Third Country Citizens Will Need a Visa to Travel to Europe from 2024

US, UK, Japanese, Australian and other travellers to Europe will need a visa-waiver to visit most EU countries from 2024, including Spain, France and Portugal.

The European Travel Information and Authorisation Scheme (ETIAS) was due to be introduced in November 2023, but has been postponed to next year. When it launches, non-EU passport-holders will need a visa-waiver to visit any country in Europe’s single visa zone, the Schengen Area.

Travellers will need to apply online and pay a fee of €7 (around $8 or £6) before travelling. By comparison, Europeans have been required to get an ESTA before entering the US since 2009. ESTA is part of the US visa-waiver system and costs £21. The authorisation is expected to be valid for three years, or until the passport expires.