img#mv-trellis-img-1::before{padding-top:66.666666666667%; }img#mv-trellis-img-1{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-2::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-2{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-3::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-3{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-4::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-4{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-5::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-5{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-6::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-6{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-7::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-7{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-8::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-8{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-9::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-9{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-10::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-10{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-11::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-11{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-12::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-12{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-13::before{padding-top:46.97265625%; }img#mv-trellis-img-13{display:block;}For years now, Americans have traveled around the globe with little to no impediments.
Unless it’s a country ideologically opposite to the United States, such as Cuba or Russia, or African states where visa rules are overly complicated and tourism effectively inexistent, they have been able to country-hop worldwide simply by virtue of being Americans.
That is because a U.S. passport grants them visa-free access to 186 countries––in comparison, a Mexican passport enables its bearer to travel unrestricted to 159.
U.S. citizens will continue enjoying greater privileges when going abroad in 2025, but there are new rules being introduced that will make visiting some of their favorite destinations a little more bureaucratic.
In total, they’ll be required to present a new entry permit before being even allowed to board a flight traveling to a total of 38 countries, starting next year:
United Kingdom
Starting with the U.K., Americans who do not apply for the new ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) will be automatically denied boarding should they attempt to fly to Britain, even if it’s a short transit.
Putting it this way, it sounds quite extreme, but the reality is that this is a very straightforward, simple procedure to go through.
We’ve detailed it already here, and it can be done entirely online via the official website or their application, but if you’re unfamiliar with ETAs, it takes between 10 minutes to 20 minutes to finalize the process.
You’ll be asked to upload a picture of your passport information page, as well as answer a series of personal and security questions, before paying a symbolic but mandatory £10 fee (the current equivalent is $12.53).
Approvals are issued within 3 working days, and once you have your ETA in hand, you’ll be able to travel to any U.K. nation, including England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, for a period of 2 years, or until your passport expires.
The U.K. ETA is set to be enforced from January 8.
Thailand
One of the first countries in Asia to introduce an ETA, Thailand has demanded that Americans present a digital permit as of December 2024.
Usually, ETAs are paid, costing between $9 to $23, based on examples set by ETA-requiring countries like Australia and New Zealand, but the good news is, the Thai ETA is completely free of charge, meaning you don’t need to fork out those extra dollars to get it.
Despite being free, you’ll still be asked to fill out a simplified form and upload the usual supporting documents.
Applications are reviewed within 24 hours, and once you get your approval, you’ll be able to flash a QR code at the border for faster screening.
A Thai ETA is now expected for any tourists traveling to Thailand, regardless of transportation mode: whether you’re arriving by air, land, or cruise ship, there are no exceptions.
Belize
This next one isn’t necessarily a digital visa but more of a customs form that needs to be filled out upon landing.
For years now, when traveling to Belize, Americans have been asked to complete it when landing in the country or crossing via a land border––that being said, that was seldom enforced, especially with paper forms being used.
As of next year, however, the country is rolling out a new digital form, already available here, eliminating paper usage and ensuring travelers go through immigration faster by completing the necessary steps in advance.
You won’t be stopped from boarding your flight to Belize if you don’t have your customs form, but you still will be asked to present it when approaching an immigration booth, so there’s no way of getting around it:
You either save yourself some time and do it as soon as you know what date, time, and company you’re flying with, or you’ll likely have to wait longer in line to land in Belize.
Jamaica
Similarly to Belize, Jamaica has a new digital customs form in place called Electronic C5.
The paradisiacal island no longer accepts Americans flying there with passports only: until you have submitted the form, you’ll likely be held back a little longer at the border.
It’s no biggie, really, but it’s a detailed one, with passengers being expected to provide not only their names and passport information but also submit information on family members accompanying them, their home address, occupation, and trip details.
The latter involves informing Jamaican authorities of where you’ll be staying in the country and for how long, along with your flight number and/or vessel name, number of luggage items, and packages shipped if that applies.
If you’ve been to any foreign countries in the 6 weeks preceding your arrival, you’re also meant to disclose which countries.
Saint Kitts and Nevis
In line with other destinations worldwide, the laid-back Caribbean island nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis is rolling out its own ETA in 2025.
As Prime Minister Terrance Drew emphasizes, the ‘rapidly changing global landscape’ is leading Saint Kitts and Nevis to ‘adapt’ to the new reality of international travel.
Though Drew did not specifically mention any other country, we suspect it may have something to do with the fact that numerous destinations worldwide are introducing ETAs, or similar systems.
The Saint Kitts and Nevis ETA will be required for all current visa-exempt travelers, no matter their place of origin, and this includes Americans, and it will need to be presented at any of the archipelago’s entry points starting in 2025.
At this point, we do not know whether the current customs form, which is equally mandatory, will remain in place or will be merged into the ETA application.
We should know more details once the requirement starts being officially enforced.
The Schengen Zone
First Of All, What Is Schengen?
If you’ve never come across this term before, Schengen is a collective of 29 European countries that have completely abolished border checks traveling between themselves.
They share a common visa policy and, as a collective, only allow Americans to remain in the 29-country territory for 90 days out of 180-day periods.
A majority of them are concomitant members of the European Union and provided exceptions, they only check passports at the point of entry:
For example, flying from the United States to France, you’ll be crossing an international border, so you’ll go through passport control; on the other hand, traveling from France into Belgium and then onward to the Netherlands, you’ll be treated as a domestic traveler.
No ID checks (that is, usually).
You know what’s coming next:
Schengen Is Bringing In A New Travel Authorization
From 2025, Schengen countries, too, will be imposing ETA requirements on Americans, or as the European Commission calls it, ETIAS (Electronic Travel Information and Authorization System).
It has a different name but the same concept.
If they wish to travel to any of the 29 Schengen members, which includes tourist favorites like aforementioned France, Spain, Italy, Croatia, and more, U.S. citizens will have to apply online in advance by means of providing personal information and answering a security questionnaire.
An ETIAS will cost €7 to get, or around $7.28, and it will be valid for 3 years: in other words, once you get your ETIAS, you’ll be able to travel an unlimited number of times to the Schengen Area in the next 36 months, provided you respect the most important rule.
That is, never exceeding 90 days out of any six-month period (the fingerprinting and mandatory registration will ensure overstayers are kept in line).
Here is the complete list of countries participating in Schengen and that Americans will no longer be able to enter without this new digital permit from 2025:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
Despite not being officially part of Schengen, there are other European micro-states completely surrounded by Schengen countries and, therefore, cannot be accessed unless you enter the zone first.
Including the micro-states, there are 33 European countries you will not be able to access unless you hold a valid ETIAS.
These micro-states are:
- Andorra, sharing borders with France and Spain
- Monaco, sharing borders with France
- San Marino, surrounded by Italy
- Vatican City, surrounded by Italy
The official start date of ETIAS is yet to be defined by the European Commission.
Vinicius CostaVini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.
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Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
Appeared first on: traveloffpath.com
