Entry Requirements - UK and EU/Schengen Area
During the course of 2024 and 2025, the United Kingdom (UK) and countries within the Schengen Area plus Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania are introducing border management initiatives, as detailed below.
The UK's initiative is the Electronic Travel Authorisation Scheme (ETA).
The EU/Schengen Area’s initiatives are the Entry Exit System (EES) and European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS)
The information provided below is for guidance only. You must consult official information sources as required.
When travelling to the UK
Electronic Travel Authorisation Scheme (ETA)
ETA is a pre-clearance permit. It is required by non-British/non-Irish nationals arriving as visitors, who are visa-exempt to enter the UK. Implementation date varies by nationality. ETA is implemented for nationals of Qatar in October 2023 and is extended to all other GCC member states and Jordan from 22 February 2024. ETA will be implemented for all other UK visa-exempt nationals before 2025, with the exact date to be advised.
- Country implementing ETA: UK (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales)
- UK and Irish nationals do not require an ETA
- Nationals who require a UK Visa do not require an ETA
- European, Canadian and USA visitors are among the nationals who will require an ETA
- Applications must be made on line, in advance of travel - We recommend via the official ETA website or App
- ETA is £10GBP per person
- Most applications will be reviewed within 1 hour but may take up to 3 days or occasionally longer
- ETA must be used in addition to and in combination with a valid travel document i.e. a passport
- ETA will be valid for 2 years or until expiry of the travel document, whichever is sooner
- Multiple entries will be permitted to all countries in the UK during the period of validity
Travel from the Republic of Ireland to the UK
Once ETA is implemented, non-British/non-Irish nationals who are UK visa-exempt will require an ETA when travelling from the Republic of Ireland to the UK (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales), unless resident in the Republic of Ireland.
When travelling to the EU/Schengen Area
Entry Exit System (EES)
EES is an automated IT system for registering third country (non-EU/non-EFTA) nationals arriving as visitors into the 27 Schengen Area countries plus Bulgaria and Romania, for short stays (max 90 in any 180 day period). EES is expected to be implemented in Autumn 2024.
- Countries implementing EES: 27 Schengen Area countries plus Bulgaria and Romania
- Countries not implementing EES: Republic of Ireland, Cyprus
- EES is a requirement for both visa-exempt and visa requiring nationals
- EES is free of charge
- Biometric data (facial image and fingerprints) will be collected at the border/point of entry (facial image only for children aged under 12). Advance application is not required, but a person may upload their facial image in advance through the mobile app (in development) to speed up processing at border control
- Data collected is stored for 3 years
- EES will replace manual stamping in a passport and will enable use of e-gates
European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS)
ETIAS is a pre-clearance permit required by nationals of third countries (non-EU/non-EFTA) arriving as visitors into the 27 Schengen Area countries plus Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania, who do not require a Schengen visa. ETIAS is expected to the implemented in Spring 2025.
- Countries implementing ETIAS: European Schengen Area Members plus Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania
- Countries not implementing ETIAS: Republic of Ireland
- Nationals who require an EU/Schengen Visa do not require an ETIAS
- UK (British), Canadian and USA visitors are among the nationals who will require an ETIAS
- Applications must be made on line, in advance of travel - We recommend via the official ETIAS website or App
- ETIAS is 7EUR per person aged 18 to 70 years at time of application (no charge for applicants 17 years or under and those 71 years or older)
- Most applications will be reviewed within minutes but may take up to 4 working days or longer if additional information is needed
- ETIAS must be used in addition to and in combination with a valid travel document i.e. a passport
- ETIAS will be valid for 3 years or until expiry of the travel document, whichever is sooner
- Multiple entries will be permitted during the period of validity and a standard ETIAS allows travel to all counties implementing ETIAS
Travel from Republic of Ireland to the Schengen Area, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania
Once ETIAS is implemented, EU/Schengen area visa-exempt nationals will require an ETIAS when travelling from the Republic of Ireland to the Schengen Area countries plus Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania, except UK (British) nationals resident in Republic of Ireland before 1 January 2021.
Irish nationals do not require an ETIAS.
Every Traveller to Every Destination
It is every traveller's responsibility to ensure they have the correct documentation. Those who travel without the correct documentation and without following the correct procedures may be refused entry/onward passage. In such circumstances, refunds will not be made and we will not pay any expenses or costs incurred as a result of the termination or for repatriation.
Links and Third Party Information Sources
Norman Allen Group Travel Ltd is not responsible for information provided by third party information sources. If you find that a link no longer functions or you experience any other difficulty in accessing the information you require, please let us know.