Travellers heading to Europe will need a new travel document, starting from the beginning of 2025. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is required for entry for visa-exempt nationals travelling to any of thirty countries. An ETIAS , which is linked to your passport, and valid for up to three years or until your passport expires (whichever is earlier).
So for those needing a new passport, you’ll have to apply for a new ETIAS. The official European Union website recommends applying for an ETIAS well in advance of your trip. Currently, the ETIAS website says the system is set to launch in the first half of 2025, but keep an eye out later this year for an exact date.
There are 30 European countries that will require visa-exempt travellers to have an ETIAS travel authorisation. These include: Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Italy Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland With a valid ETIAS travel authorisation, travellers can enter the territory of these 30 European countries as often as they want for short-term stays. This is normally for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
However, it does not guarantee entry. Travellers can apply for an ETIAS through the ETIAS website of the ETIAS mobile app. Applications come with a €7 fee, but those under 18 and over 70 years old are exempt from the charge.
Also exempt are family members of EU citizens or of non-EU nationals who have the right to move freely throughout the European Union. Most applications will be processed within minutes. As an ETIAS travel authorisation is linked to your travel document, make sure you bring the same document which you used in your ETIAS application.
Otherwise, you will not be allowed to board your flight, bus or ship, or to enter any of the European countries requiring ETIAS. Nationals from these following countries and territories will need to apply for an ETIAS travel authorisation. They include: Albania Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Australia Bahamas Barbados Bosnia and Herzegovina Brazil Brunei Canada Chile Colombia Costa Rica Dominica El Salvador Georgia Grenada Guatemala Honduras Hong Kong Israel Japan Kiribati Kosovo Macao Malaysia Marshall Islands Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Moldova Montenegro New Zealand Nicaragua North Macedonia Palau Panama Paraguay Peru Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa Serbia Seychelles Singapore Solomon Islands South Korea Taiwan Timor-Leste Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tuvalu Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States of America Uruguay Venezuela For more information on the ETIAS, visit here.
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