OH BRITANNIA!
Just when you thought the chaos around being a British traveller couldn’t get any worse – the other brexit shoe has dropped. I took my time before writing this out of shear disbelief but here we are.
The EU will introduce a new visa waiver for visa-exempt non-EU citizens in November 2023 (ETIAS). As British passport holders now fit into this category, we will need to apply. ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is an entry permit which is electronically linked to the traveller’s passport. Imagine an ESTA for the schegen zone because even non-EU countries will required it?!
In total, there are 22 european countries where UK Citizens will need to have this visa waiver for. (well done brexiters! PS you cannot blame Boris and his mates for this one because you voted for it.)
I don’t know if you guys have been living under a rock since 2014, but the BREXIT vote happened in 2016 after a successful campaign was won by brexiters and the far right citizens of the UK’s propaganda of blaming being part of the EU and EU migratants for the countries poor management by the party in power. (yes im shaming you Conservatives and Liberal Democrats)
All of this after the UK applied THREE times to be part of the EU – the first two times was rejected due to distrust that the UK one day will decide to leave the EU because of great Britain’s notorious behaviour (check history and current day politics). Third time lucky I guess, it happened and then boom what happens in 2016? 51% of UK Citizens (who bothered to turn up and vote) voted to leave and that was that.
Politics aside, the brexit process happened and it was long and gruelling due to the UK wanting to have its cake and eat it too. Sadly for British Citizens who voted remain and happen to be travellers (ME) we have to suffer the consequences. Fast forward to 1st Jan 2020, we left the EU and now in 2023 we are going to have this bombshell. (Its the punishment for me!)
Also there will be a cost for this application which will later be announced with the full announcement.
Thats it, rant over!
I have signed up to find out information as soon as I have it – I will share it. Look out for the post with the full blown explanation of ETIAS.
Love and hugs,
Tillyah x