• Thirty European countries will soon require some travellers to obtain pre-approval to visit. The list comprises: Iceland. Getty
    Thirty European countries will soon require some travellers to obtain pre-approval to visit. The list comprises: Iceland. Getty
  • Malta. Getty
    Malta. Getty
  • Estonia. Getty
    Estonia. Getty
  • Luxembourg. Getty
    Luxembourg. Getty
  • Liechtenstein. Getty
    Liechtenstein. Getty
  • Bulgaria. Getty
    Bulgaria. Getty
  • Austria. AFP
    Austria. AFP
  • Sweden. Unsplash/ Dylan Shaw
    Sweden. Unsplash/ Dylan Shaw
  • Croatia. Getty
    Croatia. Getty
  • Belgium. Corbis
    Belgium. Corbis
  • Cyprus. AFP
    Cyprus. AFP
  • Czech Republic. Corbis
    Czech Republic. Corbis
  • Denmark. Alamy
    Denmark. Alamy
  • Finland. Reuters
    Finland. Reuters
  • France. Reuters
    France. Reuters
  • Germany. AFP
    Germany. AFP
  • Switzerland. AFP
    Switzerland. AFP
  • Greece. Getty
    Greece. Getty
  • Hungary. AFP
    Hungary. AFP
  • Italy. EPA
    Italy. EPA
  • Latvia. EPA
    Latvia. EPA
  • Lithuania. Getty
    Lithuania. Getty
  • The Netherlands. AFP
    The Netherlands. AFP
  • Norway. AFP
    Norway. AFP
  • Poland. EPA
    Poland. EPA
  • Lisbon. AFP
    Lisbon. AFP
  • Romania. Corbis
    Romania. Corbis
  • Slovakia. iStockphoto
    Slovakia. iStockphoto
  • Slovenia. AFP
    Slovenia. AFP
  • Spain. AP
    Spain. AP

UAE, UK and US travellers will soon need to apply to visit 30 European countries


Farah Andrews
  • English
  • Arabic

From next year, people from the UAE, US, UK and Australia, among other countries, will require pre-approved online documentation to visit 30 countries in Europe.

Etias – the European Travel Information and Authorisation System – will compel 1.4 billion people from 58 countries that are currently visa-exempt to apply to visit.

The countries that will need advance authorisation to visit include Austria, Cyprus, Spain and Italy. The full list is below.

The Etias launch date in 2024 has not been announced.

The authorisation will be linked to a traveller’s passport and valid for up to three years or until the passport expires. Upon getting a new passport, travellers will require updated Etias travel authorisation.

"With a valid Etias travel authorisation, you can enter the territory of these European countries as often as you want for short-term stays – normally for up to 90 days in any 180-day period," explains the EU's official Etias website.

"However, it does not guarantee entry.

"When you arrive, a border guard will ask to see your passport and other documents and verify that you meet the entry conditions."

SchengenVisaInfo.com says the system "resembles the US Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (Esta), which serves a similar purpose". SchengenVisaInfo is an information source, not affiliated with the EU.

The change will affect a number of countries listed in the top 10 on the Henley Passport Index, including the UK (passport holders can currently access 188 countries visa-free), New Zealand (187 countries), Canada (185 countries) and the US (184 countries).

How and when to apply for Etias

"Most applications are processed within minutes," reads the EU Etias website, however, on some occasions it will take up to four days to process.

Milan's Linate airport. Italy will also require Etias travel authorisation in 2024. EPA
Milan's Linate airport. Italy will also require Etias travel authorisation in 2024. EPA

The site states, "Please note that this period could be extended by up to 14 days if you are requested to provide additional information or documentation, or up to 30 days if you are invited to an interview."

The information states that travellers should "apply for an Etias travel authorisation well in advance of your planned journey".

Applications will be possible via the official Etias website or mobile application and will cost €7 ($7.80).

Who will have to apply for Etias travel authorisation?

Nationals from the following countries will need to apply for Etias travel authorisation.

  • Albania
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina
  • Australia
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Brazil
  • Brunei
  • Canada
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Costa Rica
  • Dominica
  • El Salvador
  • Georgia
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala
  • Honduras
  • Hong Kong
  • Israel
  • Japan
  • Kiribati
  • Macao
  • Malaysia
  • Marshall Islands
  • Mauritius
  • Mexico
  • Micronesia
  • Moldova
  • Montenegro
  • New Zealand
  • Nicaragua
  • North Macedonia
  • Palau
  • Panama
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Samoa
  • Serbia
  • Seychelles
  • Singapore
  • Solomon Islands
  • South Korea
  • Taiwan
  • Timor-Leste
  • Tonga
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Tuvalu
  • Ukraine
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom
  • United States of America
  • Uruguay
  • Venezuela

Full list of European countries requiring Etias travel authorisation

From 2024, the following 30 European counties (EU and otherwise) will require visa-exempt travellers from the list above to have Etias travel authorisation. EU country Ireland is exempt from the list.

Travellers from Switzerland will require Etias travel authorisation. Unsplash / Patrick Janser
Travellers from Switzerland will require Etias travel authorisation. Unsplash / Patrick Janser
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Romania
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
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  • In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
  • Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
  • Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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One 45-minute class per week in Standard Arabic is not sufficient

The goal should be for grade 1 and 2 students to become fluent readers

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Grade 1 curricula should include oral instruction in Standard Arabic

First graders must regularly practice individual letters and combinations

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Improve the appearance of textbooks

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Indoor cricket in a nutshell

Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai

16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side

8 There are eight players per team

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5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls

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Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs

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Explainer: Tanween Design Programme

Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.

The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.

It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.

The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.

Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”

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Favourite holiday destination: Turkey - because the government look after animals so well there.

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Favourite music: Hard rock. I actually also perform as a rock DJ in Dubai.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Cricket World Cup League 2 Fixtures

Saturday March 5, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy (all matches start at 9.30am)

Sunday March 6, Oman v Namibia, ICC Academy

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Friday March 11, Oman v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium

Saturday March 12, UAE v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium

UAE squad

Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri, Muhammad Waseem, CP Rizwan, Vriitya Aravind, Asif Khan, Basil Hameed, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Karthik Meiyappan, Akif Raja, Rahul Bhatia

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Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
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  • Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
  • Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills. 
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  • Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
  • The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
  • Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds

 

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Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE

Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:

• Buy second hand stuff

 They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.

• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres

 Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.

• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.

Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.

• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home

Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.

Updated: July 27, 2023, 1:27 PM