirement for travelling to the EU, with Brits expected to need a visa from late 2026.
This will come in the form of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System. Much like the UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme, it will apply to visa-exempt travellers visiting 30 European countries for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
ETIAS Explained
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 your passport, meaning travellers could be denied boarding if their ETIAS details don't match their travel document or if the authorisation has expired."
Most ETIAS applications are expected to be processed within minutes, but it could take longer if additional checks are required. Holidaymakers should apply well in advance of departure to avoid last-minute disruptions.
Similar systems already exist elsewhere, such as the US ESTA. These systems are becoming more common globally, so it is important to check requirements for each destination well ahead of travel.
As with passport validity rules, people are responsible for making sure they have the correct travel authorisation before they leave the country. If someone is unable to travel because they failed to obtain valid ETIAS or ESTA approval, travel insurance is unlikely to cover costs associated with denied boarding or cancelled trips.
Lack of Awareness Among Brits
Research from Saga Travel Insurance has revealed that half of all British holidaymakers lack confidence regarding the new visa and travel requirements for visiting Europe following Brexit. A survey of 500 Brits also discovered that 16% were unaware of their passport's expiry date, 10% had fewer than 12 months remaining on their passport, and 8% were still in possession of expired passports.
What If You Stay More Than 90 Days?
While the precise rollout date for the ETIAS system has yet to be confirmed, it is anticipated to come into effect towards the latter part of the year. Currently, Brits can travel to Europe without a visa for stays of up to 90 days, after which they must obtain one. The ETIAS will apply to all travel into the EU.
Michelle explained: "If you're travelling to Europe for an extended period, you may now be required to apply for a new visa type. Travellers can spend up to 90 days in the Schengen area within any rolling 180-day period, but it's not as simple as it sounds."
"The 180 days are counted backwards from each day you're in the EU or a Schengen country, so every trip adds up. That means even frequent short breaks can push you over the limit without realising. If you go beyond 90 days, you could face fines or even a ban from re-entering. Anyone planning to stay longer will need to apply for the new Schengen Visa."
The Schengen area comprises 29 countries where holidaymakers can travel freely without additional border or passport checks. These include 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.
The 10-Year Passport Rule
Many Brits have also been left bewildered by the 10-year passport rule, with some travellers even being turned away at the airport. Just last week, a mother of three was unable to board her easyJet flight to Greece due to a passport error. She only discovered at the airport that her passport was invalid due to the issue date, and was forced to pay nearly £700 in additional fees.
Michelle explained: "EU and Schengen countries require passports to be less than 10 years old on the day of entry. While all new passports last exactly ten years, passports issued before 2018 remain valid for 10 years and nine months. If you have an older passport, make sure you check both the issue date and expiry date before travelling to avoid problems at the border."
