New Visa Requirements for European Travels by Americans in 2025
Remember in 2022 when travel to Europe required a Covid test within 72 hours of travel and a vaccine card, along with your passport? It was nerve-wracking, but we all managed to find Covid testing centers in international cities. It was nice to cruise for a couple of years without worrying more than grabbing our passports and snacks and heading to the airport. Well, that was SO 2024.
Beginning in 2025, there are three new travel requirements: ETA, EES, and ETIAS.
The Cliff Notes:
⭐ WHO needs a visa to travel to Europe:
Anyone traveling to a European country from the United States (or other visa-exempt country) will need an ETIAS.
Anyone traveling to *or transiting through* the UK will need an ETA
⭐ WHEN will it be enforced:
The ETA is effective immediately for all US citizens. Apply HERE
The ETIAS will be enforced approximately six months after the Electronic Entry System (EES) begins. As of Jan 2025, there is no start date scheduled for EES.
⭐ WHEN should I apply:
The ETIAS does not have a start date yet. Check your requirements about 30 days before you fly to be safe
For those who like to live on the edge, the ETA can sometimes be obtained in 24-72 hours. For the rest of us who enjoy our stomach lining the way it is, allow 30 days :)
Ensure your passport is valid for more than three months after your intended departure date. If you are a frequent traveler, you might want to renew your passport first; otherwise, you will end up paying for new ones along with your new passport.
⭐ How long are they valid? It is valid up to three years or when your passport expires, whichever comes first.
The Dry Deets:
ETA - Electronic Travel Authorization is a requirement for all visitors and transit passengers who do not currently need a visa, except British and Irish citizens, who need it before arrival. This requirement is effective immediately for all travelers from the US and beginning April 2025 for other European countries. It costs 10£, around $13. It’s important to note that, unlike the ETIAS, you will need an ETA even if your flight transits through the UK. Apply HERE.
EES - The Electronic Entry/Exit System is an automated IT system for non-EU citizens to enter or exit any EU or Schengen Area country. You’ll scan your passport at an automated self-service kiosk instead of manually stamping it at the border. You can find details HERE. Initially scheduled for November of 2024, the EES is delayed until early to mid-2025.
ETIAS - The European Travel Information and Authorization System is slated to begin in 2025. This form can be obtained through an easy online application process for a fee of 7€ (about $7.30). It’s recommended that first-time applicants apply 30 days or more before travel dates and renew 120 days before planned travel.
Which countries have this requirement:
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
➡️ You can find the answers to detailed questions HERE.
While all travel requirements feel overwhelming when you’re in the thick of trip planning, these new requirements only require an action every three years. Despite the drudgery of a couple of extra steps, it is quite innocuous as long as you plan ahead. And hey, at least you don’t have to have your nose swabbed!