From 2025, Europe will introduce its Entry Authorization System, commonly shortened to ETIAS, that will require Americans to require permission in advance, and pay a 7 euro entry fee to fly to Europe.
Before you rush down to the comment section in rage, we suggest you read this accompanying article thoroughly to understand what an ETIAS is, why Europe is bringing it in, and in case you’re not aware, learn America itself has a similar system of its own applying to Europeans.
Tit-for-tat.
Anyways, back to what’s relevant: contrary to popular belief, an ETIAS is not a visa.
What Is An ETIAS?
In fact, it is the exact opposite of a European visa: it will apply to all Americans and foreign nationals who currently do not need visas to fly to Europe, and it is far less expensive––under $10 versus over $99––and it can be obtained online.
In other words, no need to commute to consulates, nor get an authorization stamped onto your passport; an ETIAS is a document issued via email upon filling out a simplified form, usually within seconds to minutes of application.
An ETIAS is valid for three years, meaning you can travel an unlimited number of times while it’s still valid or up to your passport’s expiry date, provided you continue following immigration rules—–not staying longer than 90 days out of any 180-day period—–and not being a public threat.
As the European Union confirmed in a recent directive, the ETIAS will be valid starting from mid-2025, and it will apply to travel to all 29 European states that participate in the Schengen Area.
That’s another unheard-of term for those who are not yet well-versed in Europe, but it simply refers to a customs union where passport checks are not typically required: in effect, you’re treated as a domestic traveler when flying from France to Italy, to Spain, to Croatia, to Germany, and so on.
You can find the full list of countries that will require an ETIAS to be presented at their external borders below:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
While not a member of the European Union, the United Kingdom is expected to introduce an Entry Authorization System from 2025, again applying to Americans traveling to England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and other British dependencies.
All sounds complicated enough, but lucky for us bureaucracy-wary travelers, these 4 other European countries are not planning on tightening visitation rules next year, and Americans can still fly there by presenting a valid passport only:
Ireland
The darling of every quarter Irish-American keen on retracing their ancestry, Ireland is a mystical land of eerie folklore, fairytale castles that have stood the test of time, and quaint coastal towns that would be otherwise peaceful were it not for the succession of pubs down the High (often only) Street.
From the Bohemian Temple Bar in Dublin to the stunning natural scenery of County Clare, where towering cliffs licked by the Wild Atlantic and ruined forts are perched atop craggy rocks, Ireland is sure to take your breath away––and contrary to its European counterparts, not a single extra penny:
Unlike the mainland European Union, Ireland has refused to introduce Entry Authorization, as Schengen Area rules do not bind it: it carries out customs separately from the rest, and as of now, authorities don’t see the point in tightening entry rules for their longtime American friends.
In the future, when the ETIAS is already up and running, U.S. passport holders who are crossing the pond to visit Ireland, and Ireland alone, will not be required to obtain any form of pre-travel clearance ahead of boarding nor pay the associated entry fee.
Albania
Formerly one of Europe’s hidden gems, Albania has surged in popularity in the last couple of years as tourists escape overpriced, overtouristed Greece and Croatia in droves, and find their new safe haven in the laid-back resort towns of Ksamil and Dhërmi.
Albania is located at the junction between the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, meaning the waters off its rugged coast are some of the clearest you’ll ever see, and culture-wise, it is incredibly diverse, with elements of ancient Illyrian, Greek, Slav, and even Italian.
Sounds like any other Southern European country, except in Albania, booking a beachfront Airbnb in Ksamil, dubbed the Maldives of Europe due to its soft white-sand beaches, will cost you from as little as $24 a night––in Italy’s Amalfi Coast, you’d be lucky to find a shoddy hostel at that rate.
The best part is, as Albania is not part of the European Union, in spite of its relentless attempts to join, it will not enforce ETIAS in 2025: Americans are still welcome into the country without added hurdles, and not only that, they can stay a whole year.
Montenegro
Montenegro is an up-and-coming resort destination most Americans are yet to discover, even though it’s just as fascinating culturally as Croatia, its direct neighbor to the north: of course we’re talking fairytale castles and stone-built ancient towns straddling turquoise waters.
The most famous of them, Kotor, is a fortified settlement located at the innermost part of a Mediterranean bay, with cobbled streets and medieval plazas that date back centuries, while nearby Herceg Novi is a coastal resort is best associated with lively beach clubs and upscale hotels.
Budva, on the other hand, combines both the Old World charm of Kotor and Herceg Novi’s beach vibes with a walled, perfectly-preserved Old Town adjacent to a rapidly-growing coastal development zone, where 4-star listings like Hotel Bracera cost a reasonable $93 to book per night.
The good news is, as Montenegro remains outside the European Union––much like Albania––it is not bound to implement ETIAS once it comes into force: as an American, you are welcome in Montenegro with no other requirement than producing a valid biometric passport.
Serbia
Tucked away in the middle of the Balkan Peninsula, there’s a landlocked Serbia, with its vibrant national capital Belgrade, a cosmopolitan hub playing host to monumental Orthodox cathedrals and Habsburg-era buildings, and idyllic countryside dotted with fairytale castles.
Belgrade is certainly not to be underestimated as a city break, with its elegant Knez Mihailova shopping street, flanked by notable 19th-century buildings, centuries-old Kalemagdan, a castle overlooking the confluence of the Danube and Sava Rivers, and picturesque Zemun district.
Serbia’s second-best offer, Novi Sad, is characterized by its eclecticism, with Baroque, Art Nouveau, and Neoclassical structures that are reminiscent of Serbia’s heyday pre-World Wars and a landmark fortress on the Danube that exudes Old World charm.
Despite its relative anonymity, Serbia is yet another surprising Eastern European country that isn’t hell-bent on making travel more complicated than it has to be: not only does it host nonstop flights from America, it allows regular U.S. passport holders visa-free entry for 3 months.
Visa-Free Does Not Mean Requirement-Free
It’s worth noting that although all four destinations above do not require Americans to obtain a visa or any sort of travel authorization in advance, admission into the country is still at the discretion of border officers.
Americans are advised to carry proof of outbound, or return flight tickets when traveling abroad, as it serves as proof they intend to leave the country before their tourist visa expires, as well as confirmation of accommodation, be it a hotel booking, an Airbnb rental, or an invitation letter from friends.
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