travel requirements europe 2024

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System for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay in 29 European countries (starting in the second half of 2024)

Travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers to enter 30 European countries (starting in the first half of 2025)

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What You Need to Travel to Europe in 2024

The rules are changing for what Americans need to travel to Europe.

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A European Union flag flies on a shore with mountains in the background and a plane flying overhead in the sunlight.

The rules are changing around what you need to travel to Europe, including to some of the cheapest countries to visit , with a moving target on a planned update.

Starting in "the first half of 2025," Americans will need one more document to enter countries in the European Union . To visit, you'll have to apply for approval under the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) . You will apply online, and the authorization, which will be linked to your passport, will account for short-term stays, including up to 90 days in a 180-day period.

This had been planned to be in effect till 2024, but in fall 2023, the European Union updated its page on ETIAS to indicate it won't happen till the middle of 2025, confirming rumors of a delay. European Commission spokesperson for home affairs Anitta Hipper had told Kiplinger in late September, "The Commission remains committed to make ETIAS operational as soon as possible."

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How Europe's ETIAS system will work

To fill in the application , you'll need some basic information. This includes your name, address, passport information, current occupation, as well as information about past travel to conflict zones and criminal convictions. You will also have to share information about your travel plans, as well as answer questions about if you have relatives who are citizens in Europe. The application will not require any health information or biometric data, like fingerprints.

The ETIAS website says that "most" applications are processed in minutes, but it could extend to within four days of an application. Additionally, some requestors may be asked for more information or to do an interview, which would extend the process by up to 14 days, for more documentation, or 30 days, for an interview. So if you're planning travel, remember to apply well before you have to go.

The good news is that once you're approved, the authorization lasts for three years. But if your passport expires within those three years, you'll need to apply again.

Email is important to this process. You apply online, and then receive an email confirming your application. That email "will include your unique ETIAS application number: make sure you keep this number for future reference," the ETIAS website says. You will get another email once your application is processed.

If your application gets rejected, the email will have the reasons for it. You will have the option to appeal a rejection.

What Americans should look out for with ETIAS

A middle-aged couple happily looks at a phone near a body of water.

In addition to adding some hassle, this requirement will make a family vacation slightly more expensive. Applications will cost 7 euros, which right now is close to $8. However, applications for people under 18 or over 70 years old are free. There are also some exemptions for those who have EU citizen family members and "non-EU nationals who have the right to move freely throughout the European Union."

One more thing to look out for: ETIAS warned last spring that many unofficial ETIAS websites have sprung up. ETIAS says these sites have incorrect information and some "already collect travellers’ personal data, which is concerning." Protect your identity by only using the official ETIAS website.

The bottom line on what you need to travel to Europe

This is a big change for Americans since there hasn't been a visa requirement to visit EU countries before. Keep this in mind before your big trip to Greece, Italy, France, or any of the other 30 Euro nations in 2025.

But, Cameron Hewitt, content and editorial director at Rick Steves' Europe, told the Washington Post : "It certainly shouldn’t cause anyone to rethink a trip to Europe. From what we know, ETIAS looks like it’ll simply be a manageable bit of red tape." Then, your biggest concern will be avoiding the crowds on Santorini .

For now, though, the old rules are in place, and you do not need a visa to travel to Europe for trips under 90 days as an American in 2024. But you should check your passport's expiration date, as it needs to be valid for at least six months after arrival in the European Schengen area, and be aware of how long it takes to renew your passport .

New travel system for Europe delayed again, to 2025

A person looks at a flight call board at the Munich International Airport

Americans who are planning to visit Europe in 2024 don’t have to worry about applying to the European Union’s new travel authorization system yet.

For almost a decade now, European Union authorities have been working on a visa-like system called the European Travel Information and Authorisation System . It’s for travelers from “visa-exempt” countries like the U.S., and the U.S. has a similar system.

After several years of delays, ETIAS was expected to go online in 2024, but it has now been pushed back to mid-2025 because its entry/exit database isn’t ready.

The system is not handling applications yet, so American travelers can hold off a bit longer on their paperwork.

