When the new travel authorization program becomes mandatory in 2025, all American citizens will have to apply for an ETIAS Visa waiver. The ETIAS visa waiver for short-term travelers will replace the current visa-free Schengen travel regulations. It will be effective in 2025. A grace period of six months will be granted to international travelers and border officials in order to help them adjust to the new policies.
Before traveling to Europe, travelers should complete the ETIAS online application. The new travel authorization system will go live in 2025. ETIAS online applications should be submitted no later than 96hrs (4 days) prior to departure. This will allow you ample time to complete your application, and allows you to resolve any issues that may arise during the approval process.
The ETIAS application process is simple. All American citizens must submit an online application through the ETIAS website before they can travel to Portugal or any other country in the Schengen area. The basic information required to submit an ETIAS request is the contact information. In most cases, the online application should take no more than 10 minutes.
Yes. International travelers must have a valid passport to be able to prove their identity for ETIAS travel authorization. All passports must be biometric and machine-readable. Your passport must remain valid for at most three months from the date of intended arrival.
This applies to all US citizens as well as those from the other 59 eligible countries for ETIAS. Visit our homepage for a complete listing of countries that are eligible for ETIAS.
To apply for a travel authorization, all applicants over 18 years of age must pay the ETIAS fee. ETIAS travel authorizations are available to minors under 18 without extra cost. You must pay the fee online to apply for an ETIAS visa waiver. If payment is not received, your ETIAS application may be put on hold.
The current Schengen border control system will be replaced by the ETIAS visa waiver program in 2025. To minimize disruptions, there will be a grace period of six to twelve months depending on the situation. This grace period allows international travelers and border agents to adjust to the new travel regulations gradually and seamlessly.
It is easy to submit an online ETIAS request. The applicants must have a valid passport with biometrics that is not expired, a stable internet connection and a valid email address. They also need sufficient funds to pay the ETIAS fee. ETIAS mobile apps will work with both Android and Apple smartphones. The application can be completed on a tablet or laptop as well as a desktop computer.
Yes. All eligible travelers regardless of age from the 60 visa-exempt countries are required to obtain ETIAS visa waivers. The waiver allows them to travel within the Schengen area, beginning in 2025 and continuing through international arrivals. A parent or legal guardian should complete the online ETIAS application on behalf of minors and children. Minors and people aged over 70 are exempted from paying the ETIAS fee. Visit our homepage to see a complete list of countries which require ETIAS.
No. ETIAS cannot be used in place of a national study or work visa. ETIAS visa waiver is required from citizens of 60 countries. The ETIAS visa waiver can be used to travel for business or tourism for a maximum of 90 days in a 180-day period. This visa waiver does not permit foreign citizens to study or work in Portugal or other countries in the Schengen area. You must apply for a traditional visa via the nearest consulate or embassy to study or work in Portugal or another Schengen country.
Before entering any Schengen country, international travelers must submit an ETIAS online application. The process may be slightly different for applicants who have been convicted of a criminal offense than for those without a criminal record. This includes minor offenses like disorderly conduct, driving while intoxicated (DUI), loitering, and shoplifting.
International travelers with criminal records may not be able to access the ETIAS program for travel authorisation. Contact our customer service department for more information.
No. ETIAS visa waiver is not mandatory for citizens of ETIAS countries. They can freely enter any Schengen country as Schengen citizens because they do not have to present a passport. Let’s say you are a German citizen who wants to travel to Portugal. You don’t have to apply for ETIAS in that situation, as both countries are members of Schengen. Therefore, if you are a citizen of both the USA and a Schengen country, you won’t need to apply for ETIAS.
Remember that the Schengen region is not the same as the European Union. Not every EU member participates in Schengen. Moreover, some Schengen countries are not members of the European Union. Visit our homepage to see a complete list 60 countries that are eligible for ETIAS visa waivers and a list listing of all ETIAS countries requiring the travel authorization.
It will depend on which nationality you are. If you are a dual citizen in at least one ETIAS country (e.g., a citizen of the US and France), then an ETIAS visa waiver is not required. Without an ETIAS, your French passport is sufficient to enter the Schengen region.
You should consider, however, whether you are a dual citizen of two non-Schengen countries. As long as at least one eligible country is included, you can apply for an ETIAS Visa Waiver. Let’s say you are a dual citizen of India and the US. If that is the case, your American passport can be used to apply for ETIAS. Similarly, dual citizens of Australia and Thailand may apply for an ETIAS visa waiver with their Australian passports. To travel to an ETIAS country, a Thai passport would require a more traditional Schengen Visa. Contact our customer service team if you have any further questions.
Yes. American citizens will need to apply online for an ETIAS authorization to travel from the US to Portugal as soon as ETIAS goes live, in 2025. ETIAS visa waivers are available online to foreign nationals. You can apply online for an ETIAS visa waiver if you are an American citizen.
