No EU visa required 2025 until further notice
Will I need a visa to visit the EU in 2025?
- The simple answer is probably not, because of ongoing implementation delays.
- ETIAS visas should be available 6 months after launching EES.
- EES was postponed on November 11th 2024 with no implementation date.
Does the EU visa apply to UK citizens?
EES (Entry Exit System) applies to all UK citizens, unless you can prove that you have EU nationality or residency.
The website europa.eu/ees states: ‘UK nationals and their family members who are beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement will be exempt from registration in the EES only if they hold a specific residence document…Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries who do not hold any of the above documents will be registered in the EES.’ More information can be found at travel-europe.europa.eu/ees/faqs-about-ees_en
What is EES and how does it work?
EES is designed improved border security. Do I have to have my my finger prints scanned and my photograph taken? Yes, they will be taken when you first cross into the EU and will be verified every time you enter or exit the EU.
Once EES is implemented, simply turn up at the port or Chanel Tunnel and you will be taken through the process.
For more information on EES visit: travel-europe.europa.eu/ees_en
What is ETIAS visa?
ETIAS is an acronym of European Travel Information and Authorisation System. Once launched ETIAS visas will be required by most non-EU nationals, will last for a 3 year period and will cost €7. According to the ETIAS website ‘Applicants who are under 18 or above 70 years of age are exempt from this payment. Also exempt are family members of EU citizens’
Where do I get my ETIAS visa?
Currently, you don’t. DO NOT buy an ETIAS Visa from anywhere else other than travel-europe.europa.eu/etias.
The ETIAS visa is not live and there is no date it is due to go live, except the vague date of 2025. Currently (Nov 2024) the ETIAS website states ‘starting 6 months after the EES’. When the system does go live Visas must be completed at: travel-europe.europa.eu/etias
DO NOT buy a ETIAS Visa from anywhere else.