EU rules for tourists will change: what will happen in 2025

The introduction of the visa-free regime with the European Union in 2017 made traveling to Europe as easy as possible for Ukrainians – just buy a plane or train ticket and go on vacation. However, soon the entry rules will become more complicated again.

According to Euronews, starting in 2025, all travelers who want to visit Europe will have to fill out an online application, provide certain personal data, answer security questions, and pay a fee. This is how the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will work.

The European authorities were forced to introduce ETIAS by certain concerns about security at the EU borders. Therefore, they decided to introduce a new bureaucratic procedure to raise the threshold for foreigners to enter the EU. The new rules will apply to Schengen countries. This includes most EU countries, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

To obtain an entry permit, non-EU citizens will have to apply online and pay a 7-euro fee. The obtained permit will be linked to the passport of the person who applied for it. The permit will be valid for three years or until the passport expires if it expires earlier.

In the first stage, there will be a grace period to allow travelers to get used to the new EU requirements. It will last at least six months. However, to avoid misunderstandings while traveling, travelers are already being asked to get into the habit of applying for a permit in advance.

In addition to the grace period, certain exceptions will be introduced for travelers. Thus, children under the age of 18 and adults over 70 will be exempted from paying the fee. However, they will still have to apply for an entry permit to the EU.

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