Want to Visit Europe Soon? Here’s Who Needs to Apply for New Travel Authorization

Before last year, United States citizens visiting the United Kingdom and Europe didn’t need a visa waiver or travel authorization to enter these countries.

But that all changed, as the U.K. now requires an electronic travel authorization (ETA) for visitors from countries including the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand. (Jump straight to how to apply for an ETA to visit the U.K.)

And later in 2026, the European Union also plans to introduce its own visa waiver document called an ETIAS for visitors, including U.S. citizens. The ETA and the ETIAS processes are separate, as the U.K. officially left the European Union in 2020.

A few recent developments to know if you’re planning to travel to Europe in 2026:

The UK is now enforcing ETA rules

As of Feb. 25, visitors from 85 countries that require an ETA “will not be able to legally travel to the UK” without securing this document in advance, according to the U.K. Home Office.

The ETA system was originally rolled out to non-Europeans in January 2025, but “was not strictly enforced, to give visitors ample time to adjust to the new requirement,”  the British government said.

There’s still no firm launch date for ETIAS 

The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) was originally scheduled to take effect sometime in mid-2025. But in March 2025, the EU announced that ETIAS had been postponed until “the last quarter of 2026.”

But if you’re already making plans to travel into the European Union starting Oct. 1, 2026, you should know: there still is no firm date for the ETIAS launch, and advance applications aren’t open. The EU said that officials will announce a specific opening date “several months prior” to the system’s launch, and that “no action is required from travelers at this point.” We’ll update this guide with more information when we know it.

Rising fees for tourists to Europe

In 2025, just a few months after the program rolled out for travelers including American citizens, the U.K. raised the cost of an ETA by 60%: from £10 (around $13.50 at the current exchange rate) to its new cost of £16 (almost $22.)

Now, the European Union has announced that it plans to similarly raise fees by almost triple for its own ETIAS visitor application, from €7 (around $8) to €20 (around $23.)

The good news? The online process for obtaining permission to travel to these areas should be fairly simple — and speedy.

So, if you’re hoping to visit Europe in 2026, keep reading for everything you need to know about obtaining the right travel authorization before your visit.

• Jump straight to: What permissions will U.S. citizens need to visit Europe?

New travel rules for U.S. citizens visiting the UK in 2026

What will change in 2026 about travel to the U.K.?

If you’re a U.S. citizen visiting the U.K., you’ll need to apply online for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for any travel to (and through) that country. Starting Feb. 25, this requirement will be strictly enforced, and the U.K. government says that unless you’re exempt, you won’t be able to board your flight without an ETA.

The new rules include any children who are traveling.

After applying, you’ll receive an email confirmation, so check your spam folder if you don’t see anything. This authorization will be digitally linked to the passport you applied with and will last for two years — during which time “you can travel to the U.K. as many times as you want,” according to the U.K. government website.

Dual citizens who have British or Irish citizenship do not need to apply for an ETA and must enter the U.K. using their British or Irish passport (or a certificate of entitlement) as proof of their exemption.

European visitors to the U.K. also now need to apply for an ETA.

If I’m just transiting through a U.K. airport, do I still need an ETA?

If you have a connecting flight that takes you to the U.K., and you’ll pass through U.K. passport control at the airport to catch your next flight, the British government says you’ll need an ETA.

However, “those transiting through Heathrow and Manchester airports who do not go through U.K. passport control do not currently need an ETA,” says the U.K Home Office. Consider checking directly with your airline to be sure of your entry requirements.

How do I apply for an ETA?

The Home Office recommends that you apply for your ETA before booking your travel to the U.K.

U.S. citizens can apply for an ETA via:

• The official U.K. ETA app for iPhone or Android or
• The official gov.uk website

The U.K. government strongly recommends applying via the app and has a detailed guide to applying for an ETA this way. However, if you’re applying for someone else who is not with you in person during the application — for example, a member of your travel party — they advise applying online rather than using the app.

