Are you from a non-EU country and are hoping to travel to Europe soon? Whether you’re due a holiday, are heading out on a viewing trip or visiting a home overseas soon, you need to be aware of new EU travel rules.

November 2024: Entry/Exit system (EES)

This November 2024, the EU is set to launch a new Entry/Exit System (EES). It will be an automated registration system for visitors from the UK and other visa-exempt non-EU countries. It will apply to all EU countries, except Cyprus and Ireland. Plus, the non-EU states of Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Lichtenstein will be part of the new Entry/Exit System.

The new system is designed to streamline border security. It registers the traveller’s name, biometric data, as well as the place of entry and exit. Facial scans and fingerprints will be taken every three years – you can make multiple trips in that time and data will not require updating.

EU officials hope that the new system will make it easier to identify third-country nationals who have outstayed their 90 days in the Schengen Area. Without a visa, non-EU citizens are only able to stay in the Schengen Area for 90 days out of every 180.

Since Brexit, this applies to UK passport holders too. The 90-day rule applies to all countries with the Schengen Area. In other words, if you, a UK passport holder, spend 10 days in France before heading to your home in the Italian countryside, you would have 80 days left to spend there.

French officials will operate border checks at the UK’s border checks in Port Dover, the Eurostar and Eurotunnel. They are working with UK authorities to minimise the delays that this new system could create at the border.

The EES has been a long time in the making and was initially set to launch in 2022 but was delayed by tech and installation issues. Germany, the Netherlands and France have all said that they may not be ready by November 2024.

Spring 2025: ETIAS

In spring 2025, a new travel authorisation requirement known as the European Travel and Authorisation System or ETIAS, for short, is set to be introduced for 30 countries within the Schengen Area. The scheme means that non-EU passport holders, from visa-exempt countries, must gain authorisation to enter.

Once obtained, the ETIAS will be linked to your passport and valid for three years or when your passport expires, whichever comes first. With a valid ETIAS, you can visit Europe as much as you want, as long as your travel stays within the 90-day rule. Even with a valid ETIAS, you are not guaranteed entry, you will still need your passport and must meet any other border requirements to travel.

Applying for ETIAS

Unlike the EES, which will take place at border control, you will need to apply for the ETIAS. You will be able to apply online or on an app. It will cost €7 to apply, with exemptions for those under 18 and over 70. You will fill out details on travel documents, criminal history and your intended stay. Most applications will take just minutes to be processed but it can take up to thirty days if more information or an interview is deemed necessary, so it’s best not to leave it to the night before you fly. Once it has been processed, check all the details are correct, as it will not be valid if information is amiss.

 

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Written by PropertyGuides for Rightmove