EU Visa Waiver to launch for some non-EU citizens by Summer 2025

There is no date announced yet, but it is expected to be introduced in the Summer of 2025.

Study in UK: EU is planning a €7 (£6) EU visa waiver similar to US Esta from Summer 2025. It will be introduced for some non-EU citizens that also includes UK citizens. European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias) is the name of the new scheme.

After it is implemented, before visiting 30 European countries, travellers from many non-EU countries including Britons need to apply for a waiver. It will cover a visit to the Schengen area that comprises all EU states except Cyprus, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland.

The new scheme is much more affordable when compared with the US Esta, the EU visa waiver cost is €7 whereas the US Esta costs €18.80; £16 as of July 19, 2024. It will be applied to the population in the age group of 18 to 70, and kids below 18, and seniors above 70 will not require to apply for the waiver.

Till now, what is being followed is that travellers can go to the Schengen area for around 90 days every 180 days without obtaining any visa. The rules are the same for citizens of over 60 non-EU countries, including Australia, Japan, and the US. However, after the Etias scheme is implemented, the travellers from these countries need to apply for a visa waiver to travel to the Schengen area for the same 90-day duration every 180 days and if they want to spend more time travelling, they need a visa. The visa waiver will be valid for three years, during which the travellers can visit multiple times. Border guards will check the document while the visitor crosses the EU border. EU will soon release the complete list of non-EU countries for Etias. The visa waiver will be linked to the passport, hence if the passport expires within three years, the visitor needs to apply for a new Etias, as reported by BBC.

How to apply for EU Visa Waiver

The applicants need to apply via mobile app and it will take nearly 10 minutes to complete the necessary and small procedural step. The information they need to enter is related to medical conditions, criminal records, background information and passport information. Most of the applications will be approved within minutes and some may take up to 72 hours. In exceptional cases, it can be denied or take up to around four weeks to be approved.

The scheme is being introduced for security reasons, to tackle terrorism concerns and the migrant crisis.

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