British tourists planning holidays to the European Union will soon need to obtain a new online authorisation before travelling, under changes set to take effect in 2025. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will require visa-exempt travellers from 60 nations, including the UK, to apply online and pay a €7 fee. Applications may take up to 96 hours to process, and the authorisation will be valid for multiple entries over a three-year period.
Separately, the EU is also launching the Entry/Exit System (EES), which will use facial and fingerprint scans to register non-EU nationals upon entry into 29 participating nations. Unlike ETIAS, the EES does not require pre-travel application but aims to modernise border crossings and combat identity fraud. The system was originally scheduled for November 2024 but has been delayed until sometime in 2025.
Meanwhile, the UK is expanding its own Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme. From 8 January 2025, visitors from the US, Canada, Australia and other non-European nations who currently do not need a visa for short stays must obtain an ETA before travelling. The £10 fee covers multiple entries for stays of up to six months over a two-year period. From 2 April 2025, EU nationals will also require an ETA to enter the UK.
Critics have raised concerns that the additional fees and processes could deter younger and less affluent travellers, and that the loss of passport stamps may disappoint sentimental tourists. There are also worries about potential tech glitches disrupting travel. However, UK Minister for Migration and Citizenship Seema Malhotra said the ETA expansion represents 'a significant step forward in delivering a border that's efficient and fit for the digital age.'
