A new requirement for travelers heading to Europe, set to take effect next year, has been postponed – again – to 2025.
The requirement – an online travel authorization through the European Travel Information and Authorization System, or ETIAS – applies to visitors from 30 European countries, including popular destinations such as France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain.
Travelers, including Americans and Brazilians, will not be able to visit without this authorization.
Until the end of last week, the European Union had indicated that the ETIAS program would start in 2024. Now, it has been postponed to the following year.
The system “will be ready to go live in the spring of 2025,” according to an announcement.
The European Union’s website for ETIAS has also updated its language, citing “mid-2025” as the new official start date. As the program is not yet operational, no applications are being collected at this time, the EU website reports.
The European Commission, the EU’s executive body, proposed the creation of ETIAS in 2016 to strengthen security checks on people from over 60 countries (including the U.S.) who can visit the Schengen Area of Europe without a visa. The new European system is similar to what the U.S. implemented in 2008.
The travel authorization requirement – which incurs a non-refundable fee of 7 euros per person, or about 7.40 dollars according to current exchange rates – has already been postponed several times. It was initially set to take effect in 2021, then in 2023 and 2024 – and now in 2025.
Processing may take up to a month for some
Minors under 18 or seniors over 70 are exempt from the application fee.
Most applications will be processed in minutes and at most four days, according to the EU. However, it may take longer – up to an additional 30 days for travelers requested to provide extra information or documentation or to undergo an interview with national authorities, the EU said.
“We advise obtaining the ETIAS travel authorization before purchasing your tickets and booking your hotels,” states the EU website.
The authorization will be valid for three years or until the passport expires. Travelers with a valid ETIAS do not need to apply for a new one each time they visit Europe.
Source: CNBC