Travellers have been alerted that they only have two weeks left to visit Romania and Bulgaria before border changes make it more challenging and time-consuming for Brits to plan holidays in these Balkan nations. Unlike other EU travel restrictions impacting Brits due to Brexit, this shift has been over a decade in the making.
Brits will need to verify their eligibility for an ETIAS permit before setting off as Romania and Bulgaria join the Schengen Zone, thereby extending the Schengen border – the EU’s scheme for countries in the European Union to have reduced border controls. Air and sea borders around Romania and Bulgaria were already altered in March, so flights from the UK to these countries won’t differ from the past nine months.
The change lies in travelling between them as their official accession to the Schengen Zone on January 1 means fewer border checks when crossing from Bulgaria to Romania or vice versa. Random border checks are anticipated until June 2025, and this is when Brits will need to have their ETIAS permits, according to Magdalena Petrusic from Plitvice Lakes Tours.
Furthermore, from January 1, any time spent in either Bulgaria or Romania will count towards the 90-day limit non-Schengen citizens can stay in the Schengen Zone without a visa. Both countries have been working towards joining the Schengen Zone for 13 years.
The expert highlighted that UK travellers will now need to plan their trips well in advance, ensuring they have time to submit their €7 (£5.77) applications and receive their permit. The ETIAS system is set to be fully up and running next year.
These travel permits don’t give holders the right to study or work in a country, but they do allow visits of up to 90 days within a 180 day period. ETIAS could pose a significant hurdle for unsuspecting Brits planning European travels next year, as it requires all citizens of non-EU or non-Schengen countries with visa-free access to hold a permit.
The processing time for applications, which can be submitted online or via a mobile app, can range from a few minutes to a few days. The expert advised allowing a week’s buffer to account for any potential delays in application processing.
However, once you’ve got your ETIAS permit, it’s valid for three years, or until your passport expires. It will become a compulsory requirement for travellers once the system is fully operational.