HOT TOP I C EU TRAVEL RULES
The new visa-waiver system has been delayed for another year, but there are plenty of other challenges for British travellers in 2024
In October, European Union officials confirmed a new timeline for the introduction of the Electronic Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), a US- style visa-waiver programme for short stays. It had originally been earmarked for a 2022 launch before being pushed back to spring 2024; it’s now set to debut in spring 2025. The delay is down to the fact the ETIAS can’t be introduced until the EU launches its new Entry/ Exit System (EES), an automated IT system designed to register travellers from the UK and other non-EU countries, now scheduled for late 2024. Airlines welcomed the delay as it will mean more time to install the new hardware they need to process the data.
How will EES and ETIAS work? Instead of receiving passport stamps, travellers will be required to scan their passports at self- service kiosks and provide biometric data (facial scans and fingerprints) when crossing an EU external border. This data will then be stored in the EES database for three years and linked to the ETIAS, which UK travellers must apply and pay for ahead of a trip to the EU. The ETIAS will carry a nominal fee of €7 (around £6) and will be valid for three years. ETIAS authorisation will be required for UK passport- holders entering any of the 27 Schengen countries, plus Cyprus, Romania and Bulgaria. However, it won’t be needed for UK visitors to Ireland.
What does the delay mean for 2024 travel? UK citizens can expect another year of entry/exit passport stamps when travelling to the EU. This system came into effect after the Brexit transition period ended in December 2020 and has caused delays at airports and the Channel crossings. However, EU border controls are
only one element of the fraught disentanglement that followed Brexit. A number of other rules have changed for UK nationals heading to EU countries — before booking travel in 2024, it’s advisable to double-check you know the score.
What’s the issue with passport validity? Post-Brexit rules on passport expiry dates tripped up thousands of UK travellers last year and could do so again in 2024. Passports must have been issued within the past 10 years (child passports are fine, as they’re valid for five years) and the expiry date must be at least three months after the day of departure from the EU.
Am I still allowed to drive in the EU on a UK driver’s licence? Yes — you don’t need an international driving permit (IDP) to drive in the EU, as long as you have a photo card licence rather than a paper licence. However, following Brexit, there is a requirement to
add a UK sticker (not a GB sticker) to the rear of cars entering the EU. It’s worth checking country-specific requirements, but drivers should carry their licence, V5C log book and proof of UK insurance when taking a car into the EU; a special ‘green card’ certificate is no longer needed. Cars towing a caravan may require additional documents.
What kind of health insurance do I need? The old European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC) are being phased out, although existing cards will remain valid until their listed expiry date. Now, the new GHIC (the ‘G’ standing for global) allows holders access to discounted or free state healthcare in the EU, Montenegro and Switzerland (although there are slightly different rules for the latter). UK travellers aren’t required to
hold a GHIC to enter EU countries but it’s advisable to get one. It’s free and easy to apply for one on the NHS website: search online for
‘NHS GHIC’ — and be sure to avoid scam sites offering the service for a fee. A GHIC is valid for five years and, as with its predecessor, isn’t a substitute for a travel insurance policy, which covers far more, including repatriation.
What if I want to take my pet on holiday? After January 2021, EU pet passports issued in Great Britain became invalid for travel to the EU or Northern Ireland. Britons wanting to take a dog (including assistance dogs), cat or ferret to the EU or Northern Ireland must now get an animal health certificate from a vet ahead of travel. To be eligible for the certificate, pets must be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies. Certification needs to be obtained no more than 10 days before travel. Dogs travelling to Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta or Norway are also required to have tapeworm treatment before arrival. SIMON USBORNE
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