Eventually, travelers from visa-exempt countries who want to go to most EU nations, as well as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, will have to register online. Most people will have to pay an application fee of 7 euros ($7.70). All of those travelers, including small children, will have to apply.

Travelers from Canada, Mexico, Australia and most South American countries will have to apply through ETIAS as well.

The EU says most applications will be processed within minutes, but some will take days or weeks and require additional information, so it advises people to apply well in advance of their trips.

Assuming authorization is granted, it will be good for three years, or until the user’s passport expires, whichever is first. That authorization will allow travelers to enter those European countries as often as they want for short stays, which are typically 90 days in any 180-day period — assuming border security approves.

Marley Jay is a business news reporter for NBC News Digital.

Americans Will Need a ‘Visa’ to Visit Europe in 2024—Here's What to Know

By Jessica Poitevien

United States passport holders have long traveled throughout most of the world without having to worry about visa applications: American travelers currently have visa-free access to 184 destinations worldwide, according to this year’s Henley Passport Index , which ranked the U.S. passport as the eighth most powerful in the world . But that’s set to change next year, as the European Union prepares new travel document requirements for American tourists.

The new regulations are called the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). When the system launches in early 2024, it will require all visitors who currently travel to Europe visa-free, such as citizens from the US, Canada , Australia, and New Zealand, to apply for travel authorization and receive approval prior to their departure.

ETIAS is not a visa in the traditional sense; it only requires a quick online application, with approval delivered via email. In order to receive authorization, visitors must fill out an online form providing details about their basic biographical information, travel plans and travel history, as well as other security questions.

Most applicants will be granted travel authorization within an hour, but if further checks are required, the process could take up to 96 hours. The application costs €7 ( about $8) and is required for all travelers regardless of their age. Once approved, this authorization is valid for multiple entries over the course of three years, or until the traveler’s passport expires.

Although many Americans were apprehensive about waiting on another travel document when the program was first announced, as more details about ETIAS become available, many travelers are expressing relief at the simplicity of the process.

“Honestly, the buzz around [ETIAS] on social media made me a little nervous, but after doing some research, that initial shock definitely subsided,” says Alexa Moore , a frequent traveler who visits Europe for both business and leisure at least two to three times per year. “It's still easy for us to travel to Europe. It’s just one more step we have to think about before our trip.”

The authorization will be required for travel to all ETIAS member countries , which fall into one of four categories: full Schengen members like Spain , France, and Italy; European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries like Iceland , Norway, and Switzerland; future Schengen members such as Bulgaria and Cyprus; plus European micro states like Andorra and Monaco .

The goal of ETIAS is to tighten border security, as well as digitally screen and track travelers entering and leaving EU countries. Its purpose and application process are similar to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) program for visitors headed to the US—a fact that has also made many people more understanding of the new requirement.

“I’m bummed about it, but it does seem easy enough,” says Nicki Post, a travel blogger and YouTuber who has spent extensive time in Europe. “It’s only fair since the US makes it more complicated for Europeans and people of other nationalities to enter the US.”

As Europe gets ready to roll out its new ETIAS program, it is important to note that the length of time that Americans can spend in Europe as a tourist is not changing. US passport holders are allowed to stay up to 90 days within a 180-day period. For any stay longer than 90 days, a special visa is required.

At the moment, the exact date when the new travel authorization will become a requirement is still unclear. Moore suspects there will be a bit of chaos when it does launch, but also that ETIAS will ultimately not deter anyone from traveling to Europe .

“Initially, we may see more videos on social media and reports of people forgetting to apply for ETIAS, and possibly not being able to go, but that’s the norm any time we get a new travel requirement in place,” Moore says. “I also think pandemic travel has actually helped people be a little more prepared for the possibility of new systems and requirements being in place like having to submit test results, health information, and other documents in preparation for entry even to a visa-free country.”

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Going to Europe next year? You may have to pay a new entry fee.

Starting in 2024, an $8 ETIAS application will be required for U.S. travelers to enter E.U. countries

Starting in 2024, some travelers to countries in the European Union will have a new hoop to jump through before they embark on their journey.

Following new travel authorization rules announced by the E.U. under the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), prospective visitors from more than 60 “visa-exempt” countries, including the United States, will have to fill out an online application and pay a small fee before traveling to any of 30 European countries.

