Did you know about ETIAs coming in 2025

[Sundaysundaybetterthanmonday]

I don't know how this has totally passed me by but we've just had an email from our travel company about them starting next year.

What is ETIAS - European Union (europa.eu)

I wonder how this works for people with settled status? How would you prove at a border checkpoint that you have it? There’s no physical document or mark in your passport.
It’s all in a database somewhere that is quite cumbersome to access.

Looks like it will be May-ish next year

I have settled status. You just log in to the gov website (you get an email when your status is confirmed and it walks you through how to log in to check your status). Then you just apply for a temporary code that proves your status and when you need it (code lasts a few weeks). You can print a confirmation off for ease. Can be used for travel or if you need to prove settled status for employment reasons etc. It’s actually pretty straight forward, a tiny bit of extra admin but easy enough. Never had to show it to be honest as I’d imagine when you check-in and input your passport that’s checked against a database? (perhaps I’ve watched too many movies!) But I always have a printed code with me when travelling just in case.

Thanks all, I was just quite shocked at myself i had never even heard of it.

I think this is only for British passport holders.

Apparently it's due Quarter 2 of 2025.

Thanks @Peasnbeans - I heard recently it was delayed.

Yet another gift of Brexit. DP got his Irish passport when he needed to renew so now we have the pantomime of him going through the EU immigration channel and me queuing with all the moaning Brits at passport control.

Not only mooted for years but the UK voted for it.

Not all of us did

Travel visas
Extra expense for roaming
The headaches it causes us at work for transporting goods to Ireland

Why on earth did anyone think that Brexit was a good idea?

@RampantIvy I think the pp meant that the UK voted for it when it was still an EU member. Voting for Brexit meant we lost our freedom of movement privileges. I didn't vote for Brexit either, but this electronic visa system is yet another of the bureaucratic consequences which weren't properly explained before the referendum.

I'm still getting free roaming though.

I am curious about this as well.

We always swap passports at the Eurostar, leave on the UK, use the German one at the French controls and when we come back the other way round.

Same when we fly into an European airport.

It's been in the news a lot recently and when ithe legislation was passed a few years ago.

I'm still getting free roaming though

Our provider was taken over by EE last year, and when we went away earlier this year we hadn't been EE customers for long enough to benefit from free roaming. It cost us another £27 each to use our phones abroad.

I had no idea, thanks OP. I’m an EU citizen but what a pain for DP and the kids. Thanks Brexit voters!

I travel to the countries needing this about 6 or 7 times a year (I’ve visited 9 of the countries listed this year in fact). This is the first I’ve heard of it and I promise you I don’t live under a rock.

thanks for the heads up @Sundaysundaybetterthanmonday

Yes I’d heard about it but I wasn’t sure when it was coming in. We’re already booked for Greece in August next year so will need it.

Does anyone know if there is an age limit? Will you need it for kids.

You use your UK passport with UK border and EU with European border - same on the way back.

Basically, anyone who has a passport needs an ETIAS.

So children, infants and teens need one but it's free as no application fee is payable for those under 18.

Thanks, OP, for this thread.

I've registered on ETIAS.com for email updates on the process and timescales.

I have been aware of it for a while. I want to know a date when it will start so I can plan not to travel in the first few weeks, as I am certain there will be issues at border control. Remember that the Borders Agency cannot plan for simple things like summer holiday traffic at Heathrow, and the space for passport control at Eurostar is limited.

Just be aware of what ETIAS.com says on its site
"ETIAS.COM is not affiliated with the E.U. nor any of its member countries."

Also ETIAS.org
"ETIAS.org is a privately owned website and it’s not operated by the government."

Below is the URL of the official EU page
https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en

And here is the official UK Government page on the EU Entry/Exit System
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/eu-entryexit-system

Thanks @Chersfrozenface
I've signed up to the page on the gov.uk site.

I've been aware for a while but want a bloody date as have 2 holidays booked and don't want to get caught out.

I've heard about it but it keeps getting delayed, so I'd kind of forgotten about it.

But it seems it's finally happening - they'll have to be some notice to allow people with travel already booked to apply and for it to be processed, including allowing for any teething problems. It says in the link the 'first half of 2025' which could be as late as the end of June although I see upthread 5 May has been suggested.

So maybe the intention is after the Easter peak but before people start going on summer holidays?

I'm sure publicity will be widespread including social media, news sites and multiple prompts when booking flights but it's also likely we'll still get the 'sad face' reports and posts from people claiming they'd never heard of the scheme and are now stuck because they fly tomorrow or have been turned away at the airport.

Also the new electronic entry system which will require photos and fingerprint scanning on check-in. We have booked shuttle to France next summer and I think Eurotunnel has already set up kiosks for passengers to scan in. I don't know what will happen at the Port of Dover as space is so limited. It is harder than at airports because moat people are travelling with cars.