If you’re planning a trip to Europe, you might have heard about something called the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) and wondered whether this new program means you need a visa for your visit. The answer is you probably don’t…yet. ETIAS will soon serve as something akin to a European visa for Americans as well as individuals from 58 other territories and countries. The program was supposed to be up and running, but it has been delayed multiple times and now isn’t expected to be launched until well into 2026 at the earliest. If your European visit is before then, there’s no need to worry about completing an ETIAS application.
Bottom Line Personal asked travel expert Christopher Elliott what American travelers need to know about ETIAS and other visa requirements.
First…What Is a Visa?
A visa is an official document that countries require citizens of certain other nations to obtain before they’re allowed to enter. Travelers also need a passport. Obtaining a visa can be a time-consuming and potentially pricey process that typically requires dealing with the embassy or consulate of the nation you are planning to visit, though these days streamlined online visa applications might be available.
The vast majority of countries that Americans tend to visit don’t require American travelers to obtain visas, particularly if the purpose of the visit is tourism and they’re not staying very long. Extended stays often require visas—Americans visiting Europe typically must obtain visas if they plan to be there for more than 90 days during a 180-day period…and/or if they’re visiting for a reason other than tourism, business or transit. Example: American students studying in Europe for more than 90 days often must obtain student visas.
Beware: There is some risk that nations might impose stricter visa requirements on American travelers in the months or years ahead as a consequence of currently strained relationships with the US government.
How Will ETIAS Affect Me?
ETIAS is not officially a visa but rather an “entry requirement.” And technically, most American tourists won’t need visas to visit Europe even after ETIAS is up and running.
Once ETIAS is underway, it’s expected to be much less time-consuming than the conventional visa-application process and have lower fees. ETIAS applicants will have to answer only a few simple online questions about themselves and their travel plans and pay a small fee—expected to be seven euros (around $7.96 at recent exchange rates). That fee will be waived for applicants under age 18 or over 70.
The vast majority of applicants will complete this ETIAS process and receive approval in just minutes. But a small percentage of applicants will face closer scrutiny, so apply several weeks or more before the travel date, when possible. Once ETIAS approval is received, it will be valid for three years or until the applicant’s passport expires, whichever comes first—you don’t need to repeat this process before each visit.
ETIAS approval will be required for Americans traveling to anywhere in the “Schengen Area”—that’s essentially the European Union plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. It also will be needed to visit a few tiny nations that aren’t technically part of the Schengen Area—Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City.
Traveling to the UK?
The United Kingdom and Ireland are not part of the Schengen area and will not require Americans to complete ETIAS applications. But the UK has its own similar program known as Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), and this program is already up and running. Americans traveling to the UK—and in some cases, even just switching planes at a UK airport—should apply through the UK ETA app. As with ETIAS, this process usually is simple, extremely fast and relatively inexpensive—the fee is 16 pounds (around $20.70)—but on rare occasions, approval can take several days or longer. Approval is valid for two years or until passport expiration, whichever comes first. More details: Gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta.
Beware: There are some third-party vendors that charge far more for the UK ETA. Example: $20.70 plus a $100 fee for the vendor.
8 Non-European Countries Where Americans Need Visas or ETAs
As of April 2025, most countries that require Americans to obtain visas or ETAs aren’t places where Americans commonly visit on vacation, but some reasonably popular destinations do, including…
- Australia. Americans generally must obtain an ETA, available through the Australian ETA app. Fee: AUD20 (around $12.75 per recent exchange rates). HomeAffairs.gov.au/visas
- Brazil. As of April, Americans need an “Electronic Visa” (eVisa) to visit. Fee: $80.90 ivisatravel.com/brazil
- Egypt. Americans need a visa to visit—applying online for an “Electronic Visa” (eVisa) is an option. Fee: $25 for a single-entry tourist visa, or $60 for a tourist visa that allows multiple entries. Visa2egypt.gov.eg
- India. Americans need a visa to visit—applying online for an eVisa is an option. Fee: $10 to $80 for tourist eVisas, depending on time of year and visa duration required. IndianVisaOnline.gov.in
- Indonesia. Americans need a Visa on Arrival—this can be obtained upon reaching many Indonesian airports or ports, as its name implies, or you can apply in advance for an eVisa. Fee: Often 500,000 Indonesian Rupiah (around $30), though this can vary depending on specific visa required. iVisa.com/Indonesia
- Laos. Americans need a visa to visit—applying online for an eVisa is an option. Applications for eVisa must be made at least five but fewer than 60 days before arrival date. Fee: $50. LaoEVisa.gov.la
- New Zealand. Americans typically must obtain an ETA, available online or through the NZeTA app. Fee: NZD $17 through the app (about $10) or NZD $23 though the website ($13.60). NZeTA.immigration.govt.nz
- Vietnam. Americans need a visa to visit—applying online for an eVisa is an option. Fee: $25, or $50 for a visa allowing multiple entries. Evisa.gov.vn