“It’ll be a minor hassle, but it’s not unusual for countries to have entry requirements like this one,” said Cameron Hewitt, content and editorial director at Rick Steves’ Europe. “It certainly shouldn’t cause anyone to rethink a trip to Europe. From what we know, ETIAS looks like it’ll simply be a manageable bit of red tape.”

Here’s what travelers need to know:

Where to go

Our favorite destinations: These 12 destinations are at the top of our wish list for where to go this year, without crowds. In 2023, we explored an Alaskan bear paradise, Brooklyn’s famous pizzerias and a hidden gem in Italy, among other highlights .

Travel like a local: Residents share their favorite places in our top city guides: New Orleans , Rome , Tokyo and Mexico City .

National parks: This comprehensive guide has details on all 63 U.S. national parks. For a deep dive into five of the most well-known, you can listen to the Field Trip podcast . Then explore tips from locals for visiting Yosemite , Glacier and Everglades .

Tales from the road: Dolly Parton has opened a new resort at her theme park complex in Tennessee, while “Fixer Upper” stars Chip and Joanna Gaines have a new hotel in Waco . Road-trippers may be just as excited to see the cartoon beaver at Buc-ee’s , and bargain-hunters should consider a stop at the Unclaimed Baggage store in Scottsboro, Ala.

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Wait, do you need a visa to go to Europe now? The new ETIAS requirements, explained

Emily Olson

St. Mark's basilica in Venice is one place U.S. passport holders may not be able to get to without approval under the new ETIAS requirements Andrea Pattaro/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

St. Mark's basilica in Venice is one place U.S. passport holders may not be able to get to without approval under the new ETIAS requirements

Already thinking about next summer's vacation plans? If Europe is on your short list, there could be one extra step to take before boarding that plane.

Starting in 2024, American passport holders traveling to 30 European countries will need authorization via the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS).

Though it may sound complicated, the ETIAS and the reasoning behind it are quite similar to existing travel requirements and reflect increasing fear of terrorism in the U.S., Europe and around the world.

Here's what you need to know.

What is ETIAS? Is it a visa?

While some media outlets are taking a cue from the European Union's travel site and calling this a visa, in truth, ETIAS is more like a travel authorization form.

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"It's definitely not a visa," said Dan Hamilton, a senior non-resident fellow for foreign policy at the Brookings Institution. "It's an electronic entry-point, an authorization for countries that are currently visa-free."

Even the European Commission has said as much (and in bold letters) , writing this is "not a visa" but rather an "automated IT system" in a press release on the discussions around it back in 2018.

Whatever you want to call it, the ETIAS form is not what you'd seek if you're trying to work or live in Europe, but rather what you'll need for short-term trips — up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

Why is it being implemented?

These new requirements have been years in the making, stemming back to a rise in terrorism fears following 9/11. It's very similar to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization — or ESTA — program that the U.S. implemented in 2008 .

At the heart of ETIAS is an electronic database system to better track who's coming and going. According to the EU's latest report on terrorism data , EU law enforcement authorities arrested about 388 suspects for terror-related offenses in 2021, more than half of whom were accused of being associated with Jihadist groups based abroad.

The European Commission says ETIAS may have the added impact of cutting down on "irregular migration" (i.e. illegal immigration), but one thing the form is definitely not aimed to do is deter tourism in general.

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Crowded cities, inflated airfare and extreme heat disasters may all be making headlines this summer, but many of these European countries are still depending on tourism revenue to help them bounce back from pandemic slumps, Hamilton said.

And the pandemic is another one of the many reasons this new requirement has been delayed by decades — there was no need for ETIAS when countries closed their borders to all travel amid fears of spreading COVID-19.

"Another part of it is simply the pace of the way this parliament and European commission works," Hamilton explained in an interview with NPR. "They're ending their term and pushing through a lot of these directives because parliamentary elections happen next June."

"And getting 30 countries to agree on anything takes a long time," he added.

When does it take effect?

The European Union's website says the new authorization will start in 2024 but hasn't clarified a specific date. A press spokesperson for the union's travel arm did not respond to NPR's request for information.

