VISA for Italy travel in 2024?

This topic is being discussed on this thread:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/americans-to-be-needing-a-visa-to-travel-to-europe

The short answer to your question is, it depends on when this is finally launched. No start date as of yet.

We have been having a lively discussion on this topic under Q & A. Check out the link that Carrie posted

Might br helpful for you

And for those over 70, the fee is waived

It's not a visa. It's similar to what Europeans have to do now to come to the US.

It will be a simple online registration form.

No starting date has been announced.

This story was reported on the ABC news Saturday afternoon / evening. The ETIAS was referred to as a Visa throughout the story so that will be causing some confusion for us Americans, especially those who do not travel a lot.

I have never even thought about what Europeans have to fill out online to travel to the United States. Now I know a little more.

“I have never even thought about what Europeans have to fill out online to travel to the United States.”

Not only do we need to apply for an ESTA since 2009 (!!) already, we also have to pay $21 for it. Makes the €8 ESTIA pretty cheap in comparison….

ABC has made a mistake.

It is not a visa.

A visa is something you have to apply for at a consulate or embassy.

Here is the official website:

https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en

It notes it is a travel authorization for people from visa-exempt countries. Do you not understsnd this? If you are from a visa exempt country why would you then need to get a visa?

There may be more misunderstandings when it comes to Visas and ETIAS as time goes on..

As I have also said, I have not had the opportunity to travel much so I do not have the knowledge that people who have traveled a lot do. I have never had to make out a Visa. I have traveled one time abroad and in Russia, my visa was taken care of by Norwegian Cruise lIne. That was the only time that a Visa was required of me.

My apologies for sidetracking this thread.

What you are referring to is called ETIAS. It is a travel authorization similar to what people coming to the US have to fill out.

What we do know is that it will be done online. It will cost $8 and will be good for three years.

No starting date has been announced. It"s already been postponed over two years.

None of the seasoned travelers on this forum are worried about it because we have not seen anything close to it being implemented.
When it is there will be a lot of talk about it here.

Oh..it is not a visa.

If you want to read about it, here is the official website:

https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en

Mark & Sandee, more for your amusement than anything, this is the list of previous forum threads either about ETIAS or mentioning it in the body text. As you'll see, it's been hanging out there for at least 4 years, and the start-date requirement for the thing postponed multiple times. It's also been a subject of much confusion amongst many in the traveling community so you are not alone. 😵

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

The good news is that there's nothing at all you can do about it right now - there's nowhere to officially sign up for it - so just sit tight for now 'cause who knows, it could get pushed back AGAIN! If-and-when it becomes a reality, it'll be a "Read all about it!" on this site and many others, along with the link to the official site for obtaining/submitting the documents/payment. No, it is NOT a visa as visitors who currently require those will still need to have them; ETIAS will be for tourists from visa-waiver countries/citizenships.

So in the meantime, just relax, and do some fun dreaming and reading-up about interesting places you'll be going to next year! 🍕🍷🚌

LOL. Not at you but at the whole process of trying to get 8 dollars per person for a three (don’t call it a visa) year thing. Probably cost 100 euros to get the thing to the person. Then the US will start processing their Thing.

Speaking generally, while the intent to be helpful is noted, if you’re not 100% sure about matters like this, it’s best not to post or to at least acknowledge you’re not exactly sure you’ve got the facts straight. The risk of confusing people instead of helping them is pretty high.

There are already scam websites out there who claim they can arrange an ESTIA, for a hefty fee of course. We don’t want the visitors of this forum falling for these scams because they think they already need to apply for the ESTIA.

LOL. Not at you but at the whole process of trying to get 8 dollars
per person for a three (don’t call it a visa) year thing. Probably
cost 100 euros to get the thing to the person. Then the US will start
processing their Thing.

Lifetime Travel, I'm not sure what you are talking about. The process is all done electronically, and if anything like the similar programs already in place in other countries, takes only hours, or a day before being received, again electronically.

As for the US processing "their Thing"- if you mean the esta, they've been doing it for well over a decade already.

The "thing" is not a visa. It is for passport holders of visa exempt countries, and could be described as a prearrival immigration security screening.

So is ABC news spreading incorrect information? If so, someone should go to them and inform them.

Yes fake news. Hey that stuff happens all the time. People post misinformation and make up stuff all the time.. You better check out everything before you invest in a trip or tour. Never take internet information on its face. I read something here today that the poster admitted was 22 years old. Why would you do that? I like YouTube information. At least you see the person posting blogs.

