Don’t Stress Over Europe’s New Entry Requirements

As the European Union (EU) gears up for the rollout of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) and the United Kingdom (UK) prepares to do the same with its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), I’ve got some advice: don’t sweat it.

I’ve noticed that anytime these two slightly intimidating-sounding acronyms get mentioned, folks tend to panic, thinking that the sky is falling and European travel will never be the same. Not to mention all the sensational headlines about “new visas” and “entry fees” that have made the rounds over the last couple of years.   

Trust me, there’s nothing to worry about, but before I get into the reasons why, it’s time to cover the basics of what ETIAS and ETA are, and what they are not. 

What are ETIAS and ETA? 

Essentially, digital permission slips that pre-approve you for arrival.  

They are NOT visas. I repeat, NOT visas. In both cases, they only apply to people from visa-EXEMPT countries. So yes, while ETIAS and ETA will add a little admin work to your trip across the pond, they will be nowhere near as much hassle or expense as acquiring a visa. 

The main reason you shouldn’t worry is that if ETIAS and ETA turn out anything like the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) that the US has required travelers from abroad to have since 2009, it will be a breezy process. And according to the EU and the UK, that is exactly the plan.

This means that ETIAS and ETA won’t be some long, complicated deal requiring personal approval from the King or the head of the European Commission.

As an American married to a British citizen, I’ve watched my wife acquire an ESTA to visit the US numerous times. And if there were one phrase I would use to describe the process, it would be this one: easy-peasy.  

If ETIAS and ETA turn out anything like ESTA, all you’ll have to do is log onto the ETIAS or ETA website (or respective apps), punch in your details and pay a small fee. For the record, the fee is scheduled to be €7 ($8) and £10 ($13) respectively.

Then, you’ll get an approval email shortly after (the stated goal is within 72 hours, but it’s usually much faster) and you’ll be on your way to Europe to have the time of your life.  

I get it though, anything new can feel intimidating, especially something as official-sounding as the “European Travel Information and Authorization System” and you might be worried that you’ll forget about it and get turned away at the border or something like that. But chances are, your airline will give you a heads-up about needing one when you book your flight and if you’re working with a travel advisor, they’ll remind you too. 

Pretty soon, checking that you have a valid ETIAS or ETA will be as routine as triple-checking your flight time or researching where to eat on social media before you arrive. And you won’t have to worry about ETIAS and ETA for every trip to Europe, because they will be valid for three years and two years respectively. 

Traveler entering the European Union. (Photo Credit: Adobe/mirsad)

Why are the EU and UK doing this again?

This is all part of the EU and UK’s plans to secure and fully digitize their border systems. 

So, while it may feel like an annoying hoop to jump through, keep in mind that in the long run, it could make getting into the EU and UK much smoother. How? Well, you would assume that once the EU and UK know that all people arriving have been pre-approved and the customs processes have been digitized, arrivals will be able to stroll through customs lickety split.   

It is worth noting that EU nation Ireland will not be participating in ETIAS and four non-EU countries will be participating: Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein. So if you’re keeping score at home, that means the total countries participating in ETIAS totals 30 (26 of 27 EU countries and the four additional nations). 

Latest Launch Timetable

ETIAS is scheduled to launch at some point in 2025, roughly six months after the launch of the biometric Entry-Exit System (EES). The EES was supposed to start on November 10, 2024, but it has recently been delayed again. So it would be safe to assume that the launch of ETIAS has now been pushed back, although there has been no confirmation. 

Across the English Channel, the UK is holding firm with a January 8, 2025 launch date of ETA. Americans will be able to start applying on November 27, 2024. 

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