Travelling to the European Union from a nation outside the bloc is set to get a bit more complex as of next year.

The EU has just announced that its European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will be put in place in May 2023.

Sounds a bit complex, right?

In short, the ETIAS is a bit like a visa, although considerably simpler and cheaper. If you’re aged between 18 and 70, acquiring an ETIAS will only set travellers back €7. It hasn’t yet been clarified whether individuals outside of said age range will be eligible for a reduced rate.

If you’re travelling within the EU or are an EU resident, you are exempt from paying these fees.

Having said that, travellers stemming from any other country – that includes the United States and the United Kingdom – will have to go through this procedure.

Applying for an ETIAS can be done online via a largely automated IT system and approval is expected to be granted within minutes for an overwhelming majority of applicants.

The EU noted that in very rare cases, approval will be granted within a month.

Once ETIAS authorisation is granted, this is valid for unlimited EU entries within a three-year period.

What do you make of this?