Beginning in 2024, American passport holders traveling to 30 European countries will need authorization via the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS).
This means that if you are scheduled to travel on tour with us to Europe in 2024 you will have to have the ETIAS authorization on your passport before your departure. Otherwise, you will not be allowed to enter any of the countries we travel to.
These new requirements have been years in the making, stemming back to a rise in terrorism fears following 9/11. It’s very similar to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization — or ESTA — program that the U.S. implemented in 2008.
The ETIAS application isn’t open yet. It is expected to be announced at the end of 2023. However, when it is, all necessary forms can be filled out via a web portal or mobile phone application.
The good news is that ETIAS approval will stay valid for three years or until the passport you used in your application expires. Also, it will only cost around $8.
We will keep you posted about when the ETIAS application will go into effect and how to obtain one as soon as the information is available.
