ETIAS Requirements for UK citizens
ETIAS APPLICATIONStarting in 2026, British citizens will be required to register with the new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) to visit any country in the Schengen Area of Europe.
In order to successfully apply, travellers from the United Kingdom must meet the ETIAS requirements.
Europe’s requirements for British visitors
Travelling abroad means meeting the entry requirements of the destination country. Europe is no exception. For British citizens, there are few requirements to travel to most places on the continent.
To visit any country in the Schengen Area, the only requirement at present is a valid UK passport.
An electronic visa waiver system called ETIAS will be implemented in 2026 for the Schengen Area and countries in process of joining Schengen. This will be a new requirement for British passport holders.
Do Brits need a visa for Europe?
British citizens do not need to obtain a visa to enter any of the countries in the Schengen Area. This is because the UK is on the EU’s visa exemption list. This will most likely continue to be the case in the future.
Starting in 2026, it will be necessary for Brits to register online with the ETIAS visa waiver platform to continue to enjoy visa-free entry to Europe.
Will UK citizens need ETIAS?
Yes, British visitors will have to register their details with ETIAS before they travel to any Schengen country from 2026.
ETIAS is not a visa. It is a waiver that will allow travellers from the UK to continue to visit Europe without applying for a visa.
How can British citizens register with ETIAS?
Citizens of the UK must complete the ETIAS application form online to obtain their visa waiver for Europe.
This involves providing information about the traveller. The applicant must enter the following details:
- Basic personal information
- Passport details
- Means of contact
- Security information (questions about health and past travel)
The ETIAS requirements for UK citizens include providing the following items:
- Valid UK passport
- Current email address
- Method of payment (credit or debit card)
The email address is important as all correspondence, including confirmation of the ETIAS approval will be delivered to the account provided by the British applicant.
Personal information required for ETIAS
The following personal information is required from British passport holders applying for ETIAS:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Nationality and place of birth
- Gender
Contact information required for ETIAS
In addition, British applicants must provide contact details, including the following:
- Home address
- Email address
- Phone number
British passport requirements for Europe
The only current requirement for British citizens visiting Europe is a valid passport. This will continue to be important when the ETIAS is launched.
An up-to-date UK passport will be required to complete the ETIAS form. The following details must be provided:
- Passport number
- Date of issue
- Date of expiry
How many months do you need on a UK passport to travel to Europe?
The ETIAS requirements state that applicants’ passports must be valid for at least 3 months after the intended date of departure from the Schengen Area. This will include the British passport requirements for ETIAS when the system goes live.
How to cancel a lost or stolen passport?
If a British citizen’s passport is lost or stolen after registering with ETIAS, they should immediately report it online via the UK government’s website. It will then be necessary to replace the passport.
The travel authorisation will be rendered invalid with the old British passport, since it is linked to the document originally registered on the ETIAS platform.
Therefore, the traveller will be required to register with ETIAS again using the replacement passport.
British passport applications abroad
If a UK passport is stolen while travelling in the Schengen Area, the British citizen is advised to report it online immediately to cancel it. If they do not plan to travel in the next 6 weeks, they can apply for a replacement passport.
However, if the individual plans to travel within the following 6 weeks, they will need to apply for an emergency travel document.
How to obtain an emergency travel document
Emergency travel documents for British citizens can be obtained by applying online, providing contact details and proof of the UK national’s travel plans. It is often necessary to attend an appointment at the nearest British embassy to receive the emergency travel document.
It usually takes around 2 working days to process an application for an emergency travel document for Brits overseas.
Countries that British citizens can visit with ETIAS
The ETIAS will grant British citizens entry to any of the countries that make up the Schengen Area. These states share an open borders policy, meaning that visitors from the UK can travel freely between the different nations once they enter the first Schengen destination.
The Schengen Area is comprised of 25 European Union (EU) countries and the 4 European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member states. These nations share a common immigration and visa policy towards British nationals. Cyprus is in the process of joining the Schengen area and will also require ETIAS.
There are also 4 European microstates that are only accessible from Schengen countries and have no additional visa requirements. This means that Brits will be able to visit these countries with the ETIAS visa waiver as well.
Passengers from the UK who have registered with ETIAS will be able to visit the following destinations:
Type of trip that requires an ETIAS
The ETIAS will allow citizens of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to enter Schengen countries for the following purposes:
- Tourism: Visit European destinations on holiday or to visit family or friends.
- Business: Attend business meetings or business events such as conferences.
- Transit: Take part in short study programmes that last no more than 90 days.
You do not need ETIAS is you will remain in the international transit area of an airport in the Schengen Area. However, you must apply for ETIAS to transit if you will leave this area and enter the territory of a Schengen country.
90-day limit for British nationals in Europe
British passport holders with an ETIAS visa waiver can stay in the Schengen Area for a total of 90 days within any 180-day period.
The 90 days are not specific to any one country. For example, if a British citizen is staying in Spain for most of their visit, but makes a short trip to France for a week before returning to Spain, the time in France counts towards the 90-day total, since both countries are in the Schengen Area.
Brits who intend to stay in a Schengen country in the long term and/or work there will require the relevant visa and/or permits for that state.