As U.S. tourists gear up for a year of new travel requirements, including needing an ETA to visit the UK, more updates have just been made on the status of ETIAS.
ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) is a new travel authorization that U.S. passport holders must obtain in the near future to enter 30 different European countries.
Though the deadline is still unclear, the European Union just made a statement that ETIAS will not be implemented in the first half of 2025. Thus, Americans planning their European vacations from the new year through July will not have to worry about obtaining any authorization for entry to most countries beyond the typical requirements (valid passport, etc.).
Reasons for ETIAS delay
Earlier reports explained that ETIAS would go into effect six months after EES (a new Entry/Exit System) begins. However, news just broke that EES has been pushed back and will launch sometime in October 2025. That delay is a result of reliability concerns, lack of participant readiness and travel industry qualms. Therefore, this would further delay the implementation of ETIAS until a later date.
When ETIAS will go into effect
So when will ETIAS actually be implemented? The European Union stated that ETIAS is expected to launch in the last quarter of 2026. And since there will be a grace period after its official launch, U.S. passport holders may not need to worry about obtaining an ETIAS until 2027.
Countries that will require ETIAS
All EU Schengen member states and countries under the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and European microstates with open borders will require ETIAS. This includes:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Portugal
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Andorra
- Monaco
- San Marino
- Vatican City
For more information how to apply when the time comes, check out our full guide to ETIAS.