“ETA has been used by many countries for many years and is considered simple, easy and cost-effective,” Cripps said, citing countries such as Canada and Australia that have used ETAs for decades. “The system is designed to make travel to Europe safer and easier and will quickly become part of everyday life once operational.”
How does ETIAS work?
Once Europe's new authorization system is finally in place, travelers with passports from visa-exempt countries will have to apply for ETIAS online before arriving on the European continent. This requirement will affect citizens of dozens of countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Unlike traditional visas, the ETIAS application process is relatively quick and easy. It is also cheap, costing just 7 euros (about $8) for a three-year authorization. All travelers will be required to fill out an ETIAS application form, regardless of age. However, children under 18 and adults over 70 can apply for it for free.
Travelers simply fill out an online form with basic personal information and travel history, answer a few security questions, and if all goes well, they'll receive approval via email within an hour. For most travelers, this is enough, but some may need to go through additional security checks, which can add up to 96 hours to the process.
“The most important advice we can give travellers is to apply for ETIAS at least 96 hours before your flight departs,” Cripps said. “Airlines will likely require proof of ETIAS in order to board your flight. Most travellers are expected to receive approval quickly, but you don't want any surprises right before a big trip.”
Cripps also recommends that travellers set a reminder on their calendar before their three-year ETIAS approval expires to avoid any future issues.
“I'm from the US and have a lot of passport privileges, so I don't think (ETIAS) is a big deal,” said Sojourner White, a remote social worker and travel content creator who previously lived in Europe and plans to visit again in the near future. “Everyone's panicking because we're not used to travel restrictions, but honestly, $8 is a lot less than what other people have to pay to travel around Europe.”
But she believes the many delays will only confuse travelers further when ETIAS is finally introduced. “The frequent changes to the rollout timeline are reminiscent of the issues with Real ID in the US – if you release information prematurely, people will make plans based on that,” White says. “We expect issues, at least initially, with people being confused about what to do, especially if they're not an experienced traveler or this is their first time traveling to Europe.”
Her best advice for new travelers to avoid being caught off guard? “Check out the U.S. Department of State website. They have the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and I encourage everyone to sign up so you can be notified of any changes that may occur during your trip.”
For Jody Bear, travel expert at Condé Nast Traveler and founder of Bear & Bear Travel, this is also a good time to remind travelers of some basic rules of thumb to follow before packing to head off to Europe, or anywhere in the world.
“Pay attention to the expiry date on your passport, which (usually) needs to be valid for at least six months from your return date,” she says. “As a general rule, your passport should always have at least two to four blank pages, but this can vary depending on the country you're visiting, so it's a good idea to check your passport as early as possible.”