ABC News is indeed spreading misinformation. They incorrectly call it a visa and they incorrectly state visitors will need one from 2024 on.
It’s NOT a visa and NO implementation date has been set yet.
I believe it’s important to make sure that visitors to this forum receive correct information. Or else they might end up on one of these fake websites who will happily sell unsuspecting tourists a worthless document with the word ETIAS on it.

Dutch-Traveler

then it is good that we have your feedback on this Forum.

ABC News is supposed to have their own fact checkers and their professional writers. However perhaps these persons are on strike. The anchors only read the news that they are given

But our discussion will help other persons in the future who might have questions about new rules for Americans entering Europe. If there are new rules implemented for Americans entering Europe in the future, we will learn about it. We will have to.

To Mark & Sandee - IF/WHEN the ETIAS goes in to force you can be sure the RS organization will send ALL tour members an email update telling you what/where/when/how much kinds of things. Meanwhile, keep following the forum as those who travel frequently and/or live in Europe are on top of this.

I am not sure where the confusion comes from about Americans needing a "visa" to visit Europe. Even when you search ABC news articles, I don't see their stories specifically stating that Americans will need a VISA.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/us-travelers-face-fee-enter-europe-year/story?id=85925643

"As Americans head to crowded airports for a revival of European summer vacations, it looks like next year will be more expensive for those headed to the European Union.

A 7 euro fee, translating to $7.42, is expected to go into effect in May 2023 for foreign visitors aged 18 to 70 years old as part of a new European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), according to the European Commission.

As part of the system, travelers will have to apply for authorization through the official website or app before their trip abroad."

https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/travel/story/new-requirements-coming-2024-americans-traveling-europe-101546203

"Anyone looking to travel to Europe in 2024 should be aware of a new requirement that will go into effect for U.S. passport holders.

If you previously traveled to Europe without a visa, you will now need to apply for authorization through the European Travel Information and Authorization System, or ETIAS, before visiting."

Mary.....the first article you link to is from a year ago.

Nothing has changed.

“ I am not sure where the confusion comes from about Americans needing a "visa" to visit Europe. Even when you search ABC news articles, I don't see their stories specifically stating that Americans will need a VISA.”

Just yesterday, ABC ran a news item in which they explicitly stated that Americans need a visa for Europe starting 2024.
Before I post a link to the video, I would like to repeat that ABC is wrong; ETIAS is NOT a Visa and an implementation date is yet unknown.
With that said, here’s a link to the video with the incorrect information; https://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/us-citizens-visa-travel-europe-2024-101582223

Frank, my point was that I don't see ABC News declaring that Americans need a visa to visit Europe, whether they said it last year or a few days ago. I find that people will skim a headline and misinterpret it and it becomes "fact."

@Mary; see my post directly above yours. I placed a link to the news report with the incorrect information.

Mary, on another thread there is a link to an ABC news story from today where they call ETIAS a visa. I won't link to it because it needs to stop.

I was pointing out that last year's news story is the same as this year. Nothing has changed. But someone here is making a mountain out of a molehill.

I agree. Too often, people only read headlines.

I don't think ABC was intentionally being misleading; can we just leave it as a lot of "reporting" has gotten sloppy in the age of getting the "story" out "first"? (ETIAS has been planned since before Covid! Just constantly postponed due to pandemic, labor shortage, etc etc.)
Rumor only! Can't remember if I saw it on France threads here or over on Cruise Critic, but there are murmurings of postponing ETIAS implementation until after the Paris 2024 Olympics?

Follow the ETIAS official .eu site. When ETIAS finally does start, use the official .eu site for your application!

It is expected that the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will be operational in 2024.
https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias/faqs-etias_en

The folks creating it do not know when it will be operational, so I doubt any contributor here can provide an 'answer'

FEE--

When applying using this official ETIAS website, you will be charged a fee of EUR 7. Applicants who are under 18 or over 70 years of age are exempt from this payment.

What that will be in US$, will depend on the exchange rate when it goes into operation.

And ABC did truly mess up by using the word "Visa"

This thread will remain closed. I think the main points have been well hashed out. I've also made edits here to soften the volume of targeted responses that were present. Please note our expectation not to call out others as this avoids a variety of behavioral issues that can happen as a result. There are also wider issues in the forum at the moment, and I'm appealing to everyone for calm:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/an-appeal-for-calm-to-everyone

Thanks, everyone.