Separate thread to discuss ETIAS requirements for travel from the USA to the EU. (Different from the UK ETA.) No effective date yet.

[sayhello]

Hi, I'm creating this thread as a separate discussion for the EU ETIAS, as people were getting it confused with the UK ETA. ETIAS stands for "European Travel Information and Authorisation System". There is no set date yet for when the requirements to get an ETIAS to travel from the USA to the EU will take effect. Just "springtime 2025" or "later this year".

Note that this requirement is just for the EU, and not for all of Europe.

The implementation of the ETIAS has been postponed 3 times since 2022 (it was announced in 2022, 2023 and 2024) so there is some skepticism as to whether or not 2025 will be the actual year or not. Who knows? Stay tuned!

This is a Travel Authorization and NOT a Visa. It will be much simpler and cheaper to get. There will most likely be an app for the application and it will cost €7.

Here are a couple of useful links about the ETIAS:

Official EU website:
https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/p...an-travel-information-authorisation-system_en

An informational website (not where you go to apply for the ETIAS).
https://etias.com/

One thing to note is that for people under 18 and over 70, there is no charge for the ETIAS. You still have to apply and get an ETIAS, but the app won't charge you.

I'll add more information as we get a clearer idea of when this will go into effect.

Sayhello

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Adding on, these are the countries that ETIAS will be needed for.

1. Austria,
2. Belgium,
3. Bulgaria,
4. Croatia,
5. Cyprus,
6. Czech Republic,
7. Denmark,
8. Estonia,
9. Finland,
10. France,
11. Germany,
12. Greece,
13. Hungary,
14. Iceland,
15. Italy,
16. Latvia,
17. Liechtenstein,
18. Lithuania,
19. Luxembourg,
20. Malta,
21. Netherlands,
22. Norway,
23. Poland,
24. Portugal,
25. Romania,
26. Slovakia,
27. Slovenia,
28. Spain,
29. Sweden,
30. Switzerland

• American tourists to Republic of Ireland will not need an ETIAS

 

[SirDuff]

Note that this requirement is just for the EU, and not for all of Europe.

Not totally true (see the list from the poster below). It also includes some non-EU countries, like Switzerland. I think that the non-EU countries are all Schengen countries (Switzerland is), but not totally sure so best to check for the country/countries that you plan to visit.

 

[Mathmagicland]

Delayed again, new ETA is now end of 2026.

https://thepointsguy.com/news/europe-travel-visa-etias-what-to-know/

https://travel-europe.europa.eu/revised-timeline-ees-and-etias-2025-03-07_en

 

[jimmymc]

Delayed again, new ETA is now end of 2026.

https://thepointsguy.com/news/europe-travel-visa-etias-what-to-know/

https://travel-europe.europa.eu/revised-timeline-ees-and-etias-2025-03-07_en

It's like there's a contest between ETA and REAL ID to see who can be delayed the longest.

 

[sayhello]

It's like there's a contest between ETA and REAL ID to see who can be delayed the longest.

Too true. Except it's ETIAS, not ETA. ETA (the UK version) successfully started in January. But that's probably because the scope and number of countries involved for the UK is *much* smaller!

Sayhello