Travel warning for Britons before booking hotels in Spain, France and more
Those heading to Europe should make sure they have all documentation
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Britons travelling to some European countries will soon need to have a European Union travel permit.
This scheme is known as the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), and it links the permit to the passport of the traveller.
This will be needed in 30 European countries from 2024. The countries include tourist hotspots like Spain, France, Greece, Germany and Cyprus.
Getting this approved does not usually take long, but a statement on the EU website warned this should be done before even booking travel.
The rules apply to those travelling to France
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It said: "We strongly advise you to obtain the ETIAS travel authorisation before you buy your tickets and book your hotels.
"Most applications will be processed within minutes and at the latest within 96 hours.
"However, some applicants may be asked to provide additional information or documentation or to participate in an interview with national authorities, which may take up to additional 30 days."
To apply, travellers need to fill out a form. This can also be done by an authorised party, such as a family member or travel agent.
Applicants will also need to pay a 7€ application charge.
It is also important to ensure travel documents, such as passports, are up-to-date and have plenty of time left before they expire.
It continued: "We advise you not to travel with a document that will expire soon.
"While it is possible to apply for an ETIAS travel authorisation using a travel document which is valid for less than three months from the date you submit the application, you should be aware that you will be refused entry at the border, unless you have very good reasons to be accepted (for example humanitarian grounds)."
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Travellers are recommended to wait for approval before booking
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While it is best to hold off on booking until the ETIAS is approved, travellers should have a rough idea of where they are going before filling out their application.
The statement continued: "When you apply for an ETIAS travel authorisation, you are required to indicate the first country you intend to stay in.
"This information is used to process your application.
"However, once you have your travel authorisation in hand, you can change your plans and travel to any of these 30 European countries."
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