The European Commission has confirmed that while UK travellers will not have to have a visa, they will need to apply for and buy another document from 2021.
This document is called an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System), it has not launched yet but will come into action in 2021. This agreement is not just for the UK but for many non-EU countries. This system will help the EU have control on who is entering the country as they have concerns over migrant crisis and security concerns.
Under the Brexit deal, EU citizens and UK nationals will continue to be able to travel freely with a Passport or identity card until the 2020 transition period ends. After the period is over, the European Commission has offered a visa-free travel for the UK nations coming to the EU for a short stay. Although they will not need a visa, UK nationals will need an ETIAS, the form will take 10 minutes to fill out and anyone between ages of 18 and 70 must pay a fee. It is said it will cost €7 (£6.30) for an application that lasts 3 years.
The details needed for these applications will include passport information, education and work experience as well as background information. This will be about criminal records or medical records. Applicants must also give details of the first EU country they intend to visit.
Application success will most likely be found out in minutes after your information will be checked to see if it is correct or not. Applicants can be denied or may make up to two weeks to be accepted.
The EU says the ETIAS system will “undergo a detailed security check of each applicant”.
If you are successful, then it will last your three years and you can enter EU zones as many times as you would like but must be no longer than 90 days in a 180-day period.
The UK already allows visa-free travel to nationals from 56 countries – ranging from the United States to the Maldives – allowing people to stay for a maximum of six months. But they are not allowed to work, study or settle. It is unknown what will happen after Brexit.
“The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will apply to United Kingdom nationals once union law on free movement of union citizens ceases to apply to them, as to other visa-free third country nationals.”
In 2017. there was 72.5 million visits overseas by Uk residents, this in an increase of 3% from 2016. £33 billion is spent each year by British Travellers that are going on holiday to an EU country.
