The rules for travelling to Europe will change starting in 2025 for visitors from the US and another 60 countries who wish to enter an EU Schengen country.
A new visa-waiver system
Europe is the most visited region in the world, and the new obligatory ETIAS visa-waiver system, due to take effect next year, is aimed at protecting and strengthening Europe's borders amid mounting terror threats. The ETIAS - European Travel Information and Authorization System - will apply to travellers from some 60 countries who are entering any member country of the Europe Schengen zone. This currently includes 23 countries, as well as to six non-EU countries plus three European microstates for a total of 32 countries - which means registering for such holiday favourites as Italy, France, Germany, Greece, Spain and even the Vatican City.
Applicable to visitors from the US, Canada, Australia and more
American citizens as well as travellers from some sixty other countries will require an ETIAS visa waiver to travel for short stays to any of the 32 countries listed, with the eligible countries also including Canada, Mexico and Australia.
A simple online application process
The application process can be done online and it should only take about ten minutes to fill out the form. It is necessary to have a valid passport, an e-mail address and a debit or credit card to pay the €7 application fee. Travellers younger than 18 or older than 70 years old will be exempted from the fee although they still need to obtain the ETIAS approval.
The ETIAS will be valid for 3 years
The authorization is valid for three years or until a passport expires, and travellers holding the ETIAS can re-enter Europe multiple times within the three-year period. The scheme will go into effect presumably during the first half of 2025 and there will be a six-month transitional period, during which the ETIAS requirement will not apply except for travellers entering Europe for the first time. For information: https://etias.com/articles/visa-waiver-for-visiting-the-european-union
