The European Union exempts citizens of 60 countries from visa requirements on condition that they pay a fee of 7 euros

Heba Press – Casablanca

The European Union continues to update the entry procedures into the “Schengen” area, pending the implementation of the electronic visa, which is currently being prepared to be ready by 2027 at the latest, as previously explained by the Union.

In the meantime, a new system, ETIAS, will be introduced from the end of this year, which will allow visa exemption for entry in exchange for the payment of a 7 euro fee. This system will include some travellers from outside the European Union, notably. Britons.

Under the new rules, travellers from outside the European Union, including Britain, will have to apply digitally for a visa waiver to travel within the European Union for up to 90 days, and for longer stays an entry visa will be required.

The visa waiver, which will apply to citizens of more than 60 third countries, such as the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Japan and Australia, will be available for travel to most Schengen countries, with the exception of Ireland, Cyprus, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Alongside the launch of the ETIAS system, the Entry and Exit System (EES) will be activated in November 2024. This system requires travellers to register their fingerprints and take their photos when entering the European Union.

As a reference, the objective of the EES system is to improve border controls and prevent overstays, thereby reinforcing the effectiveness of the overall security measures adopted by the European Union.