Next year, Americans will be required to obtain travel authorization to enter 30 countries, ending visa-free travel in Europe for U.S. citizens.

The European Union announced this week a new security program that would mandate U.S. passport holders to obtain visas before traveling to any of the visa-required countries, including Spain, France and Greece.

Here is everything Americans need to know.

Application process

Before you secure your flights to your European destination, visit the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). The earlier you apply and are approved for the visa, the sooner it will arrive, providing peace of mind. Keep in mind that the new rules will be enforced starting in January 2024.

 

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Was about  time. Always felt bad about the stringent US requirements while there were none on the EU side.

6 hours ago, Ben Zioner said:

Was about  time. Always felt bad about the stringent US requirements while there were none on the EU side.

The ETIAS that’s being finally being rolled out by the EU isn’t a visa, it’s an Electronic Travel Authorisation that mirrors the ESTA used for travel to the US, along with similar systems currently running, or about to be, in a number of other countries.

 

These do not take the place of the visa requirements by some countries or by various classes of travellers.

SIN has had this requirement for a while.  It is much simpler than actually applying for a visa. Apply online, get confirmation then get a QR Code or something else on your phone.  What’s the big deal? 

Doubt if most Yanks care.   Only visited Europe once, and only because niece lived there.  Too far and damn expensive over there.

If the Thais did this there would be howls of "racism" on this forum and TAT are stupid etc. 

 

Nice people the Thais.

44 minutes ago, theoldgit said:

The ETIAS that’s being finally being rolled out by the EU isn’t a visa

The heading and the contents of the article repeatedly calls it a Visa; 

"The European Union announced this week a new security program that would mandate U.S. passport holders to obtain visas before traveling to any of the visa-required countries, including Spain, France and Greece."
"Before you secure your flights to your European destination, visit the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). The earlier you apply and are approved for the visa, the sooner it will arrive,"
"The visa, which will cost about $8"

40 minutes ago, Goat said:

If the Thais did this there would be howls of "racism" on this forum and TAT are stupid etc. 

 

Nice people the Thais.

Take your xenophobia elsewhere you old goat. 

44 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Doubt if most Yanks care.   Only visited Europe once, and only because niece lived there.  Too far and damn expensive over there.

Most Americans probably don't care, yes. They also wouldn't be able to show the EU on a map. Sorry had to go there ????

 

But even from that graph which shows only 2 EU countries it seems that millions of travelers would be affected. That's not nothing.

6 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

The heading and the contents of the article repeatedly calls it a Visa; 

"The European Union announced this week a new security program that would mandate U.S. passport holders to obtain visas before traveling to any of the visa-required countries, including Spain, France and Greece."
"Before you secure your flights to your European destination, visit the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). The earlier you apply and are approved for the visa, the sooner it will arrive,"
"The visa, which will cost about $8"

Yes l know that the Yahoo story mentions visas but the fact remains the Electronic Authorisations are just that, authoritarian to travel and will only be available, and required, for those who can travel visa free.

You quote Yahoo an saying “the sooner you apply and are approved, the sooner the visa will arrive”, it’s worth noting that the system isn’t up and running yet, and applications are not able to be made just yet.

6 minutes ago, theoldgit said:

Yes l know that the Yahoo story mentions visas but the fact remains the Electronic Authorisations are just that, authoritarian to travel and will only be available, and required, for those who can travel visa free.

To me it sounds like a visa without calling it a visa. Just easier digital way to apply that in most cases will be automatically granted.

It's a surveillance tool -> US has it hooked into NSA, CIA, FBI etc, hence they ok people going and then have FBI etc waiting at the plane door.

 

Europe with increasing populist rise ups against the establishment will use it in a similar manner.

36 minutes ago, eisfeld said:

To me it sounds like a visa without calling it a visa. Just easier digital way to apply that in most cases will be automatically granted.

So probably the same as some members who say the visa free entry to Thailand is a visa on arrival, when it is isn’t.

 

Those applying for a visa will need to satisfy the decision maker that they are a genuine visitor and, in most cases, will leave the destination country at the conclusion their visit, maybe also meet the financial, accommodation and insurance requirements before the visa is issued or refused. Their security background will be checked at the visa application stage.

 

You are correct that, for the most part, permission to travel for none visa nationals, will be automated and applicants will have there details checked against various databases, SIS, Schengen Information or probably the Warning Index for the UK electronic system, with flagged travellers requiring further examination. The US, Australia, Singapore, Japan, and other countries, already have Electronic Travel Authorisations in place and will check against their own databases.

2 hours ago, theoldgit said:

So probably the same as some members who say the visa free entry to Thailand is a visa on arrival, when it is isn’t.

Not at all. Visa on Arrival means you have to apply, do paperwork and then they will check the application. Visa-free aka Exempt entry means you just show up and go through immigration without applying or filing paperwork which will be checked. There are big differences.

 

It's more like the Thai e-Visa but more automated as the US and EU have vast databases that can be utilized. Thailand is still lacking in that regard.

 

But to someone applying it makes little difference if they have to apply online by filling out some forms and get approval for a Visa or for a "Travel Authorization".

 

2 hours ago, theoldgit said:

Those applying for a visa will need to satisfy the decision maker that they are a genuine visitor and, in most cases, will leave the destination country at the conclusion their visit, maybe also meet the financial, accommodation and insurance requirements before the visa is issued or refused. Their security background will be checked at the visa application stage.

And the same happens with the ETIAS or ESTA systems. It's just smoother and optimized for the common happy path and just not called visa. But the gist is the same. Fill out documents, apply for permission to enter the country.

16 hours ago, Jenkins9039 said:

It's a surveillance tool -> US has it hooked into NSA, CIA, FBI etc, hence they ok people going and then have FBI etc waiting at the plane door.

 

Europe with increasing populist rise ups against the establishment will use it in a similar manner.

Surveillance Tool (early verifying) -> https://frontex.europa.eu/what-we-do/etias/about-etias/

 

Good news. About time lex talionis cought up in the UE.

 

Let's hope the non member UE countries in Europe also follow the trend (Switzerland for ex.)

 

Quite a surprise though,  as Bruxelles is a known patsy of the USA.

 

Perhaps social pressure is getting higher in Europe,  with many countries fed up with the current war and mainly the US sanctions,  that are making life miserable for many europeans.

On 7/31/2023 at 5:08 PM, scottiejohn said:

The heading and the contents of the article repeatedly calls it a Visa; 

"The European Union announced this week a new security program that would mandate U.S. passport holders to obtain visas before traveling to any of the visa-required countries, including Spain, France and Greece."
"Before you secure your flights to your European destination, visit the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). The earlier you apply and are approved for the visa, the sooner it will arrive,"
"The visa, which will cost about $8"

Sometimes they get it wrong.

 

Thai immigration sometimes incorrectly refers to an extension of stay for purpose of retirement as a "retirement visa."

ETIAS and ESTA are 'visa lite'

 

Not really a visa, but a kinda visa.

 

Doesn't matter how you spin it this is the 'visa free' future of travel regardless of your passport

 

Oh and by the way to all my Brit friends, I hope you realize this applies to you too when you want that weekend in Paris!