New European Union rules that will require travelers from many non-EU countries to get an online visa waiver and pay a €7 fee for it have been postponed for two years until 2023. The delay is to allow the new system to take effect with other new border systems.
The system, called Etias, for European Travel Information and Authorization System, is similar to the U.S. visa-waiver system that allows travelers to enter without visas but with prior authorization and clearance. The waiver, which officials say would take only minutes to process, would be good for three years or until the holder’s passport expires if that is sooner.
The countries affected include the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, most of South America and the Caribbean, and a number of non-EU European countries. Travelers from countries not on the list will still need actual visas.
