EU Is Imposing New Travel System For US Travelers Starting In 2021
by Heather Cassell
Easy, breezy travel the Europe will be a thing of the past for American travelers starting in 2021.
The European Union announced a new system – the European Travel Information and Authorization System – that Americans will be required to obtain in order to travel to the 26 countries that make up the EU March 8.
Since 1985 when the Schengen Agreement was enacted, Americans have been able to travel between the 26 European countries as easily as traveling from state to state without obtaining visas for each country. All that was needed was a passport that was valid for at least six months prior to its expiration during the period of travel, get it stamped upon entry, and not be traveling for more than 90 days within each month.
The Schengen area includes popular European destinations like France, Italy, Spain, and Germany among the member countries.
The agreement doesn’t include five European nations: Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland, Romania, and Cyprus. Despite a push within recent years to include these nations with the Schengen area, Americans have had to acquire travel visas to venture into these countries.
In 2016, the EU’s European Parliament and the European Commission disputed the United States regarding the five countries arguing to grant them the same visa-free status as the rest of the EU nations, reported CNN. An EU Commission produced a report advocating to open the boarders for American travelers in these countries, but it decided to wait until President Donald Trump was in office before leading a full campaign for the effort.
The EU rules require equal treatment for all member states.
Two years after the report, the Commission voted to imposed visas on US citizens in June 2018.
Starting in 2021, American travelers will need a valid passport, credit card or debit card, and an email account to travel to their favorite European destinations.
Passports must be valid for three months beyond the intended travel date.
The multiple-entry ETIAS visa will be valid for three years with few restrictions, according to the ETIAS website.
The goal of the new visa is to increase security and reduce illegal migration and terrorism, which has been on the rise within the past four years.
Book your next European vacation with Girls That Roam Travel. Contact Heather Cassell at Girls That Roam Travel at 415-517-7239 or at .
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