People Locator form or ETIAS

The PLF that you had to fill out before visiting Italy and a number of other countries are no longer a requirement (at least at this time).

EITAS is a sort of pre-entry form and process that you complete before the trip, and is good for a period of time. The US imposes a system like this for visiting the US, ESTA, this is just the European equivalent.

EITAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) has been discussed and announced as an impending implementation, maybe a half dozen times. But they really, really, are, maybe, going to implement it...well now I hear November 2023. Something to be aware of, when they do implement it, it will be easy, but you just need to continue to stay tuned on that one.

An edit, the two are actually completely different, the PLF was for contact tracing for covid, the EITAS is for immigration purposes, basically asks the types of entry questions you might get ahead of time, and you pay a small fee.

Thank you Paul for the information. We are travelling in May of next year so will keep checking.

There are two new systems coming. EES and ETIAS. In May 2023, the new entry/exit system EES will start, but you don't need to do anything - except maybe stand in line longer at a Schengen border crossing during the start-up. The ETIAS system is now scheduled for November 2023 and that is the pre-departure registration. Read more here: https://www.etiasvisa.com/etias-news/ees-europe-etias-visa

You're trying to predict six months from now, which in the travel industry is an eternity. In my experience the airlines get stuck dealing with this so they will be on top of it and won't let you onboard without the proper paperwork.

I didn't have to fill out any forms at all for my trip last month

Mike -Good informative read thank you.