Travellers have been warned that they only have two weeks left to freely explore Romania and Bulgaria before border changes make it more challenging and time-consuming for Brits to plan holidays in these Balkan nations.
Brits will need to verify if they can obtain an ETIAS permit before setting off on their journeys as Romania and Bulgaria are joining the Schengen Zone, thereby extending the Schengen border.
Unlike other EU border changes impacting Brits due to Brexit, this move has been over a decade in the making.
Air and sea borders around Romania and Bulgaria were already altered in March, so flying from the UK to these countries won’t differ from the past nine months.
The change lies in travelling between them as the countries’ 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 to continue 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 are permitted to 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 submit their €7 (£5.77) applications and receive their permits before setting off.
The ETIAS system is set to be fully operational next year.
These travel permits do not grant the right to work or study in a country but do allow visits of up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
ETIAS could pose a significant hurdle for unsuspecting Brits planning to travel in Europe next year as it becomes a mandatory requirement for all citizens of non-EU or non-Schengen countries with visa-free access.
The processing time for applications can range from a few minutes to a few days, either online or via a mobile app. The expert advised allowing a week’s leeway to account for any potential delays in application processing.
However, once received, an ETIAS permit is valid for three years, or until your passport expires.