Do US Citizens Need a Visa for Europe? ETIAS is Coming in 2026

A European Union flag flies on a shore with mountains in the background and a plane flying overhead in the sunlight.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The rules are changing around what Americans need to travel to the European Union, including to some of the cheapest countries to visit, but it's been a moving target on a planned update and the exact timing of when it goes into effect is still up in the air.

Once in effect, Americans will need one additional approval to enter countries in the European Union. To visit, you'll have to apply for approval under the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). You will apply online, and the authorization, which will be linked to your passport, will account for short-term stays, including up to 90 days in a 180-day period.

This was originally planned to take effect in 2024, but ETIAS has been repeatedly delayed. Now, ETIAS isn't scheduled to start until the last quarter of 2026, and the EU has said they will provide a specific start date "several months prior to its launch."

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That means that until late 2026, Americans do not need an additional visa to visit Europe.

This also applies to another new European Union program, Entry/Exit System, or EES. EES officially launched in October 2025 but is still rolling out across each border crossing point. It's expected to be fully operational everywhere by April 10, 2026.

More details about all of this below.

What Americans need to travel to Europe in 2025

For now, in the beginning of 2026, the old rules are in place, and you do not need a visa to travel to Europe for trips under 90 days as an American. But you should check your passport's expiration date, as it needs to be valid for at least six months after arrival in the European Schengen area, and be aware of how long it takes to renew your passport.

ETIAS will be a big change for Americans since there hasn't been a visa requirement to visit EU countries before. Keep this in mind before your big trip to Greece, Italy, France or any of the other 30 Euro nations in 2026. Also, consider shopping around for travel prices using sites like Skyscanner ahead of time to find the best deals.

If you're concerned about the added task of applying for ETIAS, Cameron Hewitt, content and editorial director at Rick Steves' Europe, told the Washington Post: "It certainly shouldn’t cause anyone to rethink a trip to Europe. From what we know, ETIAS looks like it'll simply be a manageable bit of red tape."

Then, your biggest concern will be avoiding the crowds on Santorini.

How to apply for Europe's ETIAS

Once ETIAS goes into effect, which, again, isn't expected until the last quarter of 2026, Americans will need to apply through it to travel to most EU countries.

To fill in the ETIAS application, you will fill out some basic information on the official ETIAS website. The application will ask for information like your name, address, passport information, current occupation, as well as information about past travel to conflict zones and criminal convictions.

You will also have to share information about your travel plans. The application will not require any health information or biometric data, like fingerprints.

The ETIAS website says "most" applications are processed in minutes, but approval time could extend up to four days. Additionally, some requestors may be asked for more information or to do an interview, which would extend the process by up to 14 days for more documentation, or 30 days for an interview. So if you're planning travel, remember to apply at least a month before you have to go.

The good news is that once you're approved, the authorization lasts for three years. But if your passport expires within those three years, you'll need to apply again.

Email is important to this process. You apply online, and then receive an email confirming your application. That email "will include your unique ETIAS application number: make sure you keep this number for future reference," the ETIAS website says. You will get another email once your application is processed.

If your application gets rejected, the email will have the reasons for it. You will have the option to appeal a rejection.

Who will need to apply for ETIAS, and which countries will you need ETIAS to visit?

Paper map showing different countries in Europe including France and Germany with yellow push pins

If you are an American citizen planning to travel to countries in the Schengen area, and Cyprus, you will need to apply for ETIAS authorization. (The "Schengen area" refers to a border agreement between countries in Europe.)

There are 30 countries on that list, which includes: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

That does mean that if you're an American traveling to the United Kingdom or Ireland, you will not need ETIAS authorization.

It should also be noted that while ETIAS applies for traveling in the Schengen area, it is different from a Schengen visa. A Schengen visa is required for citizens of other non-EU countries, not including the United States, visiting the region. You can find more information about Schengen visas here.

How much will ETIAS cost?

In addition to adding some hassle, this requirement will make a family vacation slightly more expensive. Applications will cost 20 euros, which right now is close to $23.

However, applications for people under 18 or over 70 years old are free. There are also some exemptions for those who have EU citizen family members and "non-EU nationals who have the right to move freely throughout the European Union."

One more thing to look out for: ETIAS has warned that many unofficial ETIAS websites have sprung up. ETIAS said these sites have incorrect information and some "already collect travelers' personal data, which is concerning." Protect your identity and avoid scams by only using the official ETIAS website.

How ETIAS will change travel

Once ETIAS is launched, it will obviously impact some of the details of travel logistics.

If you are getting to Europe via air or sea, i.e. flying or taking a cruise, for example, the carrier you use will be required to verify you have a valid ETIAS travel authorization within 48 hours before departure. ETIAS says they will verify authorizations via a new tool. If you do not have a valid ETIAS authorization, you will not be allowed to board your plane, bus or sea vessel.

However, if you are traveling into the area via train, train operators will not check for ETIAS authorization. But, ETIAS will still be checked at the border, and the system specifies that people traveling from the U.K. by, for example, the Eurostar train, will be checked by a border guard before boarding.

What ETIAS means for students, residents and families

A gondolier on a peaceful canal in Venice, Italy.

If your child or grandchild is planning to study abroad in Europe, you should know there's a distinction between ETIAS and a student visa. ETIAS allows a person to study in Europe for up to 90 days. But if they're planning to stay longer, like a full semester, they will need a student visa.

If they finish their semester and want to stick around and travel a little longer, they "can remain in the European countries requiring ETIAS for up to an additional 90 days without needing to leave and return," the program says. But they will need a valid ETIAS travel authorization and to be registered in the Entry/Exit System (EES), which will usually happen at the border. EES started rolling out in October 2025 and will by fully implemented by April 10, 2026.

Meanwhile, if you have a residence permit or card from a European country that otherwise requires ETIAS, you do not need to apply for ETIAS travel authorization. This is also true if you are a national of a European country that otherwise requires ETIAS.

As previously mentioned, if you are a family member of a European national, you do not have to pay the ETIAS application fee. But there are strict specifications around who qualifies as a "family member." Family members as defined by ETIAS include spouses, registered partners, direct descendants under age 21, and dependent direct relatives. Make sure to read the rules carefully and don't assume your situation means you don't need to apply.

Alexandra Svokos is the digital managing editor of Kiplinger. She holds an MBA from NYU Stern in finance and management and a BA in economics and creative writing from Columbia University. Alexandra has over a decade of experience in journalism and previously served as the senior editor of digital for ABC News, where she directed daily news coverage across topics through major events of the early 2020s for the network's website, including stock market trends, the remote and return-to-work revolutions, and the national economy. Before that, she pioneered politics and election coverage for Elite Daily and went on to serve as the senior news editor for that group.

Alexandra was recognized with an "Up & Comer" award at the 2018 Folio: Top Women in Media awards, and she was asked twice by the Nieman Journalism Lab to contribute to their annual journalism predictions feature. She has also been asked to speak on panels and give presentations on the future of media and on business and media, including by the Center for Communication and Twipe.