If you live in the United States of one of over 60 countries that do not require a visa to travel anywhere in Europe, you need to make sure you are aware of the changes coming to required documents for travel. But there’s definitely no need to panic! You just need to be aware and prepared for this process starting in mid-2025. Here’s everything you need to know about the new travel authorization that will be required for travel to Europe.
What Is ETIAS?
The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) is a new travel requirement for passport holders of 59 countries, including the United States, to enter Europe. It’s basically a travel authorization to enter Europe for residents of countries that do not currently require visas to travel to Europe. Scroll to the bottom to see which countries this impacts!
Photo by Alexey Larionov on Unsplash
This may seem sudden but this isn’t a new idea. In fact, it was first proposed to the European Commission in 2016, passed in 2018, and slated to go into effect in mid-2025. So if you’re planning to travel to Europe in 2025 or beyond, this will affect you!
How do I apply for a travel authorization to Europe?
This is the easy part! To apply for your travel authorization, you’ll need your U.S. passport and a credit card. (Other countries may have different requirements so check here for more details). You will need to provide the following information
- Personal information including your name, date and place of birth, nationality, home address, parents’ first names, email address and phone number
- Travel document details, such as passport information
- Details about your level of education and current occupation
- Details about your intended travel and stay in any of the countries requiring ETIAS
- Details about any criminal convictions, any past travels to war or conflict zones, and whether you have recently been subject of a decision requiring you to leave the territory of any country
You can fill out the application online and pay with a credit card. The authorization will then be electronically linked to your passport.
Applications are not available as ETIAS is not yet active but full details on what additional information is required based on your home country is available on the ETIAS website.
How much does a travel authorization to Europe cost?
If you’re worried about the skyrocketing cost of travel, this is one fee that should be easy to afford. The cost per authorization application is only 7 euro, payable online by credit card. And if you’re under 18 or over 70, you’re exempt from payment.
How long does a travel authorization last?
This is not a process that you’ll have to repeat over and over again. An completed authorization is valid for three years or whenever your passport expires (whichever comes first). But you must make sure that your passport is valid for at least three months at the time of travel. As a good rule of thumb, you should have at least six months of validity on your passport when traveling.
What countries does ETIAS include?
The following 30 countries in the European Union will require visa-exempt travelers to have a completed ETIAS authorization before entrance.
- 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
What happens if I forget to do a travel authorization before my trip?
If you’re wondering if you’ll be denied entry to your travel country if you forget to do your travel authorization, the answer is YES. But the process is designed to make it easy to complete in advance of your travel. Rumor has it that airlines will prompt you to complete the process before you’ll ever board your flight. Much like the passport requirement, if you don’t have it, you’ll be grounded. That’s why I’m here to tell you to get ready. This is a new process for all of us!
Do I live in a visa-exempt country for travel to Europe?
Finally, this is the piece that really matters. Does any of this apply to you? If you live in the United States (which most of you reading this do), the answer is yes, this applies to you. As a US citizen, you are not required to have a visa to travel to Europe, which makes you from a visa-exempt country. If you aren’t a US citizen, this graphic should help you figure out if you are also visa-exempt for European travel.
Keep in mind that “visa-exempt” only applies to short-term stays (typically 90 days). If you plan to travel to Europe to work or as a student, you will still need to appropriate visa in addition to a travel authorization.
One final cautionary word…
As with any new process, travelers will be looking for information and tips and tricks to make their travel easier. Don’t look to third parties to assist you with your ETIAS travel authorization. Where there’s opportunity, there’s a scammer! So be sure to only use the official ETIAS website when planning your European travel.
