What Is ETIAS — and When Will UK Travellers Actually Need One?
The EU's new travel permit is coming — but not yet. Here is what ETIAS is, what it costs, and when British travellers will genuinely need to apply.
The EU's new travel permit is coming — but not yet. Here is what ETIAS is, what it costs, and when British travellers will genuinely need to apply.
Europe is modernising its borders with two new systems, the EES and ETIAS. They sound similar but do very different jobs. Here is what each one means for your next trip.
Travelling to Europe changed after Brexit, and ABTA's advice now reads like a checklist: confirm your passport meets the rules, understand the 90/180 limit, and prepare for the EU's new border systems. Here is what UK travellers should tick off before departure.
One of the most important pre-trip tasks is making sure your passport is valid for your travel dates and renewed in good time. ABTA's guidance reads as a clear checklist covering validity, renewals, visa-free limits and the EU's ETIAS.
The European Commission has confirmed that the ETIAS application fee will be EUR 20, up from the EUR 7 originally planned. Here is what is behind the change and what it means for visa-free travellers.
From the last quarter of 2026, visa-exempt travellers flying to Europe will need an approved ETIAS travel authorisation before departure. It is checked before boarding and again at the border, so the document and your passport must match.
With the EU's Entry/Exit System about to launch, scammers are exploiting traveller confusion over the separate ETIAS scheme. Here is what is genuinely required right now, how ETIAS will eventually work, and why the only safe place to apply is the official channel.
ETIAS will not switch on all at once. Instead it begins with a transitional period and then a grace period, each lasting at least six months. Here is what the first year of ETIAS will look like in practice.
Once ETIAS is in force, you will be able to ask a travel agent, friend or relative to complete and submit the application for you. Before you do, there are a few practical safeguards worth keeping in mind.
When ETIAS goes live, you will be able to ask a travel agent, friend or relative to complete the application for you. Here is how to do it safely, from choosing a trusted intermediary to signing the official declaration of representation.