In 2016, the European Union was considering requiring visas from U.S. and Canadian travelers. Ultimately, though, lawmakers decided not to move forward with the measure at that time, and Americans (and no doubt, our northern neighbors) breathed a collective sigh of relief. But the good news didn't last for very long: Come January 1, 2021, all Americans traveling to a European Schengen-zone country will be required to register through the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), no matter how long you're visiting for. So is this a visa? Not according to the European Union. Here's what they say: "The ETIAS authorization is not a visa. Nationals of visa liberalization countries will continue to travel the EU without a visa but will simply be required to obtain a travel authorization via ETIAS prior to their travel... An ETIAS travel authorization does not reintroduce visa-like obligations. There is no need to go to a consulate to make an application, no biometric data is collected, and significantly less information is gathered than during a visa application procedure." Ok, so how do I get the travel authorization? Before you go canceling your 2021 road trip in Slovenia, know that ETIAS authorization isn't difficult to get—you'll just need a passport valid for three months beyond your period of intended stay, an email account, and a credit or debit card (it costs about $8 for all applicants between the ages of 18 and 70). To apply for a visa, travelers will have to complete the ETIAS registration form and provide their full name, date and place of birth, current address, plus passport and other nationality details. They'll also have to answer questions about drug use, terrorism, human trafficking, travel to conflict areas, criminal history, employment history, and past travel to Europe. If it sounds extensive, it is—sort of: Officials say it shouldn't take more than ten minutes to complete the online questionnaire. What if I get denied? European Union officials estimate that at least 95 percent of applicants will be approved within minutes, but should your application get refused, you'll have 96 hours to provide the additional documentation requested by officials. You also have a right to an appeal. Right. So how far ahead of a trip do I need to apply? Again, most people will get a near-immediate response and approval, but we still suggest filing for ETIAS approval at least 72 hours before a trip (though let's be real—we'll probably apply when we buy our plane ticket, just so it's all taken care of). Do I need more than one approval if I'm visiting more than one country? No. One covers all of the countries in the Schengen agreement. Wait—what are the European countries in the Schengen zone, again? There are currently 22 European Union members that form the Schengen area, which allows for free movement between borders (once you're in Sweden, say, you won't be required to show a visa to move from Stockholm to Rome). Those countries are: Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Greece, the Czech Republic, and Malta. The three "micro-states" included in the Schengen agreement are Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City. Plus, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland—though not members of the EU—are part of the Schengen agreement, which means you'll need the ETIAS authorization if you plan to visit any of these countries, too. How long is it good for? Once the application has been processed and confirmed, the permission to enter Europe will be valid for three consecutive years, meaning you can come in and out as many times as you want without reapplying, though you still won't be able to stay longer than 90 days consecutively. Is the U.S. just being singled out? Nope. An EU official told Traveler that "ETIAS will be a travel authorization for all travelers who travel visa-free to Schengen member states. Currently it is over 60 countries, including the U.S. [Note: The full list of countries can be found here.] The system is being now developed and is scheduled to be operational in early 2021." Why is this happening now? "Similar to other countries and regions in the world, Europe has recently decided to improve their security level to avoid any further problems with illegal migration and terrorism," notes the page on the new requirements. It's also worth noting that whole reciprocity thing: the U.S. ESTA system requires much of the same information from European travelers looking to head to North America (that clearance, though, is only good for two years). The ETIAS system has been kicked around for several years. I want to travel to Europe this year. What are the rules? Until 2021, Americans traveling to Europe for less than 90 days currently don't need a visa or won't be required to fill out any travel authorization forms. As always, visitors should check with a destination country to read up on any fine print.