Starting in May 2025, tourists who are exempt from requiring a visa and who want to enter the European Union can apply through the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). It is a pre-screening programme that waives visa requirements. American tourists visiting Europe can benefit from the ETIAS visa waiver.

In the past, Americans could travel to the 30 member nations with just a passport. However, the document will be mandatory once ETIAS comes into effect. You will not be permitted to board that aircraft if you do not have it. As Europe prepares to launch the ETIAS for US nationals, it is critical to comprehend the US Visa Waiver Program and how it enables visitors from eligible nations to enter the US for up to 90 days without a visa.

What is ETIAS?

2016 saw the approval of ETIAS as a component of a global security drive. For citizens without a visa who want to enter European nations, they must obtain an ETIAS travel authorization. The ETIAS is linked to the passport of the traveller. Travelers arriving in the European countries, under the Europe visa ETIAS will be subject to security inspections, barring entry by those who constitute a security risk.

In what ways does ETIAS help the EU?

The scheme’s primary goals are to improve security within borders and to fortify external border controls.

• The EU member states will have the right to conduct pre-entry checks on anyone who wants to enter their territory once the programme is operational.
• deny travel authorization, if needed, to citizens of third countries who are exempt from the need for a visa and who are entering the Schengen area if they pose a threat or risk to the EU.
• Enhance the internal security of every member state and the entire area.
• stop the unauthorised immigration.
• identify people who might be at risk in one of these areas before they arrive at the external borders to minimise public health risks and speed up border crossings.

Even though US nationals will soon require an ETIAS to enter Europe, holders of US B1 B2 visa should make sure their travel documents are valid before departing for the United States of America.

Who Requires ETIAS?

If any of the following describes you, you will require authorization for an ETIAS EU visa.

• You are not a citizen of the European Union.
• You are a citizen of any nation, even the US, whose citizens are currently exempt from the requirement for a visa when visiting a country in the European Union for a brief visit.
• You do not have a residency permit or card from any European nation that requires an ETIAS.

Check before you apply because some travellers might not need an ETIAS travel authorization.

Basics of ETIAS for US Citizens

The ETIAS permit is not a work visa. It is only valid for visits lasting no more than 90 days. Since the ETIAS information is connected to your passport, you will also require a new ETIAS travel authorization if you have to replace your passport for whatever reason. Retrieving a misplaced passport should be handled by your travel insurance provider.

Which countries require visitors to have an ETIAS travel authorization?

The thirty European nations that require an ETIAS travel authorization from visa-exempt visitors are listed below.
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, and Sweden are among the countries that comprise the European Union.

How to Apply for ETIAS?

The following stages are involved in applying for an ETIAS visa.

1) Verify if you qualify for an ETIAS

You should apply for a regular visa if your nation is not on the list of those who require an ETIAS, which may be found above. Since the member states of Schengen have eliminated internal borders, moving around the region does not require getting an ETIAS if your nation is a part of it.

2) Fill out the online application for ETIAS

Every applicant has to submit an application that is filled out and contains all necessary data. Furthermore, a declaration certifying that the information and statements you have provided are correct, true, complete, and reliable must be included with the submission form.

You must complete an ETIAS submission form with personal details including your complete name, nationality, date of birth, and country.

3) Make the ETIAS Fee Payment

The visa fee must be paid after completing the ETIAS registration form. The cost of ETIAS visa is 7 Euros. It includes the application fee and other services. A valid debit or credit card can be used to make the online fee payment. Note that ETIAS is free to anyone under 18 or over 70.

4) The Registration for ETIAS Passes Through Several Databases

The data you submitted will be used to verify your ETIAS inquiry. Throughout this procedure, your information will be examined for honesty, which is truthfulness, accuracy, and correctness. The system will reject your application if it finds any mismatch. Giving accurate and truthful information is therefore essential while registering.

5) Receive Your ETIAS

The ETIAS Central System will provide your travel permit as soon as it certifies that there are no concrete indications or causes to believe that your presence on the territory of the Member State constitutes security, illegal immigration, or high epidemic risk. Your confirmation will be sent to you through email.

6) Getting on board and reaching the EU

You can visit Europe once you receive confirmation that your application for an ETIAS has been approved. Understand that neither the ETIAS nor the visa gives you the automatic right to access EU borders. The border guard will have the last say on whether or not you are allowed entry.

Key Differences between ESTA and ETIAS

While there are many similarities between the ETIAS and ESTA, there are a few significant differences between ESTA and B-Tourist Visa.

• Granting eligibility and authority – While the US government grants ESTA travel authorizations to qualifying foreign nationals who want to visit the US for a brief stay, European authorities will eliminate the need for an ETIAS visa for citizens of more than 50 countries who want to enter the Schengen area temporarily.
• Validity – As long as the holder’s passport doesn’t expire, the ESTA travel authorization is valid for two years from the date it is granted. Unless the traveler’s passport expires first, the ETIAS is valid for three years from the date of issuance. In that case, the validity of the ETIAS authorization ends.
• Minors – Irrespective of their age, every traveller from a qualifying nation must apply separately for an ESTA and an ETIAS.

Verify that the information on your passport matches the information on your ETIAS authorization. If they differ the border will deny you entry and boarding. Our US visa FAQ section offers thorough answers on how these changes can affect your travel plans and what to do if you need a visa to the US, especially in light of the new ETIAS requirement for US citizens travelling to Europe.

US visa FAQ

1. Why is the ETIAS programme being implemented by the EU?
The EU member states have ultimately resolved to devise a system to regulate who enters and departs the region to improve security and avoid dangers, following encounters with illegal migration, refugee flows, and terrorist acts.

2. Does ETIAS apply to EU citizens?
The ETIAS is not intended for EU citizens because the EU has eliminated borders among its member states.

3. Is the US ESTA and ETIAS the same?
The European ETIAS and the United States Electronic System for Travel Authorization are somewhat comparable. The former serves as the foundation for the latter. But you cannot enter the US with an ETIAS or the EU with an ESTA.

4. How long will it take for me to finish the ETIAS application?
The time required to complete the form will vary depending on the applicant, but it should not take more than ten minutes. You will receive a response within 96 hours after submitting your application.

5. For how long is ETIAS valid?
The duration of the ETIAS permission is three years. In any 180 days, you are allowed 90 days of travel within a participating nation. Your ETIAS authorization must remain active for the whole time you are travelling to any participating country.

6. What happens if I have an expired passport but not an expired ETIAS?
Should your passport expire while your ETIAS is still valid, you will need to apply for a new ETIAS using your new passport.

7. How often is it possible for me to enter the EU using an ETIAS?
You can travel to and from Europe as often as you like, as long as your passport and ETIAS are valid. The only restriction is that you cannot spend longer than 60 days in a 180-day period.

8. If I hold a Schengen Visa, do I still require an ETIAS?
A Schengen Visa indicates that you are ineligible for the ETIAS programme in your country of origin. Consequently, until your nation enters into a visa-free travel agreement with the EU, you are not qualified to apply for an ETIAS. You can still enter the EU in the meantime by using a Schengen visa.