ETIAS: The new visa waiver Brits need to enter the EU in 2025, what it costs and who gets it free

Travellers will need to apply online before they'll be allowed into EU countries.

Transcript

00:00Post-Brexit travel is about to change. From 2025, British travellers will need an ETIAS

00:06visa waiver to visit Europe, costing €7 and requiring an online application and extra

00:13cheques.

00:14As a mother with two small children, travelling is always a bit of a pain at the best of times

00:19and it's disappointing to have another additional hurdle.

00:23Flora and Alexander are on a staycation at home in Britain. They're frustrated but not

00:29surprised by the new arrangement.

00:31I was a staunch Remainer, so I guess it's just another slightly disappointing hurdle

00:38that we're all having to face in our ability just to feel like we can be freely part of

00:44Europe. But it's a reality of what happened with the vote back in 2016, I suppose.

00:52As the dust continues to settle, many who were against Brexit are seeing the changes

00:57they anticipated. From 2025, British travellers will need a visa, known as an ETIAS, to visit

01:02most countries in the EU Schengen area. The new system requires an online application,

01:08a fee and biometric cheques at borders. So will this complicate travel and could it impact

01:15tourism in Europe?

01:16As Brits, we have an absolute love affair with our European neighbouring countries.

01:21Rob Staines, an independent travel expert, predicts the €7 fee is unlikely to put off

01:26British tourists.

01:27Unfortunately, this is a reality of post-Brexit travel and we are asked to be deemed a third

01:35country when we left the European Union. And this is extra red tape and extra layers of

01:40complexity when it comes to travel. But I think if we look in the grand scheme of things,

01:45I think it's completely acceptable and understandable that the EU wants to strengthen their borders

01:50and unfortunately that comes at a cost.

01:52Initially, there will be a grace period of at least six months, during which the ETIAS

01:56requirement won't be enforced strictly. This allows travellers time to adjust to the new

02:02rules. Luke Hanrahan, Euronews, London.