If you’re looking to book a trip to the European Union in the next year, you can breathe a little easier about the travel requirements. More updates have been made to the status of ETIAS, the European Travel Information and Authorization System, recently, which will affect American travelers.
What is ETIAS?
According to the European Union’s official website,
ETIAS travel authorization is an entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling to any of these 30 European countries. It is linked to a traveller’s passport. It is valid for up to three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. If you get a new passport, you need to get a new ETIAS travel authorization… With a valid ETIAS travel authorization, you can enter the territory of these European countries as often as you want for short-term stays – normally for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. However, it does not guarantee entry. When you arrive, a border guard will ask to see your passport and other documents and verify that you meet the entry conditions.
This new travel authorization was officially announced in 2016, but has faced multiple delays in beginning. It was expected to begin in the fall of 2025, but after a new update, has been pushed again. As of right now, “No action is required from travellers at this point.”
When will ETIAS go into effect?
Right now, we don’t have an exact date for when ETIAS will begin operations, but we do know that it will be sometime in the last quarter of 2026. Of course, a specific date will be provided several months prior to its launch. Since there will be a grace period after the launch, passport holders may not even need to worry about obtaining an ETIAS until 2027.
Which countries will require ETIAS?
ETIAS will be required for citizens of nearly 60 countries to enter the EU Schengen Area and other countries under the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) as well as European microstates with open borders.
This includes: