The European Union is set to introduce a new entry system for travelers in the coming months designed to enhance the visitor experience and improve safety and security within the bloc; nonetheless, new rules and regulations come with added steps and costs for travelers – welcome to Europe’s new entry requirements.

Here’s everything you need to know about these new requirements for European travel:

Europe’s New Entry Requirements – What Is the EU’s Entry/Exit System?

The EU’s new Entry/Exit System or EES is a new biometric system relying on fingerprints and digital photos for identification to improve the traveler experience while enhancing border security, combating identity fraud and helping authorities to identify overstayers.

The system, which will bring an end to traditional passport stamping, will apply to non-EU travelers visiting the 29 participating European countries for short stays defined as up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Officials in Cyprus and Ireland will continue to stamp passports.

When Does EES Take Effect?

EU Commissioner Ylva Johansson recently confirmed that EES will launch just ahead of the busy holiday travel period on November 10, 2024.

“When that happens, it will be goodbye to passport stamping, hello to digital checks for all passengers from outside the EU—making travel easier and border checks gradually faster,” said Johansson. “At every single airport, every single harbor and every single road into Europe, we will have digital border controls—all connected, all switched on at the very same time.”

What Is ETIAS and How to Apply?

In keeping with Europe’s new entry r equirementsFollowing the launch of EES, the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) is expected to roll out in the first half of 2025.

It will require roughly 1.4 billion travelers from more than 60 visa-exempt countries—including the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the UK—to link travel authorization to their passport to enter 30 European countries for short-term stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

The authorization is valid for three years or until the individual’s passport expires.

The document will cost €7 or roughly $8 for travelers between the ages of 18 and 70. Travelers can apply on the official ETIAS website or through the ETIAS mobile app.

Which Countries are Participating in EES and ETIAS?

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Cyprus (participating in ETIAS but not EES)
• 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
• Switzerland

This article originally appeared in TravelPulse; an updated dated November 14, 2024 from TravelAge West appears below, as does more from TravelPulse on December 8, 2024 and again from TravelPulse on March 14, 2025.

A Guide to EES, ETIAS and ETA: What to Know About Europe’s New Travel Authorizations

The European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES), the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) and the United Kingdom’s Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) will require travelers from the United States to be approved before entering most European countries for a short stay. Here’s the latest news on Europe’s new entry requirements.

First: these programs are supposed to make travel more streamlined, but their roll out has been anything but. The European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES), the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) and the United Kingdom’s Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) will all require travelers from the United States to be approved before entering most European countries for a short stay. Once they launch, these authorizations can be obtained electronically, and quickly.

Although ETIAS was supposed to be implemented in the first half of 2025 — preceded by EES, which was expected to be implemented on Nov. 10 — the European Council of the European Union has confirmed that EES will be delayed, causing a bureaucratic chain reaction and a now-unknown starting date.

On the other hand, the ETA program to enter the UK will be implemented for travelers from the U.S. on Jan. 8, 2025. 

Europe’s New Entry Requirements – Requirements for Visiting the European Union

EES was intended to serve as the foundation for ETIAS by capturing biometric data for travelers entering the EU and replacing the need to stamp physical passports.

This new system requires officials to verify the length of time travelers spend in Europe; however, several EU countries stated they would not be ready for the November launch date. As a result, EES will now be introduced in phases, with no firm start dates in place.

What Does That Mean for Clients Traveling to Europe?

All visitors will continue collecting traditional passport stamps for the time being.

“EES is the preliminary phase whereby the information on entry and exit will be stored electronically, thus eliminating the need for ‘wet stamping,’” said Tom Jenkins, CEO of the European Tour Operators Association. “[However], all entry and exit points have to be ready before it is implemented as you cannot have a partial storing of this information.”

While the programs are on hold until all EU countries are prepared, the ETIAS requirement will be introduced approximately six months after the introduction of EES. Jenkins also notes that travelers “should expect a delay the first time they go through EES as registration may take some time.”

The good news is that once both systems are fully implemented — and clients are approved — ETIAS authorization will be linked to their passport and will be valid for up to three years or until the passport expiration date, whichever comes first. 

Requirements for Visiting the United Kingdom

Similarly, the expanded ETA program will require inbound travelers from the U.S. (except British and Irish citizens) to obtain an ETA for visits of up to six months beginning on Jan. 8, 2025. Clients with U.S. passports can start the application process on Nov. 27.

“Advisors play a crucial role in guiding their clients through the new ETA process before it comes into effect,” said Carl Walsh, senior vice president, USA, for Visit Britain. “Encouraging clients to apply as soon as applications open will help ensure a smooth travel experience. Advisors can also benefit from attending the UK Home Office’s information events and utilizing resources like the Partner Pack to address any client questions about the new requirements.”

Like EES for travel to the EU, the UK’s ETA will be linked to clients’ passports and will be valid for two years or until the passport expires (whichever is sooner), but unlike the system for entry into the EU, ETA grants permission for travel to the UK, but a passport stamp will still be required for entry.

Europe’s New Entry Requirements – How to Apply

It costs about $11 to apply for an ETA and is required for everyone traveling, including babies and children. All travelers will need an original passport — not a photocopy or digital passport) — but do not need to enter their travel details.

The fastest way to apply is via the UK ETA app, which is already available on the App Store and Google Play, but applications can also be submitted online. Ttravel advisors can submit applications on behalf of clients, and travelers can expect to receive a decision within three working days.

The application requires:

• A valid passport
• A digital photo that meets UK passport standards
• Travel details
• A debit or credit card for the £10 fee

While most applications are approved within the same day, the process can actually take up to 72 hours, so officials advise submitting applications a few days before departure to avoid problems. According to Condé Nast Traveler, if you haven’t received ETA authorization prior to taking off for the UK, you could be hit with a fine or even denied boarding. 

Layover Travelers Included

Even passengers who are merely transiting through a UK airport must obtain an ETA before arriving in the country. The UK government believes that, “requiring transit passengers to obtain an ETA stops people who may use connecting flights to avoid gaining permission to travel to the UK.” The Home Office stated in a news release that this rule is “under review” and may be amended in the future, it remains the case for now.

Implementation Timeline

The ETA rollout is happening in phases. Starting January 8, 2025, citizens of the U.S., Canada and Australia will need ETAs to enter the UK. By April 2, 2025, European travelers will also be required to apply. Once an ETA is granted, the designated traveler can use it to enter the country for up to two years or until their passport expires, whichever comes first.

The system has already been in use for citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council countries, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia. To date, over 600,000 ETAs have been granted to travelers from these nations.

ETIAS is currently not in operation, and no applications are being accepted; however, once the program launches, it will cost about $8 to apply (applicants under 18 or over 70 are exempt from payment). Travelers will need a valid original passport to apply to ETIAS, and that passport cannot expire in less than three months and should not be older than 10 years. Travelers will be able to apply using the official ETIAS website or the official ETIAS mobile app; clients must authorize an advisor to submit an application on their behalf.

One potential wrinkle comes when U.S. travelers visit the UK between entering and exiting from the EU. For example, clients might land in Paris, visit London and depart from Dublin. In that case, Jenkins says, they will need both an ETIAS to visit Europe and an ETA to go to the UK; however, neither is required for the Republic of Ireland.

Jenkins recommends that agents refer to websites that provide up-to-date information, including the ETOA page, which is open to non-members. 

Beyond that, he says to “pay attention, but relax — this is not a visa.”

*****

Europe’s Digital Entry System Has a New Launch Date

Europe’s New Entry Requirements Delayed Until Late 2026

The Justice and Home Affairs Council of the European Union met on March 5 to finalize the delay. ETIAS was first delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic but then faced technology implementation challenges that led to subsequent delays. 

Some Schengen members will begin using a digital Entry/Exit System, called EES, beginning this October as countries transition to the digital model. This system will replace stamping passports with biometrics and applies to short-stay visa holders and visa-exempt travelers. 

When launched, ETIAS will require travelers from 60 visa-free countries, including the United States, to obtain digital pre-authorization for their trips to enter European Union countries. They’ll also be required to pay a one-time €7 fee for travelers aged 18-70. ETIAS will be valid for one person for three years or until their passport expires, whichever happens first.