ETIAS Requirements for U.S. Citizens Traveling to Europe

Europe is one of the most widely sought travel locations in the world. In fact, in 2017, there were more than 30 million trips from the United States to Europe, the most popular location being Western Europe, which saw more than 11 million outbound trips during the year. Not only is Europe beautiful and full of history, but it is also relatively easy to travel to.

However, in the coming years, there will be changes for Americans who are planning trips to Europe. Most notably, the ETIAS form will be required for travelers. Here’s what you need to know about the new travel requirements for Europe.

In the past, traveling to Europe only required a valid passport, but, come January 2021, U.S. citizens traveling to Europe will need to also apply for an ETIAS visa waiver. The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) was enacted as a way for Europe to improve its security level to minimize problems with terrorism and illegal immigration.

Americans traveling to any country in the Schengen Zone will need an ETIAS. The Schengen Zone includes 22 countries in the European Union, including Italy, Spain, Sweden, France, Germany, and Sweden, as well as Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, and Lichtenstein.

The good news is that the process of obtaining the waiver is simple. In order to obtain the Europe visa waiver, U.S. travelers will need to have a valid passport, email account, and a credit or debit card. Travelers can apply for the waiver using an online form. The form requires travelers to provide personal data, such as:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Place of birth
• Sex
• Nationality
• Travel document information
• Residential address
• Contact information

Other data is also requested, such as criminal history and presence in conflict zones. Once the form has been submitted, travelers will have to pay the ETIAS visa cost, which is just $8.

ETIAS authorization isn’t just required for U.S. travelers. People traveling from many other countries, including Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, Mexico, and the United Arab Emirates must also apply. However, it’s worth noting that dual citizens who have citizenship in a European country do not have to apply for an ETIAS, as long as they have a valid European passport.

If you have Italian dual citizenship, not only are you exempt from the ETIAS waiver process, you can also stay beyond the 90-day visa waiver program that applies to Americans. Having dual citizenship also allows you to travel more freely throughout European Union member states.

Need help obtaining your Italian dual citizenship? The Italian American Citizenship Assistance Program is your go-to resource for all of the assistance you need.

Applying for Italian dual citizenship on your own can be confusing and costly. Enjoy a stress and hassle-free process with Italian citizenship assistance from the Italian American Citizenship Assistance Program.

Our team offers comprehensive consultations so that we can identify your exact needs, as well as a report that includes timelines, milestones, a cost analysis, and a schedule. Our services ensure that you can obtain your dual Italian citizenship smoothly.

Call us today at (305) 812-5512 to get started.

Sources:

1. https://www.statista.com/statistics/311580/outbound-travel-from-the-us-to-europe-by-destination/