Are you the type of traveler who enjoys jetting off on an overseas trip to Europe at the last minute? A fancy strikes you for your favorite gelato in Florence or your must-have NOW delicious pasteis de nata in Lisbon and you want to be on the next plane and over the pond. With Europe’s new visa rules you’ll have to frown and tell yourself, not so fast.
What Europe’s New Visa Rules Mean For Your Travels
Here’s what’s changing!
Before U.S. and other previously visa-exempt travelers can depart for most of Europe, they need to go through a security screening. It’s online via the new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). The fee is 20 euros. The fee is waived for travelers younger than 18 and older than 70.
The ETIAS is expected to roll out towards the end of 2026. It primarily covers countries in the Schengen Area.
On the ETIAS application you’ll provide details about your employment, communicable illnesses, and criminal history. The ETIAS system is designed to make border crossings more efficient.
Once your application is approved you’re good to go across the 30 participating countries. This lasts for three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
More About Europe’s New Visa Rules
The ETIAS time frame for application evaluation is within 96 hours.
What happens if your application is flagged?
That may require additional documents or an interview. That could add weeks to the process. This possibility means it will become a good practice to check early for visa and entry requirements for your destinations. And check and recheck as well because things do change.
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And different countries, even though they are in on the ETIAS requirement, may be more complicated than you expect. For instance, one country might require income proof and another might require vaccines.
Always a best practice to check online with the U.S. State Department. They keep a list of entry requirements for each country.
Waiting until the last minute for trips to Europe won’t be as easy as it once was. Just plan ahead and don’t put off getting all the documents needed and you’ll be fine.
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