It is late at night and you see that discount flight to a dream city in Europe and you know its a FOMO sale. Before you pack your bags and head to the airport, wait. Be sure you can legally enter the European Union first, or that flight is for not. Au revoir Paris.
For a long time, American and Canadian travelers got to enjoy a visa free travel experience throughout most of Europe. In the middle of 2025, this changes for the USA and 59 other visa exempt countries, to a degree.
Starting in 2025, travelers to the 30 Schengen region countries plus Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, and eventually Ukraine once its EU membership is fully ratified within Europe will require visitors to apply for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System or ETIAS. This is not as cumbersome or expensive as it sounds. This post aims to explain what it is and dispel some myths.
What is ETIAS?
ETIAS was originally slated to launch in 2024, but has pushed back to the second half of 2025 to early 2026. It is linked to the individual’s passport. Right now, it is not necessary to apply for one, nor is the EU accepting ETIAS applications.
It is not a visa, but an entry requirement that is valid for three years, or when the passport expires, whichever occurs first. It is relevant for 60 countries that do not require a visa application to enter these countries.
There is a one-time fee of 7 euros or 2.34 euros per year, making it not a significant travel expense for the ETIAS application. Minors under 18 years of age and seniors over 70 are exempt from the fee. You will also need a
Debunking myths.
ETIAS is not a visa. It is an entry authorization. Visas are typically more intricate and for onger stays such as work, education, family, asylum, fiancé or spousal, or naturalization process.
The USA has long required a similar program called ESTA fr most countries, including many European Union members and partners. Like the EU, the US ESTA program is not a visa per se, but an entry permission for short term travelers. The nations in both the US’s ESTA and EU’s ETIAS are mostly the same. For more information for readers outside of the US, please visit here for ESTA information.
Not all EU states require it. Ireland for example does not require US or Canadian travelers to file an ETIAS.
Because of Brexit, UK nationals must file one, and US travelers do not need an ETIAS for the UK.
There are exemptions: flight crew, UK residents who are EU nationals, and European nationals who live in ETIAS states (example: A German citizen in the USA),
EU Permanment residents, and European states not in the EU but are connected to their customs and trade bloc like Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and applicants like Ukraine and Moldova.
The process is not at all cumbersome. I applied for an ETIAS equivalent in my travels to South Korea. The process is online.
As of this post, the EU is not accepting ETIAS applications for the time being.
The skinny.
One shouldn’t dread the new requirement. It is a means for the EU to coordinate with its allies and partners on security, trade, and immigration documentation. The process is not tedious nor expensive. Be sure to have your travel documents current and give yourself
It may even help weed out the “ugly tourist” by being a safeguard. If someone isn’t willing to file a little digital paperwork or pay a modest fee, they might not be the most responsible tourist either. My rule of thumb is always try your best to be polite and understand the basic rules and culture of wherever you visit. It will help make lasting memories and experiences.