Americans Will Soon Need Visa-Style Travel Permits to Enter Europe

French border guards check vehicles, in La Turbie, France, on Nov. 6, 2015. (Lionel Cironneau/AP Photo)

U.S. citizens who for years have enjoyed visa-free travel to Europe are in for a rude awakening in 2024 when the European Union rolls out new entry rules that will require Americans to obtain a travel authorization document in order to be allowed into most European countries.

Starting next year, American citizens will have to get an entry permit—similar to a visa—through the European Travel Information and Authorization System, or ETIAS, before being permitted to enter 30 countries in Europe.

The nations that are covered by the rule (pdf) include all 27 European Union member states as well as non-members Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland.

“With a valid ETIAS travel authorisation, you can enter the territory of these European countries as often as you want for short-term stays—normally for up to 90 days in any 180-day period,” European Union authorities said in a statement.

The rule change impacts some 1.4 billion people from over 60 visa-exempt countries, including Australia, Canada, and the United States.

The new travel permit is similar to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) that travelers from many countries—including ones in Europe—are required to obtain to enter the United States.

The reason for the new permit is to bolster border security.

“ETIAS will further strengthen Europe’s internal security by carrying pre-travel screening of visa-free travellers to determine whether they pose a security, illegal immigration, or public health risk,” Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, notes on its website.

News of the new requirement was met with mixed reactions on social media, including a critical reception from former President Donald Trump, who vowed not to allow it to happen if elected president in 2024.

“Think of this. We give them everything, including military protection and trade, and now we have to pay them to go there,” Mr. Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

“NO RESPECT FOR THE UNITED STATES. I WILL, AS PRESIDENT, NOT ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN. IT WILL END VERY QUICKLY!!!” the former president wrote in all caps.

How Much Does It Cost?

Once the new system is closer to launch, an application form will be available on the ETIAS website and in the form of a mobile application.

While most applications are processed “within minutes,” it’s possible that, under certain circumstances, would-be travelers may have to wait far longer.

“Please note that this period could be extended by up to 14 days if you are requested to provide additional information or documentation, or up to 30 days if you are invited to an interview,” European Union officials said on the ETIAS website.

Frontex says that it expects that around 97 percent of applications will be approved automatically within three minutes.

Potential refusal of an application will come in the form of an email notification of denial, which will also include information about how to appeal a negative decision.

Group applications are not allowed as the ETIAS authorization is issued only to one person and is linked to their travel document.

The fee for the ETIAS travel permit is 7 euros, or around $8 U.S. dollars.

No Guarantee of Entry

The ETIAS visa will be valid for three years or until the travel document (normally a passport) that was used in the application process expires, whichever comes first.

There are specific travel document requirements that can be used to apply for an ETIAS travel authorization, which is normally affixed to a passport. For example, travel documents should not expire in less than three months and they should not be older than 10 years.

Besides standard information like name and nationality, applicants will also have to provide details on the form about their level of education and occupation.

They'll also have to provide details about any criminal convictions and any past trips they’ve taken to war or conflict zones.

With a valid ETIAS travel permit, Americans will normally be able to enter the 30 European countries on the list as often as they want for short-term stays. However, the European Union notes that simply having the travel authorization does not automatically mean one will be allowed in.

“It does not guarantee entry. When you arrive, a border guard will ask to see your passport and other documents and verify that you meet the entry conditions,” the European Union said on the ETIAS website.

The entry conditions stipulated by European Union law include not having an alert issued in the Schengen Information System (SIS) and not being considered a threat to pubic policy, internal security, or public health.

While it’s unclear exactly when the new travel permit will enter into force, the European Union says it expects it to be operational in 2024.