January 9th 2025.
It's finally 2025, and with the arrival of the new year, many of us are already planning our summer vacations. However, for those of us who are looking to travel to Europe, there's a new visa scheme that we need to be aware of. It's called the EES, and it's going to change the way Brits travel to popular tourist destinations like Spain, Portugal, and Greece.
As it stands, UK citizens can visit the EU's Schengen area for up to 90 days every 180 days without a visa. But with the new EES scheme, anyone traveling to these countries will need to apply and pay a €7 visa waiver fee. This new system, which will be implemented in all 25 EU countries and 4 non-EU countries, is expected to save time and automate border control procedures.
But what exactly is the EES and how is it different from the European Travel Information and Authorisation Scheme (ETIAS)? Well, the EES is an automated system that registers travelers from non-EU countries every time they cross a border into or out of the EU. This system will store the traveler's name, type of travel document, biometric data, and entry and exit dates and locations for a period of three years. This will eliminate the need for multiple registrations if the traveler visits different Schengen Zone countries within that time frame.
The EES will come with a €7 visa waiver fee for travelers between the ages of 18 and 70. However, children and those over 70 will be exempt from this fee. The EU Commission claims that this fee is much cheaper than the US Esta, which costs $14.
But what about UK citizens? Will they be affected by the new EES? Unfortunately, yes. Due to the UK's decision to leave the EU, British citizens will have to follow the same rules as other non-EU countries. This means that they will have to scan their passports at an automated self-service kiosk before crossing the border, instead of getting their passports stamped manually.
The new EES will be implemented in 2025, although the exact date is yet to be confirmed. This scheme has already faced several delays, with the original launch date set for 2022. It was then pushed back to May 2023, and then to the end of 2024. The latest delay was due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the European Commission is still deciding on a phased implementation plan.
In addition to the EES, UK has also launched its own Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) permit for non-European citizens. This means that anyone visiting or transiting through the UK without a visa will need to obtain a £10 digital permit. Europeans will also need to have an ETA starting from April 2025. However, British and Irish citizens, those with a visa to live, work, or study in the UK, and those traveling from certain countries will be exempt from this requirement.
So, if you're planning to travel to Europe in the near future, make sure to stay updated on the EES and ETA requirements. You can apply for the ETA through the gov.uk website or the ETA app. And if you have any stories or experiences to share about the new visa scheme, feel free to get in touch with us. We'd love to hear from you!
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