Visa required for Americans traveling to EU starting in 2024?

[lovescarborough]

The EU are supposed to be starting this sometime in 2024 but no specific dates yet. It was originally mentioned for 2023 but didn’t happen. It is free for under 18 and over 70 and lasts for 3 years. Very similar to the ESTA that Europeans and UK need to enter the US. There is talk of facial recognition and fingerprinting on entry but not confirmed yet. 

[Turtles06]

@Empehi — your thread title is not correct. What will be required is not a visa, and in fact will only apply to visitors from visa-waiver countries (countries whose citizens do not need visas to travel to the EU). Since no visas are currently required, this will add some additional security for the EU countries. 

[mahasamatman]

13 minutes ago, lovescarborough said:

It was originally mentioned for 2023 but didn’t happen.

 

It was approved in 2018 and has been delayed multiple times. I believe the original implementation date was supposed to be 2020.

[hallasm]

2 hours ago, Empehi said:

Will this be another hoop for us cruisers?

US has had a similar system called ESTA for more than 10 years!

[CruiserBruce]

1 hour ago, hallasm said:

US has had a similar system called ESTA for more than 10 years!

And Australia has had a similar system for quite a while. Takes a few minutes on a computer, a small fee (waived if over 70 in Europe) and the information is digitally added to your passport.

[Ashland]

4 hours ago, lovescarborough said:

The EU are supposed to be starting this sometime in 2024 but no specific dates yet. It was originally mentioned for 2023 but didn’t happen. It is free for under 18 and over 70 and lasts for 3 years. Very similar to the ESTA that Europeans and UK need to enter the US. There is talk of facial recognition and fingerprinting on entry but not confirmed yet. 

Free for over 70...nice !!!