The European Union is considering imposing a £50 visa fee on British tourists after Brexit, according to a leaked document. The proposal, drawn up by European Commission officials, could place the UK on a list of countries requiring visas for short-term travel, alongside Russia, China, and India.
The document, prepared by Martin Selmayr, a senior aide to Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, outlines legal changes needed in the event of a no-deal Brexit. It warns that the bloc must decide whether to require UK nationals to obtain entry permits, which typically cost around £50.
Under current EU rules, dozens of non-EU countries, including the US, Canada, and Ukraine, enjoy visa-free travel. However, the UK could lose this privilege if no trade deal covering travel is reached. Even with a deal, Britons may face a £7 electronic travel authorisation fee under separate plans due in 2020.
Brexiteers have criticised the proposal as a 'nuclear option' that would harm tourism between the UK and EU. They urged Prime Minister Theresa May to take a firm stance at the upcoming EU summit. Formal talks on the issue have not yet begun, but any visa requirement would take effect from March 2019 if no agreement is reached.
