Foreign Office warning over new rule in Spain and 28 other countries | World | News
A passenger checks his passport (Image: Getty)
British tourists traveling to popular destinations such as Spain, Greece, France and Italy are being warned of a new rule that will soon apply across much of Europe. The introduction of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), a digital travel permit that visitors from visa-exempt countries, including the United Kingdom, must obtain before entering many European destinations.
Under the system, travelers will need to fill out an online application form before their trip and obtain permission to enter participating countries for short-term stays. The permit will allow visits for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The EU expects ETIAS to be operational in late 2026, but the exact launch date has not yet been confirmed. The new permit will work alongside Europe’s Entry/Exit System (EES), another digital border scheme that will replace passport stamping with biometric checks such as facial scans and fingerprints for non-EU travellers.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on its website: “EES is designed to improve border security within the EU and neighboring countries and reduce illegal migration in the Schengen area. It automates border control checks to help the EU prevent visitors from overstaying.”
“EES is part of the EU’s wider work to strengthen border security. The EU is expected to begin operations of its new European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) from Autumn 2026. Travelers do not need to take any action at this point.”
“The European Union will announce the exact start date for ETIAS ahead of its launch. Any website currently selling ETIAS is doing so fraudulently and you should only apply from the official EU website where possible.
“Once ETIAS is introduced, you will need to apply for permission to enter Schengen area countries if you are using a UK passport and do not already have a visa or residence permit.
“As part of the authorization process you will need to provide personal information and details about your trip and pay a fee of €20. The EU has already published more information about ETIAS, including what information will be requested from each nationality, on the EU’s official Travel Europe website.”
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Officials say the new rules will apply to travelers arriving by air, sea or land and will affect millions of tourists who currently visit Europe without needing a visa.
Travelers will need to fill out a short online form before traveling and provide details such as passport information and travel plans.
Applications are expected to take just a few minutes and will be automatically checked against security databases.
Most requests will be approved quickly, but some may require additional checks.
Once issued, ETIAS authorization will generally remain valid for three years or until the traveler’s passport expires, whichever occurs first.
Multiple trips to Europe will be allowed during this period without the need to re-apply.
The travel permit will cost 20 Euros for passengers between the ages of 18 and 70, and passengers under the age of 18 or over the age of 70 will be exempt from this fee.
Officials say the system is similar to travel authorization programs already used by countries like the United States.
