The new 2025 journey guidelines that would price Brits hundreds and trigger enormous queues
As the UK continues to experience more of the changes accompanying Brexit, new travel rules for Brits are being introduced which could cause major disruption if caught offguard
Brits travelling to Europe now have to follow a whole host of new travel rules that could cost thousands and cause huge border queues.
Following the UK’s exit from the EU, wanderlust Brits will be disappointed to hear that travelling freely throughout Europe will now be a thing of the past. One of the biggest changes to travel following Brexit will be European VISAs.
Brits will require an ETIAS visa-waiver to travel to the Schengen Zone (an area mapping 29 EU countries that have officially abolished border controls at their crossings). This European free-movement zone includes popular tourist destinations such as France, Germany, and Spain.
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The visa will officially cost €7 (£6), if applied-for online, and is valid either for three years or until your passport expires. However, since the ETIAS was established in 2018, hundreds of scarily realistic fake application websites have cropped up.
European border agency, Frontex, have warned that some unlucky nationals may fall victim to the clever websites offering ‘early-bird discounts’ and other fake fraud scams.
Francois Laruelle, Director of the Etias Central Unit Division at Frontex, said: “We are aware of several sites that claim to already accept Etias applications. Travellers should be very cautious about those websites.”
A recent BBC News article estimated that around £3m a day is lost to fraud, whilst an article by the Sydney Morning Herald explained how the ETIAS scam is worsened through search engines. The article explained: “Google makes money from pushing scam sites to the top of the placement ladder, elevating them above the official e-visa websites on their search response page.”
As well as the potential of holidaymakers losing large amounts of money, it is reported that ETIAS applications could take up to 96 hours if further checks are required. But VISA applications are not the only travel delay predicted in 2025.
In 2025, the EU will be rolling out a digital Entry/Exit System (EES), using biometric data like fingerprints and facial scans instead of passport stamps. For voyages via sea, checks are done before departure on UK soil, whereas at airports, the process happens upon landing.
Drivers will also have to exit their vehicles for physical checks, sparking fears of even longer queues at ferry ports. Border controls across Europe are allegedly ‘not ready’ for the rollout, with queues estimated to last at least 14 hours at some ferry points such as Dover.
Slovenia have estimated delays may be four times longer than usual, whilst Austria predicts processing times will at least double.
Brits are also set to lose more money through tourist taxes, which appear to be rising globally, as well as in Europe. In 2024, Amsterdam increased its tourist tax to more than 12% for hotel stays, whilst New Zealand charges 100$NZ.
Meanwhile, Venice currently charges tourists €5 a day and may be hiking up the prices further. Barcelona and Thailand have also confirmed they’ll be raising their travel levies.
Experts expect ‘potential chaos’ will cause delays during the rollout of new measures. Government officials advise checking and organising travel well-ahead of time, as well as packing extra supplies of food and water before queueing.
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