EU trips may require ESTA-type pass

POST-BREXIT visitors to the Continent could require US-style electronic travel documents, a Commons committee heard.

Immigration minister Robert Goodwill told MPs the EU was considering adopting a version of America’s Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) but it was too early know if this would apply to UK residents after withdrawal.

Mr Goodwill pointed out that the US system was not journey specific and some ESTAs lasted for 10 years.

SNP member of the European Scrutiny Committee Alan Brown told the minister that Leave advocates in the referendum campaign had said there would be no need for visa-like travel schemes after Brexit, adding: “An ESTA still takes time and costs money and it is something people have to repeat.”

Mr Goodwill said: “We are at a very early stage of the EU potential scheme and we will see how that develops. British people are now used to the US ESTA scheme and, therefore, we view with interest how the European scheme might develop.

“In principle, this type of scheme is generally there to help enhance security. It isn’t just flights, it could be people using ferries, or other border crossings into the European Union.”

The Government has said it intends to keep the common travel area with the Irish Republic, an arrangement which dates back to the 1920s.