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Extra €7 charge for islanders visiting EU countries from next summer

Extra €7 charge for islanders visiting EU countries from next summer

Thursday 29 August 2024

Extra €7 charge for islanders visiting EU countries from next summer

Thursday 29 August 2024


Channel Islanders are among those who will have to pay a €7 visa-waiver charge to travel to most European countries from next summer.

The Electronic Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is set to come into force from June 2025.

It will require visitors from a list of non-EU countries, including the UK, to apply for a ETIAS waiver before travelling to the Schengen Area.

The border-free Schengen Area includes 30 European nations, such as France and Germany.

The European Commission confirmed to Express that people travelling on a Channel Island passport, or from the islands, are also required to be in possession of the visa waiver, which costs €7 (around £6) and is similar to the US-style Esta 'visa-waiver'.

The waiver is required by islanders travelling to the EU for any amount of time – including, for example, a day trip to St Malo.

A spokesperson told Express: "People travelling on a (CI)-variant British passport are required to be in possession of an ETIAS travel authorisation when travelling for a short stay to the 30 European countries requiring ETIAS."

The ETIAS is valid for three years, or until a passport expires. Under-18s or over-70s will be exempt from the charge.

The system will require islanders to apply for an online permit and submit personal information such as address, employment details and any criminal convictions, as well as contact information when in the country of destination.

The EU Commission has said it will run a six-month "transitional period" after the ETIAS is introduced, which means those travelling will be expected to apply for the waiver, but will not automatically be refused entry at the border without it.

This comes as the EU confirmed that its new entry and exit system (EES) for the same list of countries would be launched on 10 November. Under this system, travellers will have to provide biometric information, such as fingerprints and facial scans, at the border.

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