Brits will have to pay £6 to travel to Europe from 2023 under new rules drawn up by the European Commission.

The long-planned European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will finally come into force in 18 months’ time, the EU said in an update

Under the scheme, British travellers – and anyone else outside the EU – will have to apply for a travel pass online before boarding their flight. The visa will be valid for three years and can be used for multiple trips.

While the process appears relatively straightforward, the prospect of more form-filling – not to mention an additional €7 fee – will frustrate travellers and the travel industry.

Visitors will be asked for information about their identity, passport, education, job, recent travel and criminal convictions.

The update from the EU said: “Once ETIAS is in place, non-EU citizens travelling to the Schengen area who are exempt from the visa requirement will need to register and obtain an authorisation before travelling.

“The system will cross-check travellers against EU information systems for internal security, borders and migration before their trip, helping to identify ahead of time people who may pose a risk to security or health, as well as compliance with migration rules.”

It added: “Visa-exempt non-EU nationals will only need a few minutes to fill in an online application which in a vast majority of cases (expected to be over 95%) will result in automatic approval. The process will be simple, fast and affordable: the ETIAS authorisation will cost €7, which will be a one-off fee, and will be valid for 3 years and for multiple entries.”

Under 18s will be exempt.