The European Movement in Scotland claims that Brexit has led to higher costs and more paperwork for British people visiting EU countries.
In 2025 there will be new procedures for British passport holders whether travelling for leisure or business. Travellers have to be aware and ensure their passports are up to date, although the exact start date for the new processes is yet to be announced.
First to arrive will be the EU Entry/Exit System, known as EES which it is believed will be introduced in the first half of next year.
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). Citizens of 60 nations, including the UK, will be subject to these new procedures and will be introduced a few months later. EU citizens and citizens of Schengen countries are exempt.
British citizens do not get the benefits which EU citizens enjoy since leaving the EU and the European Single Market.
David Clarke, chair of the European Movement in Scotland says the new rules and procedures show how badly misled voters were about leaving the EU.
“People like Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage said there would be no downsides to leaving the EU. What we got was a smaller economy, less trade, less choice, dearer food and clothing and more complex and more expensive travel.
“Brexit is a national tragedy, but it can be reversed. We need to rejoin the single European market, as the first step to getting back what the Brexit side duped people into giving up.”
The ETIAS procedure will require all UK citizens (including children) to complete an online application, provide personal details, answer security questions and pay a €7 fee. This authorisation will be linked to the traveller’s passport and be valid for three years, or until the passport expires. The maximum permitted length of stay in any of the 30 countries operating the scheme is 90 days.
Known as a ‘short stay’ visa, ETIAS covers visits, holidays or business trips with a duration of up to 90 days and taken within a 180-day period.
People under 18 and over 70 are exempt from paying the €7 fee.
Those without an ETIAS will not be allowed entry into any one of the thirty European countries adopting ETIAS.
The EU Entry/Exit system is an electronic system that will replace the physical stamping of passports when you go through passport control when arriving at and leaving a destination. It will register all entries and exits, so it will register your movements every time you cross a border in or out of the EU/Schengen area.
The system will read traveller’s passports, take a picture and read a fingerprint (children under 12 are exempt from giving a fingerprint).
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
