What do I need to travel to Europe if I am an American citizen? Very simple, as soon as the European authorities announce it in a very short time, it will be necessary to have a travel authorization ETIAS – SEIAV, especially before starting any management related to the trip, since normally the applications will be approved in minutes, but in some sporadic cases it can take a few days, therefore it is preferable that it is the first management of the trip and thus to assure the procedure.

The United States already started in 2009 the application of its own form to enter the country, the ESTA form, for the member countries of the Visa Waiver Program agreement. The latest country to join the list of countries that can apply for ESTA to enter the U.S. is Romania, which was accepted as a participant last January, although it will not be effective until March 31, 2025.

All Americans, including Canadians, planning a trip to Europe-Schengen area, will have to submit their ETIAS-SEIAV application and wait for approval, which should not take more than a few minutes. Although it is very possible that this change in travel to Europe may surprise or catch some travelers off guard, the truth is that the process itself is neither tedious nor lengthy, it will be quick and once obtained,  the traveler will be able to continue booking the rest of the elements of their trip.

Although they have their differences, ETIAS and ESTA are quite similar procedures.