To apply, you’ll need to upload a photo of your passport and, for travelers age 10 and over, your face. You’ll then be asked several questions and pay the cost of the application, which is now £16 (almost $22.)

Beware of any third-party website seeking to charge you more for processing your ETA application.

How long will getting an ETA take?

The U.K. government said that the ETA app “enables most applicants to receive a decision in hours” and that applicants will “usually get a decision within 3 working days, but you may get a quicker decision.”

However, the Home Office warns that it may “occasionally” take longer than three working days. So make sure you apply for your ETA well ahead of your departure date.

You can check the status of your ETA online on gov.uk.

What if my ETA application is unsuccessful?

The U.K. Home Office said that if your ETA application is “rejected,” you’ll be informed of the reason and can apply again.

But if your ETA application is “refused,” you won’t be able to apply again, and you can’t appeal the decision. Instead, you’ll have to apply for a visa to visit the U.K.

New travel rules for U.S. citizens visiting Europe in 2026

What do I need to know about visiting Europe as a U.S. citizen in the next few years?

In 2024, European Union officials announced that U.S. citizens visiting 30 European countries would soon need to apply online for travel authorization through the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS).

ETIAS was originally scheduled to come into effect sometime in mid-2025. But in March that year, the EU announced that ETIAS had been postponed until “the last quarter of 2026.”

There is still no firm 2026 date for ETIAS travel authorizations taking effect, and applications aren’t open. The EU said that officials will announce a specific opening date “several months prior” to the system’s launch, and that “no action is required from travelers at this point.”

When ETIAS does launch, which could be any time starting Oct. 1, this new requirement will include any children who are traveling and will also apply to travelers who are transiting through these countries. You’ll apply for ETIAS online, after which you’ll receive an email confirming your ETIAS travel authorization has been successful. This authorization will then be digitally linked to the passport you applied with and will last for three years or until your passport expires — whichever comes first.

Remember, the ETA and the ETIAS processes are separate, as the U.K. officially left the European Union in 2020, so even if you have a valid ETA to visit the U.K., you’ll still need an ETIAS to enter Europe when the system is implemented.

Which European countries will U.S. citizens need ETIAS travel authorization to visit in 2026?

The full list of countries that U.S. citizens will need ETIAS travel authorization to visit in late 2026: France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Iceland, Croatia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland.

U.S. citizens who also have European Union (EU) nationality will not need to apply for ETIAS travel authorization. See who else will be exempt from ETIAS travel authorization.

How will I apply for ETIAS travel authorization when it comes into effect?

When applications finally open later in 2026, you’ll apply online on the EU’s website. Applications will cost €20 (almost $24), but those costs are waived for minors. Read more about the types of information you’ll be asked to provide in your application.

One important thing if you’re planning to visit Europe in late 2026: To receive ETIAS travel authorization, your U.S. passport will need to be valid for more than three months after you leave Europe. Also, your passport can’t be more than 10 years old. So, if you were looking for a reason to renew your U.S. passport, now might be a good time.

When applications open, beware of any third-party website seeking to charge you more for processing your ETIAS travel authorization application.

How long will getting ETIAS travel authorization take?

The EU said that most ETIAS travel authorization applications “will be processed within minutes and at the latest within 96 hours” — but warns that “some applicants may be asked to provide additional information or documentation or to participate in an interview with national authorities, which may take up to an additional 30 days.”

For this reason, “we strongly advise you to obtain the ETIAS travel authorization before you buy your tickets and book your hotels,” officials say. So, if you’re hoping to visit Europe in 2026, it’s worth keeping an eye on the EU’s official ETIAS website for updates.

What if my ETIAS travel authorization application is unsuccessful?

The EU lists several reasons your ETIAS travel authorization could be denied, including if you’re “considered to pose a security, illegal immigration or high epidemic risk.”

If you’re denied, you’ll be told the reason by email, which will also provide information about your options to appeal the decision.