ETIAS 2025

EITAS is scheduled for mid-2025 now officially but will feature a "phased rollout" process.
https://etias.com/etias-launch-pushed-to-2025

I doubt it will affect your travel in Spring 2025 in any way.

Have a great trip,
Tod

ETIAS is continually being postponed. There is no official start date and no date yet for when applications will open.

When it's announced, it will be in the media and talked about here.

The official ETIAS website is https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en
When the time comes, you should apply for your ETIAS there and only there. Ignore all other websites or you’ll end up paying more for your ETIAS or worse.

Does anyone know how long it takes for an ETIAS application to be verified from start to finish?

Since the system is not active, no one can say, but based on similar systems, and recalling the systems used for proof of covid vaccine, it should be quick.

EITAS simply will ask questions like what can be asked at entry to a country plus some background info. You pay your fee, hit submit, and you should receive confirmation anywhere from hours to a few days.

The biggest "catch" some might have is in regards to serious legal issues, they likely do not get caught now, but may under EITAS.

It really is nothing to be overly concerned with, when announced and in effect, it is just one more small step.

Oh but we plan on going April 25- May 4th, do you think that ETIAS will affect those dates of travel?

Yes I have actually heard about the constant changes that have been happening, but I'm looking to fill out the application just in case its still in full effect

What legal issues do you think would persist? Thats why I was thinking about doing it in January latest just in case there is something can come up

One day it will be announced when ETIAS will be required and when it will be possible to apply for one. That day is not today, so at the moment there is nothing we can do. And I don't think guessing will be very helpful either and, unless you or someone you know is working with it, all we can do is guess. It might be announced tomorrow, next week, april next year or in 2028.

Not that you have to read all or even any of these past posts but just to give you some idea of how long this has been hanging out there....

https://search.ricksteves.com/?button=&filter=Travel+Forum&query=ETIAS&utf8=✓

At least 4 years and there's still no firm date or process for application. As Badger said, all we can do is guess. I believe what Paul meant by a 'catch' of legal issues will be having to formally disclose past criminal convictions, past travel to war/conflict areas, and some other information that could cause one to be denied entrance to Schengen countries one is planning to travel to. People traveling to the US under the visa waiver program have to make similar disclosures on ESTA applications.

In regards to legal issues, they are not talking about misdemeanors, DUIs, traffic tickets, and similar. More like recent serious felonies, or things that already might have landed you on a no-fly list. It is stuff they probably could find out if they took the effort, just that they do not routinely do that now. There likely will also be questions on whether you have ever been denied entry to a country or have overstayed a visa or allowed entry.