New Entry Requirements for UK and European Travel Explained
Before you travel abroad this summer, here’s what you need to know about the current ETA and upcoming ETIAS authorizations.
Entry requirements for travel to Europe are changing, and they can be confusing: It’s tricky to keep track of all the programs’ acronyms, and some of the launch dates are in constant flux. Here, we’ve simplified everything you need to know about the United Kingdom’s Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) requirements and the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) for Continental Europe.
The United Kingdom’s ETA
What is the United Kingdom’s ETA?
The ETA is a digital permit that gets linked electronically to your passport. It’s designed to increase border security by flagging potential risks before people travel and to reduce lines at border control checkpoints.
This authorization allows you to visit England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland for up to six months at a time for tourism, seeing family and friends, business, or short-term study. It lasts for two years or until your passport expires, and it allows you to travel to the U.K. as many times as you want during that period.
Who needs an ETA?
Since Jan. 8, 2025, U.S. citizens of all ages have been required to obtain an ETA before traveling to the U.K. If you’re a British or Irish citizen, have dual citizenship with those countries, or have certain work or student visas for the U.K., you do not require an ETA. People from most other countries need to obtain an ETA, unless they must apply for a visa instead. Check here for details.
If you are only changing planes in the U.K. and flying onto another region, you do not need an ETA if (and this is a big “if”) you are not passing through border control. In most cases, though, travelers who are flying to mainland Europe or another continent will have to change terminals and go through border control, so it will be necessary to get an ETA. The U.K. government advises checking with your airline to be sure.
How do I apply?
It’s easy to apply by downloading the UK ETA app through the Apple app store or Google Play. The U.K. government’s ETA site offers a QR code you can scan to download the app, and you can delete the app after you receive ETA confirmation. Alternatively, you can apply online, but the app does make uploading a selfie and scanning your passport much simpler.
Once you download the app, it automatically walks you through the steps to photograph the inside of your passport and scan the gold biometric chip on the outside of your passport, if it has one. The app then presents a screen where you can scan your face. Note that children ages nine and under are not required to have their faces scanned. The app will then ask you basic questions, such as whether you have a criminal record, but you will not need to provide travel details. Finally, you’ll pay £10 (about $13).
Most people get an email notification within minutes that their ETA application has been approved. Sometimes, it can take up to three business days. If you’re applying last-minute, as long as you apply before you depart, you can travel to the U.K. while awaiting a decision.
How does ETA work at borders?
At borders, you’ll just present your passport as you normally do. There is no need to provide your ETA confirmation number.
Europe’s ETIAS
What is Europe’s ETIAS entry requirement?
The European Union has been working on changes to its entry requirements for many years, mainly to protect against terrorism but also to curb unlawful immigration. Currently, U.S. passport holders do not need a visa to enter most European destinations for short stays.
But when the new rules go into effect, people from 59 countries, including the United States, will need to obtain ETIAS authorization in order to enter the following 30 European nations: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
ETIAS is an electronic travel authorization form linked to a traveler’s passport. It will allow travelers to enter the above countries for short-term stays, typically up to 90 days in a 180-day period. Once you obtain ETIAS authorization, it’s valid for three years or until your passport expires.
The ETIAS authorization is not a visa, which in Europe typically allows for longer stays and sometimes the ability to work or study. If you do have a valid long-term stay visa or residence permit for any of the above countries, you will not need ETIAS authorization. You can learn about other exemptions on the ETIAS information page from the EU.
If you are only changing planes in Europe in order to travel to a different region, you do not need an ETIAS as long as you remain in the airport’s international transit area.
When does ETIAS go into effect?
The program is slated to launch in the last quarter of 2026, according to an announcement on March 5, 2025. Previously, it was scheduled for mid-2025. The anticipated start date is still subject to review by the European Parliament.
The ETIAS timeline is also dependent on the rollout of a companion program, the Entry/Exit System (EES), which is scheduled to begin operating incrementally starting in October 2025. The EES will be an automated IT system for registering travelers that will replace the current practice of border agents manually stamping passports.
How do I apply?
The application system is not yet open, but when it launches, you will fill out a form on the official ETIAS website or the ETIAS app. You’ll be required to provide passport information, and your passport should not expire less than three months from your intended departure date. Because ETIAS is linked to a passport, each family member needs to have their own authorization.
In addition, you’ll be asked to share personal information including your home address, parents’ names, level of education, current occupation, details about your intended travel in any countries requiring ETIAS, and any history of criminal convictions and past travel to war zones. You’ll also need to pay a fee of 7 euros (around $7.60). However, you don’t need to pay the fee if you’re under 18 or over 70 years old, or if you’re a family member of an EU citizen or a non-EU national who has the right to move freely throughout the EU.
How far in advance do I need to apply?
According to the ETIAS website, most people will receive an emailed authorization within minutes. However, the process could take up to 30 days in rare instances when applicants are asked to provide additional information and come to an interview. So, it’s recommended to apply at least one month in advance.
How does ETIAS work at borders?
Border agents can access your authorization through the ETIAS database, so you do not need to print your emailed authorization and take it with you. But do save the email with your unique ETIAS application number for future reference. And be sure to carry the same passport you used for your application; you will need to present it at border control.