The new visa rules for Europe, due to come in to force in 2025, are already causing ripples of concern for British passport holders.
Under the new system, UK based travellers will have to apply for an ETIAS visa waiver, similar to the American ESTA system, for trips to Europe.
The cost of this electronic travel authorisation will be low – probably around 7 euros for anyone aged 18-70 – but it will mean a bit of pre-planning.
And it seems trips to the Channel Islands could see a dip – not from UK visitors, but from the French.
At the moment, French citizens can hop over to Jersey and Guernsey for a day trip using just an ID card, under a scheme in place until the summer of 2025. And a significant number do it, often on the spur of the moment.
But once ETIAS is in place, and the current agreement runs out, foreign nationals will need a passport to visit the islands, even for a few hours.
Unless a solution can be found, Channel Island businesses are bracing themselves for a drop in revenue.
We’re keeping an eye on all the changes that are due to take place soon, and will publish updates as they are confirmed.
This is the official European Union website, where the details and proposed timeline are available.
Please make sure you use only authorised sites – as these new systems come into force, the scammers will be out there!
Where to next?
• New Entry Exit system for Europe
• Confusion over Spain’s new data collection laws
• 5 destinations where UK tourists are welcome