Europe has once again delayed the introduction of a new visa-free system, meaning that by May 2025, travelers from the United States and dozens of other countries will need pre-approval to enter most European countries.
The system, called ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authentication System), replaces manual stamping of passports with digital registration, and will protect travelers who pose a security risk or who intend to violate immigration laws. The purpose is to identify.
The system was originally scheduled to launch in 2016, but has been delayed multiple times, and just last week the European Union postponed its introduction to 2024. It is scheduled to be adopted in 30 European countries, including tourism hubs France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Greece.
ETIAS applies to more than 60 countries currently exempt from European visas, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan and Singapore.
Travelers from other countries will lose the privilege of visiting large parts of Europe using only their passports. Instead, you will also need to successfully complete an ETIAS application, similar to his ESTA process in the United States, which grants a tourist visa waiver.
The EU has warned that travelers need to apply for ETIAS well in advance before booking flights or hotels. Most applications are processed within minutes, but some applications may take several weeks.
Required information for ETIAS
Once the system is launched, travelers’ first step will be to download the ETIAS mobile app or visit the official ETIAS website.
Travelers must have a passport that is less than 10 years old and has a validity of no more than 3 months.
Travelers must provide passport data, home address, current occupation, education level, parents’ names, and details of their European itinerary.
Applicants must also disclose any criminal convictions, deportations, and past visits to combat zones.
(Learn about the controversial history of passports.)
After completing this process, travelers will receive an email with their unique ETIAS number. We recommend that you save this number for future reference.
Airlines and immigration staff can also check a traveler’s ETIAS status through their passport number, which is linked to the ETIAS database.
The ETIAS application costs €7 for people aged 18 to 70, but is free for other ages and family members of EU nationals.
An approved ETIAS is valid for three years. Its holder can stay in a participating European country for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.
The system has been adopted in all 27 countries in Europe’s Schengen area, as well as in Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania.
Biometrics are not required when applying for ETIAS. However, travelers using the new system will have to undergo facial and fingerprint scans upon arrival in Europe.
This could lead to longer immigration clearance times at European airports, said Quan Huei Lee, associate professor in the Department of Tourism at Singapore University of Technology. “if, [biometric] It adds an additional process to the immigration process, so careful logistics planning is important to avoid crowding,” says Lee.
(Here’s how to plan a trip around the world.)
Jun Wen, a tourism professor at Australia’s Edith Cowan University, predicts ETIAS is likely to cause disruption at airports outside Europe as well. He said many travelers would not know they needed ETIAS within a few months of the service’s launch and would then be barred from boarding flights to Europe.
However, both Wen and Li believe that ETIAS will not deter many people from visiting Europe.
Although some popular European destinations, such as Ireland and the United Kingdom, do not adopt ETIAS, travelers from many countries, including the United States, can enter these countries simply by presenting a valid passport.
Ronan O’Connell is an Australian journalist and photographer who divides his time between Ireland, Thailand and Western Australia.
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