Written on 13^th November 2023

What You Need to Know: Upcoming Travel Requirements for the EU & UK

Travelling to European countries is about to require more than simply having a valid passport and buying an airline ticket.
 
Recently extended to launch in mid-2025, people travelling from more than 60 visa-exempt countries into European countries—including Spain, Italy, France, Turkey, Portugal and more—may be required to obtain a new travel permit. Without this document, the ETIAS travel authorisation, travellers could be prohibited from entering certain countries.
 
According to the official ETIAS website, 1.4 billion people from over 60 visa-exempt countries will be affected by this change. Visit the official website for detailed information.
 
Some travellers will need to apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) when entering the UK as well. This document will be electronically linked to your passport and will give you permission to enter the UK, if a person does not already need a visa to come to the UK.
 
There will be a small fee associated at the time of application for both the ETIAS travel authorisation and the ETA. Once approved, the ETIAS travel authorisation will last for three years, while the ETA will be valid for two years—both of which will only remain valid if the travel documents used for application are also valid. For more information on ETAs, including who will need one, how to apply and up-to-date developments, please visit the official UK government website.