By Hannah Ahmed
Copyright birminghammail
UK tourists in Spain could soon be hit with new travel regulations as current EU rules face a ‘shake-up.’ Millions of Brits, and other holidaymakers from non-EU locations, will soon be hit with a €20 (£17.45) entry fee into Spain and 29 European nations as part of the latest travel initiative. Following Brexit, those with a UK passport have been expected to register with the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) to gain entry to certain EU destinations. Very soon the UK will fall into the category of visa-exempt non-European countries when the requirement is forecast to be brought in towards the end of 2026. READ MORE: Ryanair flight diverted as ‘rowdy stag do’ removed However, under the proposed regulations, there are a few people who will be exempt from the charge upon entry to the country. Brits over 70 will not have to pay the fee, as well as children under 18. Unfortunately, if you are above this age, you will have to pay the cost, and if your children and you are above 18, but below 70 it could see an extra €80 slapped onto the price of your holiday, the Express reported. The charge of €20 per person is a big difference from the original proposed fee of €7. It is believed this amendment is due to Brussels arguing prices need to be higher in order to cover Covid recovery costs and more technical features. Officials with the EU have maintained the hike is necessary. READ MORE: Major airline cancels all flights as carrier ceases operations This scheme has been spoken about several times over the last few years, but the EU’s Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs has now estimated it should be in place by the final quarter of 2026. There is said to be a grace period for the initiative, before it becomes fully mandatory by 2027. It is expected most applications will be “approved immediately”, but there are believed to be reasons as to why yours could be rejected, including possessing an invalid passport, being considered a “risk” or having a Schengen Information System (SIS) alert, submitting an incomplete application, or not attending a mandatory interview.
