Visiting Europe is going to get a little more complicated and expensive for most US travelers with next year’s new visa requirements taking effect.
According to the official travel site of the European Union, visitors from more than 60 countries that are visa-exempt will be mandated to apply for European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) approval ahead of their trips starting in 2024.
ETIAS visas are not physical documents; they are electronically linked to the traveler’s passport.
According to EU documentation, ETIAS “is an entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals traveling to any of these 30 European countries.”
ETIAS approval is intended only for short-term stays, up to 90 days in any 180-day period. ETIAS approval is valid for three years or until the passport it is registered to expire, whichever comes first.
When the ETIAS requirement is put into place next year, applications will be available through an official website and mobile app. To apply, travelers must provide their (or if they are a parent or legal guardian, their minor’s) passport information or another travel document.
The ETIAS processing fee is set at 7 euros ($7.74), but applicants younger than 18 or older than 70 can apply for free.
Travelers will still be subject to border formalities on arrival, and an ETIAS visa is not a guarantee for entry.