<doc-sep>Americans will need to register online and pay a fee before traveling to Europe starting in 2021. U.S. nationals crossing the pond will need a passport and a credit or debit card to apply for a European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) permit. The travel authorizations are valid for three years and an unlimited number of entries. ADVERTISEMENT Previously, Americans had been exempt from pre-registration requirements when traveling to EU nations. The ETIAS system is similar to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) the United States uses for countries in the Visa Waiver Program, which covers all EU countries except for Cyprus, Poland, Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania. ETIAS and ESTA don't require consular interviews nor the same degree of background checks as regular visas, but do require a payment and registration prior to travel. ETIAS was first approved in 2016 by the European Commission and then by the European Parliament in 2018. The European Commission has previously decided against imposing visas on Americans as long as the United States did not impose a visa on European travelers. U.S. nationals are currently able to travel for up to 90 days within the Schengen Area, the 26 EU countries that allow border-free travel among themselves. U.S. nationals will not need a prior permit to visit the United Kingdom. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that new travel rules were announced this week. – This story was updated with additional information at 11:30 p.m.<doc-sep>The EU has agreed to give British citizens visa-free travel to member states, even if there is a no-deal Brexit. A proposed new regulation, which has sparked a row with UK officials by describing Gibraltar as a “colony”, will allow visits to the EU for up to 90 days. Britain has already confirmed that EU citizens will be able to make short-term visits to the UK without a visa after Brexit takes place on 29 March. The European Council said in a statement: “EU ambassadors today agreed that, following Brexit, UK citizens coming to the Schengen area for a short stay (90 days in any 180 days) should be granted visa free travel. “Ambassadors mandated the Council Presidency to start negotiations with the European Parliament on this legislative proposal. How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe Show all 14 1 /14 How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe Passports British passports that expire after 29 March 2019 will continue to be valid as UK travel documents, but will lose the power that comes with being a European Union passport – notably the right of free movement within the EU27. UK passports issued from 30 March 2019 will have the words “European Union” removed from the cover and the first page (along with the translations into Welsh and Gaelic). But they will still be burgundy. By October 2019, new British passports will have dark blue covers Getty How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe Pets You will still be able to travel to the EU with your pet after Brexit, but it could well get more complicated depending on the status that the European Union decide to apply. If the UK is given “Part 2 listed status”, there would be some extra requirements for travelling pets and owners post-Brexit. “These would require an additional visit to the vet and some additional papers to be carried but would not prevent you from enjoying your trip,” says Eurotunnel. But it adds that if the UK is given unlisted, third-country status, “owners who wish to travel with their pets from the UK to EU nations will need to discuss their specific preparations and requirements with an Official Veterinarian at least four months prior to their desired travel date AFP/Getty How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe Eurotunnel/Eurostar The Treaty of Canterbury between the UK and France governs the Channel Tunnel link and operations will continue – subject to any local disruption at Folkestone and/or Calais AFP/Getty How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe Driving Motorists, whether taking their own cars or hiring abroad, are likely to need to obtain an International Driving Permit or two; different EU countries are signed up to different treaties, so for a trip embracing Spain and France you would need both types. These are currently sold from a limited number of Post Offices, but the government intends to make them widely available. The cost is £5.50 for each. Motor insurance will no longer automatically extend to the EU. Insurers will provide on request a “Green Card”, for which an extra charge will be made PA How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe Flights Even in the event of a no-deal Brexit, flights will continue to operate between the UK and European Union. However, in the event of the UK leaving with no deal, many flights are likely to be cancelled because departures would be capped at 2018 levels. As UK airlines have already announced thousands of new flights to Europe from the end of March 2019, some would have to be cancelled Getty How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe Air routes The network of flight links between Britain and eastern Europe could be affected by any reduction in the number of workers from those countries. Not only do they use the flights – so do their families and friends PA How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe Flight disruption rights Current European passengers’ rights rules, known as EC261/2004, stipulate high payouts for delays and cancellations that cannot be attributed to “extraordinary circumstances”. Buried in a document called Beyond the Horizon: The Future of UK Aviation, the government says “the UK will not fall below current standards of protection when we leave the EU” AFP/Getty How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe Entry regulations to the European Union From 11pm GMT on 29 March 2019, UK travellers will become “third-country nationals” when travelling to Schengen countries and