Britons to Pay €7 for Visa-Free Travel to EU

The European Commission has confirmed that Britons will have to pay  €7 every three years to travel to the EU visa-free from 2021. UK citizens will also be required to pre-register for a three-year electronic visa waiver.

British Prime Minister Theresa May has heralded the continuation of visa-free travel for short-term visits to the EU as a great achievement of the Brexit agreement, agreed by EU leaders last month.

The proposed deal is none the less causing huge rifts in the UK, in parliament and among the population. Many politicians believe that the agreement will have many negative consequences and it is unsure if it will receive sufficient backing from MPs.

Speaking at the G20 summit in Argentina earlier this month, May said “You're talking about what might be an implication of leaving the European Union, I am talking about having negotiated a deal that ensures that we can maintain the good relationship that is good for our citizens across a whole range of areas, it means we are not a member of the EU so we can do our own trade deals around the world, we can end free movement once and for all."

The EU has already begun implementing European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) that will preauthorize the entry of citizens from a specific list of countries who do not require full visas. When ETIAS begins operating all visa-exempt non-EU nationals, including Britons, will be required to apply via ETIAS to travel to the Schengen area.

By Amy Jones

Photo: The Register