Americans Will Need To Register To Travel To Europe In 2023

The ETIAS travel authorization will be available on January 1, 2023, according to current plans.

Prior to the pandemic, Europe was the most visited region on the planet, and it has always been a popular destination for American tourists. As COVID restrictions ease in parts of Europe and Americans plan future trips to the continent, they should be aware that the rules for entering the European Schengen Zone will soon change.

The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which was supposed to go into effect on January 1, 2021, has been delayed until January 1, 2023. At that point, all US citizens planning to travel to the Schengen Zone's 26 members will be required to register with the ETIAS or risk being turned away at the border.

Everything you need to know about the new ETIAS process is outlined below:

What is the reason for the change?

The European Union decided to implement this new travel authorization program in order to protect and strengthen its borders in the face of rising terrorist threats in Europe. By requiring visitors to register, the EU will be able to identify any potential threats or risks associated with travelers entering these countries prior to their arrival.

What is the reason for the ETIAS's postponement?

Due to delays in the anticipated adoption of the ETIAS Regulation, as well as the fact that ETIAS is being developed in close collaboration with the Entry/Exit System (EES), the ETIAS is now scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2023, rather than January 1, 2021. The EES is an electronic system that tracks visitors as they cross borders, and it is required for ETIAS to operate.

Is this to say that I'll need a visa to visit Europe?

This isn't a passport. ETIAS, like the U.S. Electronic System for Travel Authorization, is a travel authorization for visa-free visitors (ESTA).

"ETIAS is a visa waiver rather than a visa." Travelers who are currently permitted to visit European Union member countries without a visa will be required to obtain an ETIAS starting in 2023. "EU single market passport holders are exempt from ETIAS," according to ETIAS.com, the landing page for news and information about the new travel authorization process.

ETIAS will only prescreen travelers who do not require a Schengen visa.

According to a fact sheet issued by the European Commission in July 2018, "nationals of visa liberalization countries will continue to travel to the EU without a visa, but will be required to obtain a travel authorization via ETIAS prior to their trip."

"An ETIAS travel authorization does not reintroduce visa-like obligations," the document goes on to say. "There is no need to visit a consulate to apply, no biometric data is collected, and significantly less information is gathered than during the visa application procedure."

Which European countries will need ETIAS permission to visit?

The new travel authorization is valid for anyone entering any of Europe's Schengen Zone member countries. There are currently 22 EU member countries, four non-EU countries, and three European micro-states. To enter Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland, you must first register. The registration will also be required by the micro-states of San Marino, Vatican City, and Monaco.

While Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Cyprus are not currently Schengen countries, they are on their way to becoming so and will be subject to the same requirements once they do.

However, many European countries, primarily in Eastern Europe, are still not members of the Schengen Zone. This means you'll be able to visit Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine without requiring an ETIAS.

How long does it take to complete an ETIAS?

According to ETIAS.com, the ETIAS application should only take about 10 minutes to complete once it is available online. To apply, you'll need a valid passport, an email address, and a debit or credit card to pay the nonrefundable €7 application fee, which is applicable to people aged 18 to 70. Those under the age of 18 and those over the age of 70 must still have an ETIAS but will not be charged. The program has no additional costs. Your ETIAS application will be processed immediately after you fill out your online application with the personal information on your passport and answer a series of security and health-related questions, and you will receive an email confirming that your ETIAS has been approved within 96 hours or less.

"If additional documentation is required from the applicant, a small percentage of applications may take up to four weeks to process." "You will be unable to enter a country within the European Union if your ETIAS has not yet been approved and you do not have any other travel authorization," according to the ETIAS website.

Will you be required to reapply for each trip to Europe?

No. Your ETIAS will be valid for three years after your first application, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. Because the ETIAS is valid for short-term stays of up to 90 days for both leisure and business travelers, you can re-enter Europe multiple times within that three-year period without having to renew it, as long as your stay does not exceed 90 days in a 180-day period. Those who wish to study or work in Europe must apply for a work or study visa.

Who else will require ETIAS access?

This new program is not restricted to citizens of the United States. In fact, citizens from over 60 countries will be required to have an ETIAS when visiting Schengen Zone countries. Canada, Mexico, Australia, and many other countries are among those eligible for ETIAS.