Travel has been a part of my life since I was little! For those traveling in 2025, there are two important travel updates I want to bring to your attention.
Beginning January 8, 2025, the U.K. will require an electronic travel authorization (ETA) for visitors from countries including the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The European Union is right behind them, with plans to introduce its own visa waiver document called an ETIAS for visitors, including U.S. citizens, sometime in mid-2025.
(The two processes are different, as the U.K. officially left the European Union in 2020.) This new requirement includes any children who are traveling and also applies to travelers who are just transiting through the U.K. This recap from KQED helped me understand the process and I’m sharing it with you here!
US Embassy London
How do I apply for an ETA?
Applications for an ETA to travel on or after Jan. 8 are now open. The U.K. Home Office recommends that you apply for your ETA before booking your travel to the U.K.
U.S. citizens can apply for an ETA via:
The U.K. government strongly recommends applying via the app and has a detailed guide to applying for an ETA this way. However, if you’re applying for someone else who is not with you in person during the application — for example, one of your travel party — they advise applying online rather than using the app.
To apply, you’ll need to upload a photo of your passport and, for travelers age 10 and over, your face. You’ll then be asked several questions and pay £10 (around $12.50) for the application. Beware of any third-party website seeking to charge you more for processing your ETA application.
How long will getting an ETA take?
The U.K. government says that the ETA app “enables most applicants to receive a decision in hours” and that applicants will “usually get a decision within 3 working days, but you may get a quicker decision.”
However, the Home Office warns that it may “occasionally” take longer than three working days. So make sure you apply for your ETA well ahead of your departure date.
What if my ETA application is unsuccessful?
The U.K. Home Office says that if your ETA application is “rejected,” you’ll be informed of the reason and can apply again.
But if your ETA application is “refused,” you won’t be able to apply again, and you can’t appeal the decision. Instead, you’ll have to apply for a visa to visit the U.K.
New travel rules for U.S. citizens visiting Europe in 2025
What do I need to know about visiting Europe as a U.S. citizen in 2025?
Starting sometime in mid-2025, U.S. citizens visiting 30 European countries will need to apply online for travel authorization through the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). This new requirement will include any children who are traveling and will also apply to travelers who are transiting through these countries.
There is no firm date for ETIAS travel authorizations coming into effect, and applications aren’t open.
After applying online, you’ll receive an email confirming your ETIAS travel authorization has been successful. This authorization will then be digitally linked to the passport you applied with and will last for three years or until your passport expires — whichever comes first.
Which European countries will U.S. citizens need ETIAS travel authorization to visit in 2025?
The full list of countries that U.S. citizens will soon need ETIAS travel authorization to visit: France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Iceland, Croatia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland.
U.S. citizens who also have European Union (EU) nationality do not need to apply for ETIAS travel authorization. See who else is exempt from ETIAS travel authorization.
How will I apply for ETIAS travel authorization when it comes into effect?
When applications open, you’ll apply online on the EU’s website. Applications will cost €7 (around $7–8), but those costs are waived for minors. Read more about the types of information you’ll be asked to provide in your application.
One important thing if you’re planning to visit Europe in 2025: To receive ETIAS travel authorization, your U.S. passport will need to be valid for more than three months after you’d be leaving Europe. Also, your passport can’t be older than 10 years. So, if you were looking for a reason to renew your passport, 2025 might be a good time.
When applications open, beware of any third-party website seeking to charge you more for processing your ETIAS travel authorization application.
How long will getting ETIAS travel authorization take?
The EU says that most ETIAS travel authorization applications “will be processed within minutes and at the latest within 96 hours” — but warns that “some applicants may be asked to provide additional information or documentation or to participate in an interview with national authorities, which may take up to additional 30 days.”
For this reason, “we strongly advise you to obtain the ETIAS travel authorization before you buy your tickets and book your hotels,” officials say. So, if you’re hoping to visit Europe in 2025, it’s worth keeping an eye on the EU’s official ETIAS website for updates.
What if my ETIAS travel authorization application is unsuccessful?
The EU lists several reasons your ETIAS travel authorization could be denied, including if you’re “considered to pose a security, illegal immigration or high epidemic risk.” If you’re denied, you’ll be told the reason by email, which will also provide information about your options to appeal the decision.
City of Lubbock, TX
Real ID Goes into Effect May 7, 2025 (Really!)
REAL ID is an effort by the federal government to make driver’s licenses and ID cards more reliable, accurate and standardized. Depending on which state your license or ID is from, REAL IDs will have a gold or black star (or a star in a bear, in the case of California) in the upper portion of the card.
The REAL ID requirement was supposed to go into effect years ago, but was delayed — in part due to state motor vehicle departments working through COVID-19 backlogs.
The TSA released new information National Press Release Monday, January 13, 2025
WASHINGTON – The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) today published a final rule providing a framework for federal agency phased enforcement of REAL ID requirements. Federal agencies, including TSA, will begin REAL ID enforcement on the deadline—May 7, 2025.
Starting on May 7, only state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards that meet the security requirements established by the REAL ID Act will be allowed for official purposes, including boarding commercial aircraft. The final rule provides the necessary flexibility for federal agencies to begin enforcement in a manner that takes into account security, operational risk, and public impact.
Federal agencies that use a phased enforcement approach must also coordinate their enforcement plans with TSA and make them publicly available on agency websites. TSA will provide additional information about its use of phased enforcement authority on TSA.gov.
“Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005 to enhance security standards for identification, directly in response to the security vulnerabilities highlighted by the 9/11 attacks,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “Identity verification is foundational to security. I urge those who use a driver’s license or state-issued identity card as their primary form of identification to access federal facilities or board commercial passenger aircraft, to ensure these credentials are REAL ID-compliant. We are committed to engaging with the public, licensing jurisdictions, and states to facilitate a smooth transition to REAL ID enforcement beginning May 7, 2025, which this rule supports.”
All states are issuing REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards. TSA continues to urge travelers to obtain a REAL ID-compliant state-issued driver’s license, state-issued identification card, or another form of acceptable ID before May 7, 2025, to avoid delays at airport security checkpoints.
The REAL ID Act, enacted pursuant to a 9/11 Commission recommendation, established minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards that federal agencies may accept for purposes of boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft, accessing certain federal facilities, and entering nuclear power plants. Enforcement of the REAL ID Act and regulations enhances the security of these documents and the ability of federal agencies to accurately verify an individual’s identity.
For more information on REAL ID, please visit TSA.gov/real-id.
Know Before You Go
It’s fun to plan trips! Each of the 50 states, plus Washington, DC, and the five US territories (American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands will comply with the RealID Act for everyone over the age of 18.
Before you go to your DMV, be aware that states may impose additional requirements. Check with your state’s driver’s licensing agency website, before visiting them in person, for additional guidance and assistance.
Recently I had the pleasure of joining a company staff retreat to cover Planning for the Future. Hearing directly from those in their 20s, 30s, and 40s has prompted me to start creating workshops to host online about foundational topics. Stay tuned, after they’re drafted, I’ll let you know the details of how you may join!
If you have any thoughts or questions for me, send me an Email or Message anytime. For additional information about my work check out my website @ The Living Planner or my online DIY information @ The Living Planner.
Quote of the week “Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” – John Wooden And, I’ll add if you cannot do it now, reach out to those of us who might be able to help you.❣️ Lynn
#Can’tPredictCanPrepare #PlanForTheUnplanned