From Quarter 4 in 2026 (exact date TBC), the EU is stamping out visa free travel to the bloc (Schengen area), in a move that will make, for UK citizens and passport holders, travel to Europe more like travelling to the US.
What does Etias stand for?
Etias stands for European Travel Information and Authorisation System.
What is Etias?
Etias is the new scheme for allowing non-EU citizens, including Britons, into Spain and the wider Schengen ‘borderless’ bloc without a visa for a period of up to 90 days in any 180 day rolling period.
Is this scheme just another Brexit punishment?
It is easy to come to that conclusion, but it is not the case. Even when the UK was in the EU it was not part of the borderless Schengen area to which this scheme applies. Plus, the scheme is applied equally to all third countries who are outside the EU, and the UK is now one of these.
Why is this scheme being introduced?
To provide the EU with a more effective way to combat illegal immigration and terrorism threats before people arrive at its border entry points.
A consequence of this for the vast majority of law abiding citizens who just want to get to their Spanish residences as quickly as they can, is a little more red-tape and possibly a little more queuing!
How much will the Etias visa waiver cost?
For most people, €7
How long will the visa waiver be granted for?
For a period of 3 years.
My passport expires in less than 3 years, what will happen?
The Etias is connected to your passport, so when you get your new passport, you will need a new Etias. It won’t be possible to transfer an existing Etias to a new passport for the remaining period of time.
Is the Etias the same as ESS entry/exit system?
The best advice is to access the relevant EU online information directly, as this should always be up to date. https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias/faqs-etias_en