The United States, European Union, and the United Kingdom have issued updates on pending new travel requirements that had been continually delayed due in part to the COVID-19 public health emergency. In the U.S., the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) is proposing to provide federal agencies flexibility in enforcing the use of REAL ID for security screening for domestic flights. The EU has indicated that travelers to Schengen zone countries will need to register using the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) starting in May of next year. The U.K. government has announced the date of 8 January 2025 as to when its registration system known as travel authorization will take effect.
While these requirements will be of nominal cost and time commitment with which to comply, not meeting them could severely disrupt flying domestically in the U.S. or entering the EU or U.K. for travelers not needing a visa.
Phasing in of REAL ID Enforcement
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration on 12 September issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to allow agencies to consider a phasing in of the enforcement of the requirement of a REAL ID as the primary form of identification for airport security screening and to enter secure federal buildings. The effective date of enforcement would remain 7 May 2025, with a complete phasing in by 5 May 2027. The REAL ID requirement was scheduled to be enforced on 1 October 2020 but was delayed multiple times due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
A REAL ID is issued by a state motor vehicle agency as a more secure driver’s license. The United States Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005 in alignment with recommendations by the 9/11 Commission on setting minimum security standards for state-issued identification to access facilities and transportation secured by the federal government. When fully implemented, the REAL ID will take the place of a previous driver’s license, which will no longer be valid for accessing federal facilities or commercial flights.
ETIAS Scheduled for First Half of 2025
The European Union Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs has continually revised the time frame for when the ETIAS will be operational. The current time frame is during the first half of 2025, with several unofficial reports citing May 2025.
ETIAS is the new travel registration system for travelers to Europe who possess a passport of a country for which a visa is not required to enter a Schengen country. The system was scheduled to be in place in 2021 but has been delayed several times initially due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Once in effect, U.S. and other travelers to Europe who do not need a visa to visit 30 countries in the Schengen zone and other participating countries will be required to first get approval under the system. The application process is expected to take about 10 minutes and will require applicants to provide their personal background information, a credit card to pay the €7 fee, and an email address to receive a response. If there are no issues with the application or background of the applicant, the system is expected to be able to provide approval within a matter of minutes.
Once approved, the registration is valid for three years. As is currently the policy, travelers will be permitted to spend 90 days in a 180-day period within the Schengen zone. A traveler may enter and leave the zone an unlimited number of times within that period. For periods longer than 180 days, travelers will need to obtain a Schengen visa. There will be an appeal process for those travelers whose applications are denied.
There are 59 countries and territories as well as the United States in which citizens do not need a visa to enter countries comprising the Schengen zone and who will be required to receive approval under ETIAS.
In addition to ETIAS, the EU is launching a new digital entry system known as the Entry/Exit System (EES) starting on 10 November 2024. EES will replace the traditional stamping of a passport by a border agent with a self-service kiosk in which the traveler will scan their own passport. The system is intended to improve security and better allow the EU to know if travelers stay longer than allowed.
U.K. Electronic Travel Authorization Begins 8 January 2025
Similar to ETIAS, the UK is launching its own electronic travel authorization (ETA) system starting with eligible non-European travelers arriving on and after 8 January 2025. Eligible European travelers will need to register using ETA for arrivals starting on 2 April 2025.
ETA will cost about 10 pounds and will be valid for travel to the U.K. for two years. Travelers can register under ETA starting on 27 November 2024. The U.K. has been gradually rolling out ETA, which is already required for travelers from Qatar, Saudia Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, among others.
ETA, like ETIAS, is intended to allow the destination countries to do a security check prior to the arrival of the traveler and assist in preventing non-visa holders from staying longer than they are permitted.