subject to the standard rules of admission for citizens of nations such as the US, Japan and Australia. That means there must be at least 90 days (roughly three months) left on your passport beyond your intended date of departure. Because third-country nationals can remain in the Schengen area for 90 days, the actual check carried out could be that the passport has at least six months’ validity remaining on the date of arrival Getty How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe Online registration prior to travel – ETIAS From 2021, non-EU nationals who do not require a visa to enter the Schengen area – including British travellers – will need to request prior authorisation to visit Schengen countries. The Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is aimed at reducing the “migration, security or public-health risk” from nationals of visa-exempt third countries, which is what the UK will become after Brexit. It costs €7 for three years AFP/Getty How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe ‘Brexit clauses’ A large number of travel providers – even including National Express coaches – have added “Brexit clauses” to their terms and conditions. These generally specify that they will not be liable for “consequential losses” as a result of Brexit-related issues PA How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe ‘Fast track’ lanes for passport control entering EU countries British passport holders will not be able to use them, and must join the queue for third-country nationals. People holding an EU passport or ID card as well as a British passport will be able to exit the UK on the British passport but enter Europe on the EU document Getty How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe Ferries The ferry industry insists vessels will continue to sail. The UK Chamber of Shipping says: “Unlike the carriage of cargo, trade deals do not have a significant effect on the cruise and passenger ferry industry. The explicit standardisation of commodity codes and tariffs associated with trade deals have little relevance to holidaymakers.” Having said that, the government and Kent County Council are planning for possible chaos at Channel ports because of a backlog of trucks in the event of a no-deal Brexit. This would impinge on holidaymakers’ plans PA How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) The EU says: “If you fall ill or have an accident during a visit to another EU country, as an EU citizen you have the right to receive the necessary public healthcare in any EU country under the same conditions as people in the host country.” The EHIC also works in Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Treatment, says the NHS, is “at a reduced cost or, in many cases, free of charge”. From 11pm GMT on 29 March 2019, when the UK ceases to belong to the European Union, British travellers will have no automatic right to use the EHIC. There is no certainty about what may replace it PA How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe Mobile phones From 30 March 2019, the law banning mobile phone firms from charging extra for calls and data in Europe will cease, though operators have yet to set out exactly what will replace it. In theory, mobile phone firms can impose whatever fees they think the market will bear. But Dave Dyson, chef executive of Three, says his firm is “committed to maintain the availability of roaming in the EU at no additional cost following Brexit” AFP/Getty “According to EU rules, visa exemption is granted on condition of reciprocity.<doc-sep>
The European Commission announced that Americans will have to register through the European Travel Information and Authorization System in order to visit a broad swath of the continent. | AP Photo/Francisco Seco Transportation EU will require travel registration for Americans starting in 2021 Americans who want to travel to 26 European nations will soon have to register and receive a travel authorization before visiting. Beginning Jan. 1, 2021, Americans who want to visit a large swath of Europe — including nations from Portugal and Greece to Iceland and Norway — will have to register through a system called the European Travel Information and Authorization System no matter how long they plan to stay. Once issued, the permit — which the commission insists is not a visa — will be good for three years. The commission had considered instituting a visa requirement for Americans, but ultimately decided against it in 2017. The registration requirements cover the "Schengen" area where countries have abolished most of their mutual border controls as part an effort to foster European unity. It includes 22 nations in the European Union but does not include countries such as the United Kingdom and Ireland. The European Commission said the registration system was "created to identify any security or irregular migratory risks posed by visa-exempt visitors travelling to the Schengen area, whilst at the same time facilitate crossing borders for the vast majority of travellers who do not pose such risks." The decision to require registration was announced last year amid continued worries about terrorist attacks and tensions between the Trump administration and officials in Europe, who objected two years ago to a U.S. proposal to ban laptops from the cabins of airlines flying to the United States. CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated when the registration requirement was announced. It was announced in July.