​
Important Update for Travelers to Europe:
Planning a trip to the U.K. or Europe in 2025? Travelers should be aware of two new requirements: the U.K. Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), effective January 8, 2025, and the ETIAS travel authorization for Europe’s Schengen Area, starting Spring 2025. Both are simple online applications but must be secured before departure to avoid delays during your travels.
​
Important Update for Travelers to the U.K.:
Starting January 8, 2025, U.S., Canadian, and many non-European passport holders must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to enter or transit through the U.K. if they do not possess a valid U.K. visa. The ETA is required for short stays (up to six months) for purposes such as tourism, business, family visits, or short-term study. It is also mandatory for travelers transiting through the U.K.
Key Details:
-
Applications can be completed online.
-
You must provide passport details, a digital photo, and pay a non-refundable fee of £10 (approximately $13.00 USD).
-
Processing typically takes three working days.
-
The ETA will be digitally linked to your passport and remains valid for two years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.
​
For more information about the UK’s ETA requirement, visit the UK government’s ETA website.
Important Update for Travelers to Europe:
Starting Spring 2025, U.S. passport holders and other visa-exempt nationals (including citizens of Canada, Japan, Australia, and the U.K.) will need to obtain an ETIAS travel authorization to enter 30 European countries within the Schengen Area. ETIAS is not a visa but a simple online application required for short stays of up to 90 days within any 180 days.
Key Details:
-
The online application takes less than 10 minutes to complete.
-
Approvals are typically issued within 96 hours or less.
-
The registration fee for ETIAS is €7 (approximately $7.40 USD).
-
The ETIAS is valid for three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.
​
For more information about the requirement to travel to the European Union (EU), visit the EU government’s ETIAS website.
​
​
Travelers are responsible for completing and obtaining their ETA and ETIAS authorizations before departure to avoid any travel delays.
Last Updated: December 2024
​