And, similarly, a spokesperson for the State Department told NPR that the U.S. government website for international travel (travel.state.gov) would be updated "once the regulation goes into effect," but didn't specify when that would be.

"Frankly, I'd be surprised if this starts on time," Hamilton said. The rollout of ETIAS has already been delayed at least once.

But it couldn't hurt to plan ahead for any 2024 travel just to be safe.

Who needs to apply for ETIAS approval?

Basically, all passport holders from 60 countries who can currently travel to most European destinations without a visa — and that includes American passport holders — will now need to get ETIAS authorization for the same trip. That's about 1.4 billion people, by the European Union's estimation.

There are 30 European countries in total on the impacted destination list , including those in the "Schengen Area" — 27 European countries, many that are part of the European Union, that agreed to ease border restrictions to facilitate the movement of people within Europe.

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Those Schengen countries include top vacation spots like France, Italy and Spain.

The other three countries on the list are Romania, Bulgaria and Cyprus, which are all trying to become a part of the Schengen Area soon.

You can check the full list of both impacted passport holders and affected European destinations here.

How can you apply for ETIAS approval (and does it cost money)?

The application isn't open yet, but the European Union says that when it is, all necessary forms can be filled out via a web portal or mobile phone application.

You'll be asked to share personal information such as your date of birth, parents' names and details about your current occupation and previous criminal convictions. You'll also need to share a passport that is not set to expire in less than three months.

Oh, and you'll have to pay a fee of 7 euros (about $8).

When is the right time to apply?

If you want to play it safe, apply well in advance of your trip — no later than a month out.

ETIAS says most applications "are processed within minutes" and decisions are delivered within four days. But that wait could take up to 14 days if you are requested to supply additional information and up to 30 days if you're invited to interview.

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Those denied an application can appeal, but that process could be even lengthier.

The European Union says ETIAS approval will stay valid for three years or until the passport you used in your application expires.

Naturally, you'll also need to follow the ETIAS rules to stay in good standing.

Those with ETIAS approval can stay in the European countries on the list for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. So you can leave and come back, but you can't stay in the confines of the countries on the list for 91 days or more non-stop.

What happens if I don't apply for this and try to travel to Europe?

Your ETIAS approval will be linked to your passport. So without it, airport security (or cruise, bus or train line staff) won't let you board.

In other words, you can kiss that dream vacation goodbye.

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More From Forbes

Dates confirmed for europe’s new travel rules—here’s what to know.

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Europe's border system is changing—here's what to know about the new Entry and Exit Scheme and ETIAS

The rules for most people entering Europe who don't have an EU passport are changing and after several delays, the EU has confirmed when and how they will roll out the two new border controls that will impact travelers arriving into the Schengen area from 2024 onwards.

The changes effectively involve the installation of automatic gates that will record the biometric data of anyone passing through an external EU border (the Entry and Exit Scheme) and the registration of anyone without an EU passport, who doesn't need a visa, before they arrive (ETIAS). Both are explained in detail below.

The new EU Entry and Exit System—operational in 2024

Europe's new Entry/Exit System (EES) is the first major change and it has been confirmed that it will become operational during the second half of 2024, as confirmed by the EU Home Affairs Council in Luxembourg.

Up to now, most countries stamp passports as people carrying non-EU passports enter but the process will now be automated by passing through barriers that identify you through biometric data—your fingerprints and faces will be scanned as you pass through electronic gates.

The aim is to decrease the time it takes to pass through external EU borders and to keep a firmer control on how long people stay inside the EU/Schengen area.

The new EES will be used by 29 European countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

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In Cyprus and Ireland, passports will still be stamped manually. What's more, anyone traveling to and from Bulgaria and Romania should be aware that the rules are a little different as neither country issues a Schengen visa.

The EU has also confirmed the data that it will collect each time a traveler passes through one of its external border gates:

the data listed in your travel document, such as your name and date of birth.
the date and place of entry into and exit from a European country using the EES.
your facial image and fingerprints (called ‘biometric data’).
any previous refusal of entry.

The new EES is applicable to anyone traveling on a short-stay visa and those who don't need a visa to travel. It is also relevant for anyone on a non-EU passport who is intending to stay for the 90-day period allowed within a 180-day period—and crucially, this 90 days is relevant even if you travel to and from different EU countries during this time.

