Traveling to the UK or Europe?

Your guide to successfully navigating the new entry requirements- a must read.

Traveling to the UK, Europe or the Schengen area soon?

Seeing all the scary headlines about tourists spending hours in long line at international airports?

International travel just got a bit more complicated. We break it down in simple, clear steps for you.

There is so much confusion, mis-information and fear mongering going on right now in social media and in the news about the 3 new international travel requirements for those traveling to the UK and Europe: ETA, EES and ETIAS.

I am here to set the record straight and calm your fears.

Remember, fear headlines are designed to do one of 2 things: entice you to click on their story or post- because the author gets paid for clicks (so actual facts are less important than clicks)

or to scare you into buying their product or service.

Remember, “If they are trying to scare you- they are really trying to sell you.”

3 new things you need to know about if you are heading to the UK, Europe or the Schengen countries. We have done, or will be doing in the near future, all of these so we can give eye witness reports of how it works and what you can expect.

These two programs are currently in place:

1.      ETA: Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for US passport holders traveling to the UK

John and I did this last year. Not a huge deal- but you MUST do it before you go. The airlines in the US will make you show proof that you have it. I know- it’s supposed to be attached to your passport- but many airlines will still make you show proof at the airport during the check in process. That is because airlines get fined if they allow any passengers to arrive in the UK without an ETA.

The Application: Travelers apply entirely online through the official UK ETA App or the UK Government Website. You must provide passport details, upload a photo, and answer a few security questions.

Cost & Processing Time: It costs £20 (may change) to apply and decisions are typically returned within 3 working days, though many are processed in minutes.

Validity: Once granted, the ETA is digitally linked directly to your passport. It is valid for two years (or until your passport expires) and permits multiple visits.

Important limitations: An ETA allows you to travel to the UK, but it does not absolutely guarantee entry. Upon arrival, you will still need to pass through UK Border Force, either by seeing an officer or using an ePassport gate

Pro tips that worked for us: We applied for our ETA several days before our trip (just in case of delay) using the ETA app. We saved the proof on our phone and printed out a copy that was with us in our travel documents. I know- it’s Old School to bring paper copies- but Old School wins every time when technology fails or batteries die. 😊

2. EES- Entry/Exit System. For US passport holders traveling to Europe and Schengen Area.

Here is the list of the 29 participating countries (all those in the Schengen area and 4 others) that are now requiring the EES: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

When you arrive in one of these countries for the first time, you will be directed to a kiosk where it will take your picture and record your fingerprints. That’s it.

·       Nothing to apply for in advance.

·        Nothing to pay.

·       It’s “one and done” - you never need to do it again.

·      

But you will be required to do it on your first entry into one of the participating countries. If you refuse, they will refuse to let you enter their country.

Our eye witness reports on EES: We have tons of clients who have traveled recently to many of these countries and they are reporting back to us that it took a few minutes, but not a big deal.

So, take a deep breath, relax, and stop listening to those people selling fear.

Coming Soon….

ETIAS: European Travel Information and Authorization System: for US passport holders traveling to Europe and Schengen Area

Currently scheduled to start Oct 2026- but may be delayed, again.

What is it? It is a digital travel authorization (a visa waiver) similar to the U.S. ESTA. It is not a visa.

What countries are participating? Same ones as the EES (see the list above)

Who needs it? Citizens from more than 50 visa-exempt countries and territories (including the U.S., Canada, Australia, and the UK) visiting for business, tourism, medical, or transit purposes.

Everyone holding a US passport, regardless of age, will need to have one. HOWEVER, those over 70 and under 18 will NOT be required to pay for it. But they still must have an ETIAS of their own.

Validity Period: The authorization is valid for 3 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.

Application Process: You apply online, pay the fee, and get your permit digitally. Right now, the official website says the fee will be 20 euros per person. (Of course, that fee can change.)

Help for those who are traveling to these countries:

I am finishing a series of videos to help our clients understand what these new requirements are and to walk you, step by step, through the process of actually getting your ETA and/or ETIAS.

I will post these tutorials on our YouTube channel. If you aren’t already a subscriber- I suggest you subscribe to our channel now.

Here is the link to subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@AdventureAwaitsWorldTravel

I will provide vital information in those tutorials- without the fear or hype.

Our motivation is always to help our clients travel the world in style, with as few headaches as possible.

That’s why we can state with confidence,

“We save you time. We save you money.

We save you from making (potentially) very expensive mistakes.”

Until next time, your next adventure awaits!!!