Britons warned against Etias applications before the system opens
Britons travelling to Europe are being advised not to apply for an Etias travel waiver because its launch has been delayed and applications are not yet open. Abta says the system should wait until the EU’s Entry/Exit System is working fully, while warning that unofficial sites may expose travellers to financial loss and misuse of personal data.
When introduced, Etias will apply to visa-exempt visitors from the UK and other non-EU countries entering the Schengen area, and is set to cost €20; under-18s and over-70s will be exempt from the fee. No launch date has been set, despite more than 150 websites offering the service. Abta says awareness of the coming border requirements has risen from 41% in 2024 to 56%; its surveys found 46% of Europe visitors had undergone full checks, with 13% waiting an hour.
- Etias applications are not open, and no launch date is set.
- Abta warns travellers about more than 150 third-party websites.
- The planned fee is €20, with exemptions for under-18s and over-70s.
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Etias is a planned travel authorisation for visitors from countries such as the UK who can enter the Schengen area without a visa. The Schengen area includes many European countries and allows people to travel between them without routine checks at internal borders.
The EU has also been introducing the Entry/Exit System, which records non-EU visitors’ border crossings and uses biometric checks. Abta, a UK travel trade association, says Etias should follow once that system is working fully; when Etias starts, it is expected to cost €20, with under-18s and over-70s exempt from the fee.
Travellers will need to use the official application process when it opens. The planned requirement matters because visitors may need to arrange authorisation before travelling, while unofficial application sites could put their money or personal information at risk.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “Britons travelling to Europe told not to apply for delayed Etias visa waiver”.