The ETIAS—operational in spring 2025

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is a new scheme that requires all visitors traveling to Europe—who do not require a visa—to register beforehand, much like the U.S. ESTA scheme. It is not a visa but just a pre-authorization to travel and is now expected to be operational by spring 2025.

It will have an impact on people visiting Europe from over 60 countries—where visas are not required. If you are unsure if you will need to register, you can check this list of the 60 plus countries here . They include the U.S., Canada and the U.K.

The ETIAS scheme will be used by 30 European countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Travelers under 18 and over 70 will be exempt from payment, which for everyone else is expected to be $7. The right to enter will last 3 years, after which time, travelers must reapply.

Both schemes were supposed to be introduced earlier but technical issues slowed down the roll out and France asked the EU, after these delays, to put back the roll out until after the Olympic Games in summer 2024, as evidently it isn't a great idea to change the way that travelers enter Europe just before millions of extra people are expected to arrive in Paris.

The new deadline fulfils the conclusions of a recent study into the possible decoupling of both schemes conducted by a Belgian delegation.

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Passports, travel and living abroad
Travel abroad

Travelling to the EU and Schengen area

You do not need a visa for short trips to the EU or countries in the Schengen area if both of the following apply:

you’re staying for 90 days or less in a 180-day period
you’re visiting as a tourist or for certain other reasons

Other reasons include:

studying a short course
getting medical treatment
travelling for business for your UK employer, for example to attend a business meeting or conference
journalism or other media activities

Check the entry requirements of the country you’re visiting to find out what you can and cannot do during your stay.

These rules do not apply to travelling and working in Ireland .

Travelling to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period

You can travel to more than one country in a 180-day period. How long you can stay in each country depends on whether or not it’s in the Schengen area.

The countries in the Schengen area are:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Your total stay in the Schengen area must be no more than 90 days in every 180 days. It does not matter how many countries you visit. The 180-day period keeps ‘rolling’.

To work out if your stay is within the 90 day limit, use the following steps.

Check the date you plan to leave the Schengen area on your next trip.

Count back 180 days from that date to get the start of the 180-day period.

Add up the number of days you have already spent in the Schengen area in that 180-day period (you can use the dates stamped in your passport showing when you entered and left a country).

Work out how many days you will spend in the Schengen area on your next trip. Add this number to the number of days you worked out in step 3.

Check that the total number of days is not more than 90.

Travelling to Cyprus

Cyprus is not in the Schengen area. You can stay up to 90 days in a 180-day period in Cyprus without a visa.

Any time you spend in the Schengen area does not affect the number of days you can spend in Cyprus.

When you may need a visa

You may need a visa or permit if you want to either:

stay for more than 90 days

If you’re travelling for work, check the rules for the country you’re visiting .

If you’re travelling for another reason or staying longer than 90 days, check the entry requirements for the country you’re visiting .

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Traveling to Europe in 2024? Here’s what you need to know about the new documentation requirements

U.s. travelers will soon need ‘visas’ for europe.

Beginning in 2024, Americans traveling to certain European countries will need a visa and a passport for travel. Jordan Bowen reports.

TAMPA, Fla. - In 2024, you'll need more than just a passport to travel to 30 European countries, including popular destinations like France, Greece and Italy.

Travelers will need an ETIAS authorization from the European Travel Information and Authorization System.

"They're just pre-screening you, making sure you're not a security threat, or you're not going to overstay your visa, or try to emigrate illegally," The Points Guy Managing Editor Clint Henderson said.

File: Passport

According to the European Union, you can apply through its web portal or mobile application once the application is open.

READ: New Frontier Airlines policy requires flyers to drop-off checked bag 60 minutes before flight

In order to apply, travelers will need to provide their birthday, parents' names, current occupation and any criminal convictions. Plus, a passport not set to expire in less than three months will also be required.

The total cost for the authorization is seven Euros or about $8, but it is free for people under 18 and travelers over 70.

The authorization is good for three years and allows travelers to stay in Europe for up to 90 days during any six-month period.

