The European Union announced today that it will require a visa for Americans traveling to Europe as of 2021. U.S. nationals will need a passport and a credit or debit card to apply for a European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) permit that will allow them to visit Europe for less than 90 days. The process should be simple. It doesn’t require consular interviews or the background checks as regular visas, but it does require payment and registration prior to travel.
Previously, Americans had been exempt from visa requirements when traveling to EU nations for stays less than three months.
The ETIAS system is similar to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) system 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 registration will be valid for three years and will allow Americans to travel for up to 90 days within the Schengen Area, the 26 EU countries that allow passport-free travel among themselves. The visa is valid for three years and is “multi-entry,” so you don’t need to apply every time you want to visit. You won’t need a visa to visit the United Kingdom.
Obtaining the ETIAS visa should be “affordable, simple and fast,” with an estimated one-time cost of just 7 euros or 8 dollars, according to a press release from the European Commission. “Completing the online application should not take more than 10 minutes with automatic approval being given in over 95% of cases,” the release said.
