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For a number of years now, Europe has been touting the release of a digital travel permit, or in technical terms, an ETIAS, that would apply to all Americans flying to the continent.
From 2021 up until now, it’s been delayed more times than we can count.
Though some news outlets reported earlier this year that 2025 would be the year entry requirements for flying to Europe would change, we really called it, as usual, and predicted back changes would come in 2026 at the earliest.
Now, we’ve heard it from the European Commission themselves.
The ETIAS website has finally launched, and along with it, a confirmation from European Union authorities that the new document will only become an official requirement in the last quarter of 2026.
In their words, “no action is required from travelers at this point”.
If you’re wondering what an ETIAS is, or what exactly does a digital travel permit means, it functions essentially as an online visa, though it isn’t formally called one, without which you will not be able to enter Europe.
Many countries have released different versions of this over the years, under different acronyms: ETA, NZeTA (for New Zealand), and even ESTA in the case of the U.S.
Yep, you might not know this, but the U.S. also requires Europeans and many other foreign nationals to apply for this permit before traveling.
You simply wouldn’t be aware if you’re an American, as it’s your home country and thus visa requirements don’t concern you, or Canadian, who have an exemption.
Europe’s ETIAS will be imposed on all current visa-waiver countries that enjoy low-bureaucracy access to the European Union.
This includes allies like the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Mexico.
It will cover a whopping 29 countries who are part of Europe’s single customs union and border-free Schengen Area:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- 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
Soon enough, the small Mediterranean country of Cyprus will also join the Schengen Area, potentially before 2025, so watch out for that one (link).
Essentially, before traveling to any of the countries listed above, U.S. citizens will have to first request their ETIAS permit, or else they will not be able to board their flights.
It’s hardly exciting news when visa requirements change for Americans—remember Brazil? (link)—but hey, at least the EU is keeping it simple!
Once the ETIAS goes live, all you have to do is create an account on the official website, already available here (link), fill out the form, answer a series of security questions pertaining to your character, personal life, and travel purpose, and pay a 7 euro fee.
Usually, Electronic Travel Authorization forms take between 10 and 15 minutes to be completed, and they’re usually processed immediately, or only a few seconds upon submission.
Once your ETIAS is approved, which should happen instantly for most, unless you’re deemed to be a high-risk traveler or a criminal, you will receive it on the same email you provided when creating your account.
An ETIAS is valid for short stays in the aforementioned Schengen countries, namely 90 days out of any 180-day period.
Not individually, but across all of Schengen:
Hypothetically, if you’ve flown to France, kickstarted the clock, and used up 7 of those days in Paris from May 1, 2025, then you will have 83 days left to visit other Schengen countries until October 28, 2025.
As the EU Commission has stated, “you must be in possession of a valid ETIAS travel authorisation during your entire stay”.
Travelers may leave and return at any time, as long as they respect the 90-180 day rule, and their ETIAS remains valid.
Those who are found to be in breach of the short-stay rule, something that will become far easier to catch as soon as the accompanying Entry-Exit System (EES), gets put into motion, might be penalised.
Depending on the length of overstay and the severity, this could involve having their ETIAS revoked, and thus their travel privileges, getting issued hefty fines, and a worst case scenario, even a multiple-year travel ban.
ETIAS will be valid for 3 years from the date of issue, or it may expire sooner if your passport is due to expire earlier.
EU authorities are reminding tourists once again that their passports must not be due to expire for at least 3 months following their intended date of entry.
In the event it is expiring sooner, they will not be able to board EU-bound flights, or other transportation modes even in the possession of a valid ETIAS.
For all the dual U.S.-EU nationals out there, we hear your concerns:
You are not affected by these changes, as you are a citizen of the European Union as well.
However, in that case, you should make sure you always book any EU-bound flights using your EU passport.
Travelling to Europe on an American one, you will need an ETIAS, even if you can show proof you’re European too.
It’s a simple rule:
Going to the U.S.? Blue passport so as to bypass the ESTA requirement.
Flying to Europe? Grab the red one, and you’re exempt from ETIAS.
It’s a fast-changing travel landscape and an increasingly confusing world to navigate.
Travel requirements for Americans are changing across the board, and you don’t want to left out of the news loop only to get an unpleasant surprise at the airport, or arriving at a foreign border.
Check out all the latest updates, including a similar one from the U.K., here. (Link)
Ready For Your Trip? Check The Latest Entry Requirements For Your Destination Here
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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