Nationals of the United States of America holding a valid passport will be able to continue travelling to the Schengen Area Member States without the need to obtain an EU travel authorization first, at least until May 2025.
The European Union was scheduled to launch the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) by 2024, however, sources from the EU have made it clear for SchengenVisaInfo.com that the ETIAS has been postponed for another year, until at least 2025.
…the implementation of the ETIAS has been rescheduled to May 2025, with the possibility of further postponement.
The same has blamed the postponing of the system launch on delays by third parties on the implementation of the Entry/Exit System (EES), another EU border security system which was scheduled to become operational by the end of this year, or early next year.
Both systems are deeply linked. Though the Entry/Exit can function properly without the ETIAS, it is impossible for the latter to become operational without the EES.
Regarding the EES system go-live date, the EU agency responsible for its development and management, eu-LISA, is expected to come up with a date by the end of the year. The EU Commission has also promised to reveal the date of the ETIAS launch before December 31.
Once both systems become effective, American nationals, alongside with the nationals of another around 60 world countries will have to obtain a travel authorization online – the ETIAS – for which they need to apply in advance of their trip to Europe.
They will have to pay a fee of €7 for their application, and every approved ETIAS, will be eligible for a period of two years, or until traveller’s passport expires, whichever comes first.
With an ETIAS, Americans will be eligible to travel to Europe, at the borders of which, they will have to go through the EES system. The latter will register their name, travel document type, fingerprints and captured facial images, as well as and the date and place of entry and exit.
All data will be taken and stored in full respect of fundamental rights and data protection. Data on the traveller’s refusals of entry will also be stored in this system.
The EU is not the first to implement such a scheme like the ETIAS, as numerous countries, including the US, have had similar systems for years. The US has been operating its Electronic System Travel Authorisation (ESTA) since 2008, and most Europeans need to obtains such a permit to travel to the US. Unlike the ETIAS, an ESTA is a bit more expensive, as its costs $21.