Holidaymakers have been handed a lifeline thanks to the delay of a scheme forcing British holidaymakers to pay for a visa to visit Europe. Britons hoping to jet off to Europe for their travels will eventually need an ‘e-visa’ to visit. But the highly-anticipated £6 visa-waiver’s launch that holidaymakers have been dreading has now been postponed until late 2027.
It comes after the European entry/exit system (EES) has appeared to be delayed again, sparking yet another pushback to the euro-visa programme. Officially as the Electronic Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), the scheme can come into effect six months after EES is rolled out.
Once activated, British tourists will need to secure the ‘e-visa’ before traveling to most EU destinations.
British passport holders will need to apply and pay for a three-year visa waiver to travel into the Schengen Area once the ETIAS is in place.
The Schengen Area is a travel zone where passport checks are not required when crossing borders.
It covers nearly all of the EU, although Ireland, Cyprus, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein are excluded.
Additionally, it will be needed for visits to Bulgaria, Romania, and Cyprus, as they are all EU member states.
Initially scheduled to commence in November 2023, the ETIA has experienced setback after setback. Meanwhile, the EES’s full launch, originally scheduled for November 10, 2024, was delayed once it emerged the technology was not set up.
Travel expert Simon Calder said the EES will be rolled out gradually to allow border authorities and the transport industry “more time to adjust to the new procedures”.
EES is expected to start in April 2026. ETIAS is expected to follow on a six-month voluntary basis from October 2026. That means all British holidaymakers can expect to start paying for the euro-visa from April 2027.
Under this scheme, Britons planning a holiday will need to apply online for a visa-waiver and pay a fee of €7 (approximately £6) before travelling.
This initial authorisation is expected to remain valid for three years or until the passport expires.
The ETIAS will enable residents of the 63 visa-exempt countries, including the UK due to Brexit, to visit the Schengen Zone with an electronic authorisation instead of a full visa.
Currently, there is no way to register for an ETIAS travel authorisation. While several non-official websites provide information about the ETIAS, it is recommended to obtain your information from the European Union website.