Need-to-Know Travel Authorizations for Visiting Europe in 2025

Does This Apply to You?

First, before we get into all the details, if you’re not traveling to or through Europe, which includes Iceland, in the next year or so, this doesn’t apply to you.

We’re strictly talking European leisure visas, waivers, and travel authorizations here.

However, traveler beware. If you’re flying somewhere else, like to Africa or Dubai or a beautiful Indian Ocean island nation, and you have a layover in a European airport, you may still need this information.

The UK’s travel authorization, for example, originally was required regardless if you were visiting or just passing through via a layover at one of their airports.

They walked that back quickly, like within a few days of release, and now an ETA is not required if you’re just there on a layover and don’t leave the secured area of the airport.

I’m an American with an American spouse, so this article is written from that perspective first, but I also include information for other nationalities and how to double check it for yourself.

This isn’t legal advice. I’m not an immigration attorney. This is my research and experiences as I’ve lived them with links to the official sources. I hope it makes it easier for you to quickly do your own research and figure out what you need for your situation.

We’ll go over what each of those are in a moment, but that’s where we currently stand. The UK’s ETA is active. The Schengen’s EES and ETIAS are not active yet, but EES will be within the year. ETIAS is still next year’s problem.

If you’re not a US citizen, check each website below for requirements for your nationality.

This may be old news to you or you might be surprised to learn that you’ve been added to the list as well. For example, the UK’s ETA will be required for EU nationals starting in April 2025.

Better safe to check, just in case!

Visas vs Waivers vs Travel Authorizations

Let’s clarify these terms so we know the differences between them. They all serve a similar purpose, but all require different levels of effort to obtain.

All three are official travel documents that allow you to enter, stay in, or transit through a country other than your home nation. Basically, they’re your hall pass.

Having one let’s any official you may encounter during your travels know that you’re not a criminal and you entered the country legally. You were granted the right to travel there for your vacation.

In today’s digital age, a leisure visa usually isn’t a physical card or paper. It may be a stamp in your passport, but even that is starting to disappear in favor of computer systems that track it all digitally.

Side Note: There are many different types of visas: work, study abroad, marriage, etc. We’re only talking about leisure visas here, the ones you need to go on a vacation.

A visa is the most stringent check.

A visa is the most time-consuming and complex travel document to get.

You fill out an application, pay to translate it into the country’s native language if different from your own, pay an application fee (anywhere from $50 to several hundred), and sometimes have to complete an interview or provide your biometric data (fingerprints) at a consulate or upon arrival.

They can take several weeks to several months to get approved, and the fee is not refundable if you get denied. It’s a good idea to apply for your visa, if required, before you book any non-refundable travel, like plane tickets.

Americans are fortunate in that a full-blown visa is not required for most vacations to Europe lasting less than 90 days.

A waiver is common between countries on good terms.

A visa waiver is when two countries agree to make it easier for their citizens to travel between the two countries. There’s a mutual respect and trust, and often a mutual desire to eliminate red tape and the costs of processing visas.

The US has a visa waiver agreement with many countries around the world, including the majority of Europe. There’s nothing for you to fill out ahead of time.

You simply show up with your passport and proof of a return ticket home, and the waiver is automatically processed on arrival when you go through immigration at the airport or other border crossing.

There are still requirements for entry under a visa waiver. They’re just things that you probably already did without thinking about it, like buying a return ticket home, not working while you’re on vacation, and not staying for more than 90 days at a time.

You can still be denied entry upon arrival if you don’t meet the requirements of the waiver, although this is rare.

A travel authorization is a quick check.

Travel authorizations are like a quick security double check when you’re eligible for a visa waiver. It’s not as involved as a visa, but it’s a way to catch ineligible travelers before they arrive so they don’t have to be held and deported.

You’ll download the official app, fill out your form, pay a small fee (varies but typically under $15), and receive your results via email usually within a few hours.

If you need a full visa, you usually don’t need a travel authorization. They’re already doing a much more thorough check on you through your visa application.

Where You’re Going Matters

There are 2 key pieces of information you need to know to determine if you need a visa or are eligible for a waiver instead: your nationality and where you’re going.

You already know both of those. Great! But we need a little more information about your destination.

Are you going to the UK, the Schengen Area, or one of the few countries that doesn’t fall into either of those?

The answer to that question will decide if you need a waiver or a visa.

The European Union vs The Schengen Area

The European Union is a coalition of governments agreeing to work together to promote peace and prosperity in Europe. They are all about making it easier and safer to live and move around in Europe.

To address that, they created the Schengen Area, which is a group of countries that have all agreed to the same security protocols so they can create a large, secure area without internal borders. It makes it so much easier for their goods and citizens to move around.

It’s like how at an airport, you have to go through security to access the gates. Once you’re inside, though, you don’t have to go through security again every time you switch terminals. You’ve already been cleared.

That’s how the Schengen works. You go through security at an external border, but once you’re inside, you don’t have to do the full-blown security check every time you cross an internal border.

There are 27 member states in the EU, but two of them have opted out of being in the Schengen Area: Ireland and Cyprus.

