HomeTravelEuropean Union EES visa scheme explained for UK travellers

European Union EES visa scheme explained for UK travellers

Date:

Related stories

UK exporters still struggling with post-Brexit rules, says trade body

Many exporters are still struggling with post-Brexit trading rules,...

Labour accused of plunging UK into recession amid fury over policies

Labour is plunging the UK into a recession after...

Exeter Science boss appointed to head UK Science Park Association – South West

Sally Basker, chief executive of Exeter Science Park, has...

Nine-year-old boy killed in Christmas market attack named – latest

Athena Stavrou22 December 2024 13:41Eyewitness describes ‘war-like conditions’In the...
spot_imgspot_img

The European Union’s EES visa scheme is getting ready to launch (Picture: Getty Images)

As the curtains begin to close on 2024, you might already be planning ahead for a summer 2025 getaway.

But heading to Europe next year will be a little different for Brits, thanks to a new visa scheme called EES.

As it stands, visitors from the UK can visit the EU’s Schengen area (a borderless collective of 29 countries) for up to 90 days, every 180 days, without a visa.

The new scheme means anyone travelling to popular tourist hotspots including PortugalSpain and Greece, will need to apply — and pay a €7 (around £6) visa waiver charge.

Here’s everything you need to know about the new visa scheme if you’re a UK citizen before you jet off, from the entry fee to the launch date.

What is EES and how is it different to ETIAS?

EES is an automated system that registers travellers from non-EU countries every time they cross a border into or out of the EU. 

The system will register the person’s name, the type of travelling document they’re using, biometric data (fingerprints and captured facial images), and the date and place of entry and exit. 

Once the data has been captured, it’s expected to remain in the system for three years. After this time has passed, it will be erased from the system.

Travellers won’t need to re-register this data if they travel to multiple Schengen Zone countries within the three-year period.

Majestic touristic village on the hill with colorful mediterranean buildings. Fantastic travel and photography place at sunset, Vernazza, Cinque Terre National Park, Liguria, Italy, Europe
The new visa will cost €7 (£6) to visit any Schengen area country (Picture: Getty Images)

The EU says on its website that ‘the main advantage of the EES is saving time,’ because it replaces passport stamping and ‘automates border control procedures’ to make travelling more efficient.

It remains to be seen how the system will impact travel, but in the poll by Co-op insurance, 46% of British travellers said they felt put off by the process of storing this type of data for three years.

The EES scheme is different to the European Travel Information and Authorisation Scheme (ETIAS), which will run alongside the former and require British travellers to apply for a visa waiver to visit most EU countries.

How much will the EES scheme cost?

The expected fee of the visa waiver is €7 (£6) to visit any country in the Schengen Area.

The EU Commission insists this is ‘way cheaper’ than the US Esta, which costs $14 (€12.50 or £10.75).

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video

The fee will apply to travellers aged between 18 and 70, but the visa will be free for children and anyone over 70.

Will UK citizens need to use EES?

Yes. As a result of the UK voting to leave the European Union, Brits will have to follow the same rules as other countries outside of the EU.

You will have to scan your passport at an automated self-service kiosk before crossing the border.

This process will sadly replace the manual stamping of passports for visitors to countries in the EU and Schengen Area, who are not themselves nationals of EU or Schengen countries. 

EES will apply when entering the 25 EU countries and four non-EU countries below:

The countries where EES will apply

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Romania
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland.

What date will the new EES and ETIAS rules start?

The exact date for both changes is still to be confirmed.

The introduction of EES has already been delayed several times; it was originally meant to be implemented in 2022, and was then scheduled for May 2023 before it was pushed back to the end of last year.

Tourism sailing boat in Lake braies, Dolomite, Italy.
The new scheme was supposed to come into effect in October (Picture: Getty Images)

After that, it was slated to come into effect in October 2024 – but there’s still no sign of it as it’s been pushed back once more to 2025.

However, as per the House of Commons website, the European Commission said that plans to roll it out in a ‘phased manner’ would be decided on ‘in the coming weeks.’

But as of now, no such plans have been announced.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

- Never miss a story with notifications

- Gain full access to our premium content

- Browse free from up to 5 devices at once

Latest stories

spot_img