ETIAS e-visa scheme delayed to 2025, says EU Council

The launch of a new e-visa scheme for visitors to the European Union has been delayed again, until next year.

This follows a previous delay announced early last year.

The European Travel Information and Authorisation Scheme, or ETIAS, would allow British nationals to register online and pay a seven euro fee for a three-year permit to the EU and wider Schengen area.

This would include British Gibraltar residents, unless a treaty is agreed exempting them.

The scheme is linked to the launch of the EU's Entry-Exit System, which would check biometric data as third-party nationals enter and exit the zone.

The EU Council says the new timeframe would see the EES system become operational from this autumn, with ETIASready to start in mid-2025.