Before the end of this year the new ETIAS travel authorisation entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling to 30 European countries, including Spain, will be introduced and it is going to cost nearly three times the original prices. Instead of seven euros, it will cost 20 euros per person, pushing the price of a family holiday up significantly.
The ETIAS is linked to a traveller’s passport. It is valid for up to three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. If you get a new passport, you need to get a new ETIAS travel authorisation. With a valid ETIAS travel authorisation, you can enter the territory of these European countries as often as you want for short-term stays - normally for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. However, it does not guarantee entry. When you arrive, a border guard will ask to see your passport and other documents and verify that you meet the entry conditions.
The majority of applications are anticipated to receive approval “almost immediately”, however, if the system detects an issue with your ETIAS submission, it may be turned down. Potential grounds for ETIAS applications being refused include holding an invalid passport, being deemed a “risk” or having a Schengen Information System (SIS) alert, providing an incomplete application, or not attending a mandatory interview.
Once you have applied, you will receive an email confirming the submission of your application, which will include your unique ETIAS application number: make sure you keep this number for future reference. Once your application has been processed, you will receive another email informing you about its outcome.
When you get your ETIAS travel authorisation please make sure your name, passport number and other information is correct: if there is any mistake, you will not be allowed to cross the border.
The ETIAS will be required for travel to the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. It will also be needed for Cyprus travel when Cyprus joins the Schengen area.
UK nationals are required to have a valid ETIAS travel authorisation if they travel to any of the European countries requiring ETIAS for a short-term stay (90 days in any 180-day period). UK nationals who wish to stay longer must meet the entry requirements in accordance with national or EU migration law, such as holding a visa or residence permit.
ETIAS exemptions for UK nationals who are beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement
UK nationals and their family members who are beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement are exempt from ETIAS if they hold a Withdrawal Agreement residence document issued in the uniform format by any of the European countries requiring ETIAS. They may reside on the territory of their EU host country and may travel to other European countries requiring ETIAS based on their Withdrawal Agreement residence document. Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries whose host country is Ireland are not exempt from ETIAS, and they will need to have a valid travel authorisation to travel to any of the 30 European countries requiring ETIAS.