ETIAS after Brexit: a UK traveller's guide

Why UK travellers now need ETIAS

After Brexit, UK nationals lost EU citizenship rights and became third-country nationals for Schengen purposes. The UK was added to the visa-waiver list, which is precisely the list that ETIAS applies to.

What stays the same

• You can still visit Schengen for up to 90 days in any 180-day period
• No visa required for tourism, business meetings, or short study
• UK passport remains valid (no EU passport queue, though)
• Ireland is unaffected, Common Travel Area rules still apply

What changes with ETIAS

• €20 fee per traveller (free under 18 and over 70)
• Apply online before you travel, no walk-up at the border
• Linked to your passport: get a new passport, reapply
• Airlines will check your ETIAS status at check-in

Brexit-era travel issues to be aware of

Beyond ETIAS, UK travellers must also clear the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES) which fingerprints non-EU arrivals, count days carefully under the 90/180 rule, and ensure their passport was issued less than 10 years ago and is valid for at least 3 months beyond departure.

Living or working in the EU

ETIAS is for short stays only. UK citizens planning to move, work, or study long-term in an EU country still need a national long-stay visa or residence permit from that specific country, ETIAS does not cover this.