A PRO-EU group has hit out at the higher costs and more paperwork Scots will face when visiting EU countries in 2025.
Next year will see the introduction of new Brexit barriers to UK passport holders – including the new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which will require all UK citizens (including children) travelling to EU countries to complete an online application, provide personal details, answer security questions and pay a €7 fee.
Currently people can hop over to countries such as France, Spain, Italy, Holland and Greece without a visa, given the UK's visa-free agreement with the EU.
The scheme was announced by the European Commission in November 2016, after the UK voted to leave the EU, and was implemented into legislation in September 2018.
Known as a ‘short stay’ visa, ETIAS covers visits, holidays or business trips with a duration of up to 90 days and taken within a 180-day period and is valid for three years.
Travellers must also apply at least 96 hours before departure.
It is thought it will be formally introduced in the second half of 2025, and those without will not be allowed entry into any one of the thirty European countries.
The new EU Entry/Exit System (EES) – an electronic system that will replace the physical stamping of passports when you go through passport control when arriving at and leaving a destination – is also set to be introduced in the new year.
David Clarke, chair of the European Movement in Scotland, says the new rules and procedures show how badly misled voters were about leaving the EU.
“People like Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage said there would be no downsides to leaving the EU. What we got was a smaller economy, less trade, less choice, dearer food and clothing and more complex and more expensive travel,” he said.
“Brexit is a national tragedy, but it can be reversed. We need to rejoin the single European market, as the first step to getting back what the Brexit side duped people into giving up.”
Countries Scots will need a permit for are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Romania, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and European microstates with open borders including Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City.