Also, there are 4 countries that are not in the EU but are in the Schengen: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

For visa purposes, check if the country you’re visiting is in the Schengen or not. This EU official website has an easy-to-understand list and maps.

Unless you’re traveling to the British Isles or the Balkans, besides Greece, there’s a good chance you’re visiting the Schengen.

You Probably Need a Travel Authorization

For the majority of English-speaking readers seeing this, you’ll be eligible for a visa waiver and be required to get a travel authorization.

Which travel authorization you need depends on where you’re going, but the visa waivers themselves are all typically valid for up to 90 days, which is going to cover almost everyone’s vacation.

Note that if you’re planning a trip to visit multiple countries, you may need multiple travel authorizations.

We’ve done London and Paris in one trip before using the Chunnel to travel between the two. We went before travel authorizations were required, but now you’ll need an ETA for travel to London and an ETIAS for travel to Paris (once it comes online).

Which Travel Authorization Do You Need?

The UK’s ETA

ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation): A travel document required to enter the UK for those that don’t need a visa.

• Currently active and required for US citizens.
• Cost: £10 GBP which is not quite $13 USD
• Validity: 2 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first
• How To Apply: Download the official GOV UK ETA app or apply online.
• Response Time: Typically 3 days, but could be +/- a few days

​All the official info is here, including which nationalities are required to have it!​

The UK has had this for a while and have been adding required nationalities in phases. The effective date of requirement for US citizens was January 8, 2025. If you live in the EU, it’ll be required April 2, 2025 (applications open March 5th).

Originally the ETA was required even just for layovers in the UK, but that was met with outrage from the airlines when they noticed passengers stopped booking flights with layovers in the UK to avoid paying the fee for an ETA.

The UK government quickly changed face and made an exception for layovers, but they also mentioned that this would mean the fee would increase. They haven’t increased the fee yet, but it may be coming. We’ll see how legislation goes.

You must apply for the ETA before you leave for the UK. I’d say apply a week ahead of your flight, just to be safe.

⚠️ Watch out for scam sites saying they’ll apply for you. Only use the official UK GOV app or online application. It’s never more than £10 per ETA, and everyone in your group needs their own ETA. Don’t pay someone hundreds to “fast track” your application. They’re just stealing your passport info, and may or may not actually apply for the ETA for you.

The Schengen’s EES

EES (Entry/Exit System): A computer system used to register non-EU nationals crossing European Union external borders. Not a travel authorization.

• Not yet active. Scheduled to begin in October 2025.
• Cost: N/A
• Validity: N/A
• When It Applies: show up at an EU external border (airport, land border, port)
• Response Time: instant

​All the official info is here, but there’s not much else to know at the moment.​

The EU will use this system to better track non-EU travelers across their many member states. It’ll automatically flag you if you stay longer than allowed (90 days in any 180 day period) and uses biometric data to reduce identity fraud.

The current anticipated date for start of operations is October 2025. However, it’s been in the works for years, and they often push back the start date. We’ll see if it sticks this time.

Regardless of when it starts, there’s nothing for you to do to “prepare” for this. You’re not applying for anything. It’s just when they decide to switch over their security systems.

This is a prerequisite for the ETIAS travel authorization. ETIAS will not come online until EES is up and running to the EU’s satisfaction.

The Schengen’s ETIAS

ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System): A travel document required to enter the EU for those that don’t need a visa.

• Not yet active. Anticipated to start in Q4 2026.
• Cost: €7 EUR which is just a smidge more than $7 USD
• Validity: 3 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first
• How to Apply: once it’s active, through their app or online
• Response Time: Typically minutes/almost instant, but up to 4 days

​All the official info is here, but it won’t be online for several months.​

This one just keeps getting pushed back. It’s basically the same thing as the UK’s ETA: a simple form with a small fee that you apply for before your trip.

If you’re going to Europe (including Iceland), double check if this applies. There’s a handy list on the website linked above.

Other Countries

If you’re traveling to one of the European nations not included in either the UK or the Schengen Area, then you need to look them up individually.

A quick search for “[destination] visa requirements” should bring you to the country’s official website. For Americans, the US State Department website always has a good summary of what’s required.

For example, here’s the page for visiting Ireland. Ireland is part of the EU but not part of the Schengen Area. It has its own immigration policies to consider.

The Quick Facts section tells you everything you need to know, though, like you’re able to stay up to 90 days without a visa and there’s no travel authorization currently required.

How to Get Your Visa, Waiver, or Travel Authorization

We touched on the process to get a full visa above: lengthy application, pay a fee, and wait.

If you need a visa, follow the directions on the appropriate country’s official website. Each country has its own requirements and timelines.

For a waiver, there’s nothing you need to fill out. Bring your passport and proof of a return ticket home, and you’re set.

For a travel authorization, the preferred method to apply is via mobile app, but there’s usually an online form available as well. It will always be faster for you to apply via the app.

• Make sure you’re using the official app or website.
• Have a credit card handy for payment.
• Don’t pay a third party to do this for you.

You should receive the results of your travel authorization application within a few hours or days, depending on the system. To be safe, you can apply up to a month before your trip.

Happy travels!

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