British citizens may have to apply online and pay to travel to Europe after the UK leaves the EU, under plans being drawn up by the bloc for a visa waiver programme similar to the US system. The scheme would cover all visitors to the passport-free 26-nation Schengen zone – of which Britain is not a member – from countries that do not need a visa to enter, EU sources confirmed. But after Brexit, British citizens could have to apply through the Etias scheme and pay to visit, legal experts said. The Schengen zone includes all 27 other EU member states except Ireland, which opted out like Britain, and Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, and Romania, which are waiting to join the zone. Britain has also so far refused to guarantee the residence and other rights of EU citizens already in Britain unless it receives assurances from the EU on the status of British nationals on the continent.

Source: The Guardian September 09, 2016 18:59 UTC