"VISA" required for EU (US passports) next year

[ekid]

How will ETIAS work?
When Europe’s new authorization system is eventually implemented, travelers with passports from visa-exempt countries will have to apply for ETIAS online prior to their arrival on the continent. This requirement will affect citizens from the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, among dozens of other countries. Unlike traditional visas, the application process for ETIAS is relatively quick and easy—it’s also inexpensive, costing only €7 (about $8) for a three-year approval. All travelers will need to fill out an ETIAS application regardless of their age. However, children under 18 and adults over 70 years old can apply for free.

Travelers will simply fill out an online form with their basic biographical data and travel history. They’ll also respond to several security questions, and if everything checks out, they’ll receive approval via email within an hour. This will be the case for most travelers, although some may require additional security checks that prolong the process to up to 96 hours.

“The most important piece of advice I can give travelers is to make sure to apply for your ETIAS at least 96 hours before your flight departs,” Cripps says. “Airlines will likely require proof of an ETIAS in order to board your flight, and while most travelers are expected to receive their approval quickly, you don’t want any surprises before your big trip.”

(gulp) I do not have and do not know how to use a smartphone. I ran afoul of ArriveCan a few years ago and paid $20 to a border duty-free to help.
And I see no info how to prove an application was done on a desktop. Surely there's a work-around?

[sailaway]

How will ETIAS work?
When Europe’s new authorization system is eventually implemented, travelers with passports from visa-exempt countries will have to apply for ETIAS online prior to their arrival on the continent. This requirement will affect citizens from the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, among dozens of other countries. Unlike traditional visas, the application process for ETIAS is relatively quick and easy—it’s also inexpensive, costing only €7 (about $8) for a three-year approval. All travelers will need to fill out an ETIAS application regardless of their age. However, children under 18 and adults over 70 years old can apply for free.

Travelers will simply fill out an online form with their basic biographical data and travel history. They’ll also respond to several security questions, and if everything checks out, they’ll receive approval via email within an hour. This will be the case for most travelers, although some may require additional security checks that prolong the process to up to 96 hours.

“The most important piece of advice I can give travelers is to make sure to apply for your ETIAS at least 96 hours before your flight departs,” Cripps says. “Airlines will likely require proof of an ETIAS in order to board your flight, and while most travelers are expected to receive their approval quickly, you don’t want any surprises before your big trip.”

(gulp) I do not have and do not know how to use a smartphone. I ran afoul of ArriveCan a few years ago and paid $20 to a border duty-free to help.
And I see no info how to prove an application was done on a desktop. Surely there's a work-around?

Print the email.

[ekid]

"make sure to apply for your ETIAS at least 96 hours before your flight departs,"

And I bought my ticket 6 months ago. Just have to risk not getting the approval?

"fill out an online form with their basic biographical data and travel history."

I have massive travel history! I remember little of it! No idea at all about when. One good thing- I'm old enough I get it free.

[Super Hans]

It's not even clear ETIAS will be live in 2025. Functioning EES is a prerequisite. After many delays, that's supposed to begin on 10th November, but France, Germany, and the Netherlands reportedly aren't ready yet. And the apps aren't ready.

I wouldn't worry about it yet.

[sailaway]

"make sure to apply for your ETIAS at least 96 hours before your flight departs,"

And I bought my ticket 6 months ago. Just have to risk not getting the approval?

"fill out an online form with their basic biographical data and travel history."

I have massive travel history! I remember little of it! No idea at all about when. One good thing- I'm old enough I get it free.

Travel history usually refers to the last six months or so, and they are usually looking for what diseases you might have picked up.

[stan1]

There is no action for you at this time, the system to make the request is not working yet.

UK will have their own system as well. Arrival at LHR is now very easy; they have dozens of automated entry gates that scan passport and take a photo. It's so fast its hard to believe it is that easy. Completely unlike the US entry experience where agents fumble with web cams and ask you if you live near St. Louis if you tell them your home is in Los Angeles (to see if you really are an American I guess).

Basically, UK and EU are doing the same thing that US did years ago. UK and EU visitors to the US deal with similar.

I'd be more worried about missing a connection if it takes 2-3 hours to go through passport control, like can happen in the US. Until it is proven to work smoothly it is going to strongly favor flying from a US hub to your final destination and entering Schengen zone there, rather than connecting at a EU hub like FRA, CDG, AMS, etc. Türkiye is non-Schengen so IST could become a convenient hub (except for its relative proximity to multiple combat zones). The details really are TBD.

[talzara]

(gulp) I do not have and do not know how to use a smartphone. I ran afoul of ArriveCan a few years ago and paid $20 to a border duty-free to help.
And I see no info how to prove an application was done on a desktop. Surely there's a work-around?

The ETIAS travel authorization is linked to your passport number. The traveler does not have to carry any proof of authorization. The border police will look you up in the ETIAS database.

You can print out the email if you want, but that is "for your own convenience."

Should I print out my ETIAS travel authorisation?

You don’t need to, as the check-in staff of the carrier and border guards can access your travel authorisation in the system. You may however carry a printout for your own convenience.

https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias/faqs-etias_en

You could've used a desktop for ArriveCAN, too:

ArriveCAN is available online on the web and as a free mobile app downloadable from the Google Play or Apple App stores.

https://www.canada.ca/en/border-service ... count.html

[talzara]

I have massive travel history! I remember little of it! No idea at all about when. One good thing- I'm old enough I get it free.

