Changes on the horizon for European travel

Both the United Kingdom and the European Union have been working on the implementation of new systems designed to track visitors for several years. Suffering from multiple delays, it appears both of the systems are set to come online soon, and travel overseas will be a bit different for United States citizens. 

While you won’t need to apply for a visa, you will have to notify each entity of your intention to travel before your trip. For the UK, the system is called the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) and for the EU, it’s the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS).

For the UK

Let’s look at the process for the UK, which includes England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Starting on January 8, 2025, all travelers – including children – from the US must go online and apply to enter the country. There is also a mobile application available in addition to the desktop version.

The ETA is designed for stays of less than 6 months and normal, leisure activities. If your stay is to extend past 6 months, you might need a visa, as well. The cost is 10 GBP and you will need your physical passport, a method of payment, and a digital photo of each person applying. A valid email address is also required. 

The typical approval takes approximately 3 days but can take longer depending on circumstances, so you should give yourself plenty of time. The approval is valid for 2 years and there are no restrictions to the number of times you can visit during that time frame.

The approval is automatically associated with the passport number you provided during the application, so if yours changes, you will need to start the process again. Bear in mind that this does not guarantee entry into the UK, as that will be up to the discretion of the Border Force agent. 

The first date you can apply is Nov. 27, 2024. Visit https://apply-for-an-eta.homeoffice.gov.uk/how-to-apply to start the process.

For the EU

Things are a little muddier for the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), but one thing is clear, the EU is intent on launching the new system during the first half of 2025. While a date has not yet been set, it’s imperative that if you have travel planned starting later than April 2025, you’ll want to monitor its progress.

Just like the ETA, this is not a visa, just a notification that you plan on visiting the 31 countries that will require it (27 EU members along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.)

The program is similar to the ETA, with a few differences. You will still apply online or through an app, and you will need pictures of everyone traveling and their passport information. The ETIAS is good for 3 years and costs 7 EUR. Just like the UK counterpart, it’s linked to your passport number, so if your expires or the number changes, you will need to reapply.

The bottom line

Travel to Europe and the United Kingdom will remain fairly easy, but there will be a few additional steps to make the trip painless. During the switchover, there is bound to be some confusion and questions, and our travel experts at Premier Golf will continue to monitor the progress and let our clients know of any changes.