Europe Postpones Tourist Fee Until 2025

[Leon]

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (or ETIAS) will now go into effect in the spring of 2025, the EU confirmed on Friday.

The European Commission has once again delayed the start of a travel authorization fee to enter Europe until at least 2025.


The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (or ETIAS) will now go into effect no earlier than mid-2025, according to the government’s official site for the program. The postponement was approved by the EU’s Justice and Home Affairs Council on Friday.

“The new roadmap for the delivery of the new IT architecture foresees… that ETIAS will be ready to enter into operation in Spring 2025,” the Justice and Home Affairs Council said in a statement.


The ETIAS fee was initially supposed to be operational in 2021 but was first delayed until November 2023 and delayed again to the start of 2024 before this latest postponement.

 

[elgreaux]

It doesn't apply to Saint Barth, but good to know for those who might be going to Europe.

 

[cassidain]

SchengenVisaInfo – The Leading Resource for Schengen Travel Entry & Visa Rules

Discover everything you need to know about Schengen visas, ETIAS, EES and entry requirements. Your ultimate guide for hassle-free travel across Europe.

schengenvisainfo.com

American passport holders won't need the 90 day travel visa.

 

[elgreaux]

SchengenVisaInfo – The Leading Resource for Schengen Travel Entry & Visa Rules

Discover everything you need to know about Schengen visas, ETIAS, EES and entry requirements. Your ultimate guide for hassle-free travel across Europe.

schengenvisainfo.com

American passport holders won't need the 90 day travel visa.

is this what you are referring to: The European Union has delayed the implementation of its ETIAS travel authorization system to the end of 2026. The ETIAS is not a visa, but a travel authorization for short-term stays in the EU for citizens of visa-exempt countries, including the U.S

 

[cassidain]

I don’t know but link says US citizens don’t need travel authorization

 

[elgreaux]

Well, US passports do not need a Visa to enter the Schengen zone at the moment. As I understand it, once the ETIAS goes into effect (if it ever does...) we will.
Neither impacts St Barth as we are not in the Schengen zone and ETIAS will not be required here (as of now anyway)...

 

[Leon]

It will be something like SXM Entry Form

 

[cassidain]

Well, US passports do not need a Visa to enter the Schengen zone at the moment. As I understand it, once the ETIAS goes into effect (if it ever does...) we will.
Neither impacts St Barth as we are not in the Schengen zone and ETIAS will not be required here (as of now anyway)...

Maybe I’ve confused a notice from my travel insurer regarding visas with this Groundhog Day etias thing that is talked about every few months but never actually materializes

 

[Leon]

Maybe I’ve confused a notice from my travel insurer regarding visas with this Groundhog Day etias thing that is talked about every few months but never actually materializes

I believe ETIAS is coming, sooner or later. It is just that the EU cannot develop the needed database infrastructure on time. They want to know who is coming to their countries, even visa-free, and need additional revenue from the related fees.

 

[bkeats]

Sounds like the equivalent of the ESTA that the US requires for foreign travelers. You need approval to enter even if you are coming from somewhere that has a visa waiver like the UK or EU.

 

[Leon]

Sounds like the equivalent of the ESTA that the US requires for foreign travelers. You need approval to enter even if you are coming from somewhere that has a visa waiver like the UK or EU.

Yes it was in fact their response to ESTA.