Look in your email for your airline ticket receipts.

[talzara]

Travel history usually refers to the last six months or so, and they are usually looking for what diseases you might have picked up.

They're looking for possible contact with terrorist groups, not diseases.

[sailaway]

Travel history usually refers to the last six months or so, and they are usually looking for what diseases you might have picked up.

They're looking for possible contact with terrorist groups, not diseases.

Well, yeah, that, too.

[grok87]

There is no action for you at this time, the system to make the request is not working yet.

UK will have their own system as well. Arrival at LHR is now very easy; they have dozens of automated entry gates that scan passport and take a photo. It's so fast its hard to believe it is that easy. Completely unlike the US entry experience where agents fumble with web cams and ask you if you live near St. Louis if you tell them your home is in Los Angeles (to see if you really are an American I guess).

Basically, UK and EU are doing the same thing that US did years ago. UK and EU visitors to the US deal with similar.

I'd be more worried about missing a connection if it takes 2-3 hours to go through passport control, like can happen in the US. Until it is proven to work smoothly it is going to strongly favor flying from a US hub to your final destination and entering Schengen zone there, rather than connecting at a EU hub like FRA, CDG, AMS, etc. Türkiye is non-Schengen so IST could become a convenient hub (except for its relative proximity to multiple combat zones). The details really are TBD.

hmm that's an interesting point. i guess for that reason connecting through london heathrow would work as well as it is non schengen?

[bberris]

"make sure to apply for your ETIAS at least 96 hours before your flight departs,"

And I bought my ticket 6 months ago. Just have to risk not getting the approval?

"fill out an online form with their basic biographical data and travel history."

I have massive travel history! I remember little of it! No idea at all about when. One good thing- I'm old enough I get it free.

I wouldn't worry about it. They would have stopped you in the past if there was a problem. Maybe travel insurance would put your mind at ease. It won't be implemented until May, and probably will be postponed.

[stan1]

There is no action for you at this time, the system to make the request is not working yet.

UK will have their own system as well. Arrival at LHR is now very easy; they have dozens of automated entry gates that scan passport and take a photo. It's so fast its hard to believe it is that easy. Completely unlike the US entry experience where agents fumble with web cams and ask you if you live near St. Louis if you tell them your home is in Los Angeles (to see if you really are an American I guess).

Basically, UK and EU are doing the same thing that US did years ago. UK and EU visitors to the US deal with similar.

I'd be more worried about missing a connection if it takes 2-3 hours to go through passport control, like can happen in the US. Until it is proven to work smoothly it is going to strongly favor flying from a US hub to your final destination and entering Schengen zone there, rather than connecting at a EU hub like FRA, CDG, AMS, etc. Türkiye is non-Schengen so IST could become a convenient hub (except for its relative proximity to multiple combat zones). The details really are TBD.

hmm that's an interesting point. i guess for that reason connecting through london heathrow would work as well as it is non schengen?

UK will impose its own ETA requirement separate from EU on 8 Jan 2025. I believe in transit US citizens will need a UK ETA in case they have to leave the airport (such as switching terminals which can happen at LHR especially between Terminal 5 and Terminal 3 because BA does operate some flights from Terminal 3). I don't know if in transit passengers will actually need to go through the machines to collect biometrics or verify the authorization. Maybe someone else knows, or we all just have to wait and see what happens on 8 Jan 2025. When I went through Terminal 5 to enter UK in June 2024 it was set up so they easily have the option to do either depending upon signage and which doors are opened.

[grok87]

There is no action for you at this time, the system to make the request is not working yet.

UK will have their own system as well. Arrival at LHR is now very easy; they have dozens of automated entry gates that scan passport and take a photo. It's so fast its hard to believe it is that easy. Completely unlike the US entry experience where agents fumble with web cams and ask you if you live near St. Louis if you tell them your home is in Los Angeles (to see if you really are an American I guess).

Basically, UK and EU are doing the same thing that US did years ago. UK and EU visitors to the US deal with similar.

I'd be more worried about missing a connection if it takes 2-3 hours to go through passport control, like can happen in the US. Until it is proven to work smoothly it is going to strongly favor flying from a US hub to your final destination and entering Schengen zone there, rather than connecting at a EU hub like FRA, CDG, AMS, etc. Türkiye is non-Schengen so IST could become a convenient hub (except for its relative proximity to multiple combat zones). The details really are TBD.

hmm that's an interesting point. i guess for that reason connecting through london heathrow would work as well as it is non schengen?

UK will impose its own ETA requirement separate from EU on 8 Jan 2025. I believe in transit US citizens will need a UK ETA in case they have to leave the airport (such as switching terminals which can happen at LHR especially between Terminal 5 and Terminal 3 because BA does operate some flights from Terminal 3). I don't know if in transit passengers will actually need to go through the machines to collect biometrics or verify the authorization. Maybe someone else knows, or we all just have to wait and see what happens on 8 Jan 2025. When I went through Terminal 5 to enter UK in June 2025 it was set up so they easily have the option to do either depending upon signage and which doors are opened.

thanks, good point about switching terminals