READ: Frontier launches monthly all-you-can-fly pass, but there's a catch

The State Department says it's taking 10 to 13 weeks to process passports at the moment, but there are ways to speed up the process for trawlers who need it more quickly.

"You should absolutely pay for expedited service. Pay the extra 60 dollars to get it expedited. Also, pay for the two-day shipping. It's going to cost the extra 18 bucks," Henderson said.

If you're traveling within two weeks, call the National Passport Information Center for an appointment or contact your Congress member. Henderson says the authorization process is relatively simple.

READ: From Florida to California, the most popular vacations in America to book right now

"It's your personal information, where you're traveling, some of our travel history. It's not terribly complicated and takes about 10 minutes," Henderson said.

The European Union has yet to release the exact date when the application process will open, only saying that it will be required beginning in 2024.

Once approved, the ETIAS authorization will be linked to your passport, which is how airport security will know whether you've gotten the authorization.

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Heading to Europe in 2024? Here are the New Travel Requirements

Published: 11/9/2023 10:00:05 AM

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Europe is one of the most prominent travel destinations in the world, holding 61% of total arrival shares when viewing the Global and Regional tourism results. Their vast history, stunning views and elaborate architecture are some of the reasons Europe’s tourism is so high. However, the future of international travel will change in 2024 as the European Union (EU) requires travelers from the United States and sixty other countries to apply for authorization through the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS).

ETIAS is not considered a VISA, but a travel authorization requirement for visa-free European Schengen Zone visitors, even if you are hopping on a connecting flight. The European Schengen Zone includes twenty-three countries that are apart of the EU, four non-EU countries, and three European microstates.

When applying for the new ETIAS, applicants must access the form online and can anticipate a response anywhere from minutes to 96 hours. Sometimes, this can take up to 30 days if the applicant is requested by authorities to take additional steps . It is also required to have valid travel documents that are at most ten years or expediting within three months; some papers will not be accepted. The application form will charge a fee of €7 or $7.79 USD. While ETIAS will be required for all travelers for short or long visits, the application will be free for those under 18 and over 70.

Economically, the new restrictions could have severe ramifications for airlines and tourism, both of which are huge markets for the European economy. For example, forcing travelers to get an ETIAS visa may make them more inclined to fly to a different hub than Heathrow- a popular connecting destination- to increase convenience and save a little bit of money. In fact, a crucial part of low fares at Heathrow Airport is the connecting flights from Germany to Canada or India to the U.S..

"Transiting passengers play a key role in supporting routes to many long-haul destinations boosting trade, tourism and investment opportunities," Heathrow Airport said in a statement . "The government should ensure visa and border policies do not generate competitive disadvantages for the UK."

The overall fear of several Heathrow-based airlines is that implementing stringent visa requirements might not only impact the airlines directly, but also the broader supply chain, including aircraft manufacturers, fuel suppliers, and service providers. Additionally, the potential decrease in international travelers could lead to a decline in revenue for local governments through reduced taxes and fees collected from tourism-related activities.

On the other hand, enofrcing ETIAS will have significant benefits for the European Union. With the sheer number of travelers who come through, €7 per person every three years will create considerable revenue. In addition, ETIAS will reduce the volume of health and crime issues in the Schengen Zone; implementing the pre-screening will allow Europe to be able to refuse access to criminals and people with contagious diseases before they even enter the Schengen Zone, enhancing security and public health. Implementing ETIAS can further streamline border control processes, leading to shorter waiting times for travelers, improved efficiency at airports, and a more positive experience for travelers. This, in turn, can improve Europe’s reputation as a safe and welcoming travel destination, potentially attracting more tourists and investors.

Overall, all the revenue generated from ETIAS fees can be reinvested in infrastructure, security measures, and tourism promotion, further benefiting the European Union’s economy and the well-being of its citizens. The combination of increased revenue, enhanced security, and improved traveler experience makes the ETIAS system a multifaceted tool for the EU’s growth and stability.

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New requirements for Americans traveling to Europe postponed until 2025

VIDEO: 3 expert travel tips to save money on your summer vacation with friends

Americans eyed upcoming travel to European destinations slightly differently due to news of a requirement that was set to start in 2024 for U.S. passport holders. But now, EU officials have postponed the European Travel Information and Authorisation System ( ETIAS ) launch until spring of 2025.

