Europe's Updated Entry Rules Will Not Debut in 2024

U.S. travelers planning a trip to Europe in 2024 can breathe a little easier. A comprehensive new travel registration system, initially set to launch next year and requiring U.S. citizens and other foreign nationals to register and pay a fee of seven euros before entering much of Europe, has been postponed once again, now to 2025.

Last week, the European Council approved a revised schedule for the rollout of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). This new travel entry requirement is now set to commence in mid-2025, following the introduction of Europe’s new tech-based Entry/Exit System (EES), which is expected to take effect in fall 2024, according to the Council.

Originally scheduled to launch in January 2021, the initiative was first delayed to 2023, then to 2024, and now it has been pushed back once more to 2025.

Similar to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) used in the U.S., ETIAS is not a visa; it’s a travel authorization that must be obtained by visa-free travelers to strengthen cross-border security. While currently, a U.S. passport suffices for entry into one of Europe’s 30 Schengen Area countries for under 90 days, after ETIAS is implemented, U.S. citizens and travelers from 60 other nations will be required to register in advance and pay a fee to secure the ETIAS visa waiver for traveling to any Schengen-zone countries, including Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Vatican City.

Once the EES and ETIAS systems are fully functional, international travelers will be able to apply online, a process that should take approximately 10 minutes, according to ETIAS.com. To apply, you'll need a valid passport, an email address, and a debit or credit card to cover the nonrefundable seven-euro application fee, which applies to individuals aged 18 to 70. Those under 18 or over 70 will still need to obtain an ETIAS but will not incur any charges. There are no additional fees associated with the program.

Once the application is submitted, it will be processed right away, and travelers will receive an email confirming their ETIAS approval within 96 hours or less.

"A small percentage of applications may take up to four weeks to process if further documentation is needed from the applicant. If your ETIAS is not approved yet and you lack any other travel authorization, you will not be permitted to enter any country in the European Union," states the ETIAS website.

Each ETIAS authorization will remain valid for three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.

But there's no need to stress about all that for now. There’s still over a year to get accustomed to how it will all function once ETIAS officially comes into play.