European Union Introduces New Visa Requirement for U.S. Citizens, Other Nationals to Travel to Europe

The European Union (EU) announced a new travel requirement for U.S. nationals and over sixty other visa-exempt countries. Citizens of these countries will not be required to obtain travel authorization to enter most European countries. Starting in 2024, visa-exempt nationals traveling to the EU for short-term stays, including visits for tourism and business, will need to obtain ETIAS travel authorization. ETIAS travel authorization is valid for a visit of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Applications for travel authorization cost seven euros for people over 18 and under 70 years of age and can be completed on the ETIAS website. ETIAS is currently not operational and the date at which it will begin accepting applications has not been released. Most applications should be processed “within minutes” but the EU recommends applying well in advance of a trip in the event that an  application requires additional information or an interview.