Traveling to Europe will become more complicated for Americans beginning in 2021, reports Fox News. The European Union recently announced Americans will need to obtain a visa known as a European Travel Information and Authorization System, or ETIAS, to travel to 26 nations starting in 2021. The cost is anticipated to be €7 (about $8). Currently, US citizens do not need a visa when visiting Europe for less than 90 days.
Among the nations included are traditional ski destinations such as France, Austria, and Switzerland. One ETIAS grants access to all 26 nations for up to 90 days of travel, according to officials.
To obtain an ETIAS, Americans will need to have a valid passport, a credit or debit card, and an email account, and will need to provide their full name, date and place of birth, current address, their parents’ information, passport, and other nationality details. They will also be required to answer questions related to drug use, terrorism, human trafficking, travel to conflict areas, criminal history, employment history, past European travel information and security information.
Beginning in 2021, Americans will not be able to board a plane or cruise ship heading to one of the 26 nations without an approved ETIAS. The European Union said the ETIAS requirement is to protect and strengthen its borders by identifying possible threats from visitors traveling to its countries.
Officials said the online application takes approximately 10 minutes and automatic approval is granted in more than 95 percent of cases. Travelers between the ages of 18 and 70 years old will have to pay a one-time fee of €7 and the visa will be valid for three years.
Americans will not need one when traveling to the United Kingdom, Ireland, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, and Cyprus.
European travelers traveling in the opposite direction have had to pay ~$14 for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) for authorization to enter the USA for many years.
The UK is not part of the schengen agreement so come to the UK and leave the Europeans to stew. But the US have been charging visitors for years so time for retribution? Plus the Border Security in the US can be a right pain especially if you have a connecting flight. No wonder Mexicans just nip over the border and cut our teh red tape!
Not very nice. Perhaps the United States should return the favor.
They have been doing for years, read the post!