If you’re planning a trip to Europe in 2025 or beyond, there are a few things that you’ll need to know in order to avoid any hiccups along the way.
The EU (European Union) has some new policies (specifically ETIAS) in the pipeline that will impact millions of travelers to the Schengen Zone (and Cyprus). With that, the UK also recently changed its entry requirements, causing a lot of questions among international travelers.
Traveling to the Schengen Zone in 2025
If you’re traveling to France, Spain, or any other country in the Schengen Area (there are 29 in total), you may need to apply for travel authorization before doing so beginning in 2025.
In order to increase the security of the Schengen Area (which includes Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland), the EU has decided to instill a new policy for visa-exempt travelers.
What does that mean? If you’re planning a trip to any country in the Schengen Area without a valid visa, you will need to apply for a pre-travel authorization called ETIAS. ETIAS is short for European Travel Information and Authorization System. This digitized process authorizes visa-exempt travelers to enter the Schengen Area. Notably, US and UK citizens among dozens of others, will be directly affected.
Once ETIAS has launched, which is projected to happen later this year (2025), anyone traveling to the Schengen Area without a visa will need to apply for approval through the official ETIAS online platform. While the application process will be quick and easy, travelers will be required to share some personal information, answer a few questions, and then pay a 7 euro application fee. In most cases, approval will be granted almost immediately, but it could take up to 14 or even 30 days in some exceptional cases. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to enter the Schengen Area without explicit ETIAS approval.
Once your ETIAS is approved, however, it will be valid for 3 years or until your passport expires – whichever happens first.
Note: If you’re a passport holder from the EU or the Schengen Area, you are exempt from ETIAS, regardless of visa status.
Traveling to the United Kingdom in 2025
Like the EU’s new entry requirement for the Schengen Area, the UK also has some changes up its sleeve. In fact, it’s already been rolled out, and now is a blanket requirement.
All travelers heading to the UK (which includes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) without a visa will need to apply for ETA approval. ETA, short for Electronic Travel Authorisation, link-house is much like ETIAS in that it is a new mandatory pre-travel authorization requirement.
Like ETIAS, ETA will be required for anyone traveling to the United Kingdom without a British visa or passport, which includes US citizens, Schengen passport holders, and others. Unlike ETIAS, ETA has already gone live, meaning you’ll need to apply for it for your next trip if you fall under the criteria.
The process to apply for ETA is also fully digitized and requires paying a £10 fee. You’ll also need to take a picture of your passport and yourself, but instructions are available online through their official government platform. An approved ETA is valid for 2 years, or until your passport expires, again, whichever comes first.
If you’re planning a trip to Europe in 2025 or beyond, there are a few things that you’ll need to know in order to avoid any hiccups along the way.
The EU (European Union) has some new policies (specifically ETIAS) in the pipeline that will impact millions of travelers to the Schengen Zone (and Cyprus). With that, the UK also recently changed its entry requirements, causing a lot of questions among international travelers.
Traveling to the Schengen Zone in 2025
If you’re traveling to France, Spain, or any other country in the Schengen Area (there are 29 in total), you may need to apply for travel authorization before doing so beginning in 2025.
In order to increase the security of the Schengen Area (which includes Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland), the EU has decided to instill a new policy for visa-exempt travelers.
What does that mean? If you’re planning a trip to any country in the Schengen Area without a valid visa, you will need to apply for a pre-travel authorization called ETIAS. ETIAS is short for European Travel Information and Authorization System. This digitized process authorizes visa-exempt travelers to enter the Schengen Area. Notably, US and UK citizens among dozens of others, will be directly affected.
Once ETIAS has launched, which is projected to happen later this year (2025), anyone traveling to the Schengen Area without a visa will need to apply for approval through the official ETIAS online platform. While the application process will be quick and easy, travelers will be required to share some personal information, answer a few questions, and then pay a 7 euro application fee. In most cases, approval will be granted almost immediately, but it could take up to 14 or even 30 days in some exceptional cases. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to enter the Schengen Area without explicit ETIAS approval.
Once your ETIAS is approved, however, it will be valid for 3 years or until your passport expires – whichever happens first.
Note: If you’re a passport holder from the EU or the Schengen Area, you are exempt from ETIAS, regardless of visa status.
Traveling to the United Kingdom in 2025
Like the EU’s new entry requirement for the Schengen Area, the UK also has some changes up its sleeve. In fact, it’s already been rolled out, and now is a blanket requirement.
All travelers heading to the UK (which includes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) without a visa will need to apply for ETA approval. ETA, short for Electronic Travel Authorisation, link-house is much like ETIAS in that it is a new mandatory pre-travel authorization requirement.
Like ETIAS, ETA will be required for anyone traveling to the United Kingdom without a British visa or passport, which includes US citizens, Schengen passport holders, and others. Unlike ETIAS, ETA has already gone live, meaning you’ll need to apply for it for your next trip if you fall under the criteria.
The process to apply for ETA is also fully digitized and requires paying a £10 fee. You’ll also need to take a picture of your passport and yourself, but instructions are available online through their official government platform. An approved ETA is valid for 2 years, or until your passport expires, again, whichever comes first.
By Amey MyersAmey, an intrepid traveler and avid blogger, roams the world, absorbing diverse cultures, flavors, and experiences. Her writing captures the essence of her adventures, inspiring others to explore. Amey's infectious passion for travel and storytelling epitomizes a life filled with exploration and adventure.
