ETIAS Visa Waiver Announced for 2024

Heading to Europe in 2024? The European Union may require you to obtain approval prior to your journey.  To enhance security and make entry into 30 EU countries, the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will implement an electronic travel authorization next year.

What is ETIAS?

It is important to emphasize that ETIAS is a waiver that pre-screens travelers from “third-countries”, who are citizens from countries not needing a Schengen Visa. It is similar to the U.S. ESTA and Canadian eTA. Travelers currently visiting European Member countries visa-free, will require an ETIAS in 2024 onwards. Passport holders of the EU single market are exempt from ETIAS. 

Will Help and Not Hinder

Here are the objectives:

• Convenience – Reduce border wait-times for travelers and streamline entry into EU member states.
• Border efficiency – Improve border management for security personnel screening travellers upon arrival and departure from EU member states.
• Transparency – Help the EU toward achieving its goal of a visa liberalisation policy that would enable citizens of more countries to enter the EU without the need of a Schengen Visa.
• Immigration – Enable border authorities to spot migration irregularities and abuse of visa-free EU travel.
• Security – Help EU member states strengthen their border security processes and procedures against crime and terrorism.
• Funding – Provide an additional source of revenue for the EU budget as well as for managing visa-free travel of business, tourism and transit visitors.

ETIAS is Simple!

Don’t fret. It will not be difficult. Simply fill in the form on the ETIAS website or app, pay the fee (about $8), and wait for confirmation. In most instances, you’ll receive notification within four days. The certificate is valid for three years, and you must keep it with you while traveling in Europe.

ETIAS has not announced a mandatory implementation date as of this writing. France has asked that the EU wait until after the Olympics so as to avoid confusion and problems with athletes and tourists. 

Stay tuned. We’ll update as information becomes available.

For more information visit ETIAS.com.

Chris Cutler

Travel Editor

Christine Cutler is a writer, photographer, editor, guide, teacher, traveler, Ohio native, Florida resident, and world citizen. she lives in downtown St. Petersburg with her husband and crazy Welsh terrier, and she considers Italy, where she holds dual citizenship, her second home. in addition to being travel editor and writing for live in Italy magazine, she maintains her own websites (coldpastaandredwine.com and christinecutler.com), guides small groups through Italy, and is a travel advisor for Adventures by Jamie (adventuresbyjamie.com) a travel, non-fiction, and memoir writer; photographer; and editor whose work has appeared in various publications, she spends as much time as she can exploring—and living and breathing—Italy.