SchengenVisaInfo.com, a website dedicated to the world's largest visa-free zone where 27 European countries abolished their internal borders known as the Schengen Area, first reported that an EU official confirmed ETIAS won't go live until May 2025, "due to continued delays with the introduction of the related Entry-Exit System (EES), which needs to be operational before ETIAS can be implemented."

An official for the European Union did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment.

What to know about ETIAS for US travelers

If you previously traveled to Europe without a visa, you will now need to apply for authorization through the ETIAS , before visiting.

Today, American travelers have visa-free access to 184 global destinations, according to the Henley Passport Index . And while the U.S. passport is currently ranked eighth-most powerful passport to own, that could be set to shift when the European Union adds its new documentation requirements for U.S. visitors.

The application form, which will be available on the official ETIAS website as well as a mobile application, has a fee of 7 euros or $7.79 U.S. dollars. All communication is done by email.

Once you are approved for travel, the authorization entitles visitors to stay in European countries that require ETIAS for up to 90 days within any 180-day period and travelers must be in possession of a valid ETIAS during their entire stay.

MORE: New warning issued for rebooking air travel after delays, cancellations

According to ETIAS, most applications should be processed within minutes, but in case an application takes longer, decisions will be sent within four days or up to 14 days if the applicant is asked to provide additional documentation.

The European Union encourages travelers to apply for an ETIAS authorization "well in advance of your planned journey."

Confirmation of application submission will be sent on email with a unique number that is needed for future reference.

Upon receiving ETIAS travel authorization, travelers are to ensure that their name, passport number and other information is correct because any mistake will prevent them from crossing the border.

If an application is refused, the email will include the reasons for the decision along with information about how to appeal.

ETIAS travel authorization is valid for three years, according to the EU, or until the travel document you used in your application expires, whichever comes first.

MORE: European heat wave breaking records with little relief in sight

The ETIAS authorization is linked to a person's travel document -- such as a U.S. passport -- and both documents will be needed to board a flight, bus or ship to enter any of the European countries that require ETIAS.

Similar to international border requirements with a passport, the ETIAS authorization doesn't guarantee automatic right of entry. "Border guards will verify that you meet the entry conditions" and anyone who does not meet the conditions "will be refused entry," according to the EU.

Click here to learn more about the process from the European Union.

An earlier version of this story was originally published on July 21, 2023.

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In Europe's Schengen area , your passport must be valid for at least six months at the time of your entry. At present, the Schengen area includes most European Union (EU) countries, except for Cyprus and Ireland.

If you are transiting through Canada or the United Kingdom (UK) enroute to the Schengen area : your passport must be valid for at least six months, even though Canada and the UK do not themselves have the six-month rule. If your passport will expire within six months, airlines may not let you board your onward flight to Europe.

Traveling in Europe

If you plan to travel in Europe, you need to know about the Schengen Borders Agreement, which allows you to move freely within a number of countries without border checks. Tourists, exchange students, and people visiting for business from certain countries, like the United States, can travel in the Schengen area for up to 90 days. The Schengen area includes most EU countries, except for Cyprus and Ireland. It also includes four non-EU countries: Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.

Before you travel to the Schengen area, we recommend you do the following:

Check the expiration date on your passport book carefully before traveling to Europe. Ensure your passport book is valid for at least six months when you enter the Schengen area. This is especially important for minors under age 16 as their passports are only valid for five years. In contrast, U.S. citizen adults aged 16 and older receive passports that are valid for 10 years.
Always carry your passport book with you when traveling to another country in the Schengen area. Even if there is no border check at that time, officials may reinstate border controls without notice.
Be prepared to explain your purpose of travel.
Be prepared to provide proof of sufficient financial resources for the visit.
Comply with other entry requirements for each country you will visit or transit.

On our Country Information pages , you can find passport validity requirements and other important information for your destination country. If your passport does not meet the Schengen requirements, you may be:

Refused boarding by the airline at your point of origin or while transferring planes.
Denied entry when you arrive in the Schengen area, regardless of how long you will stay.

An immigration official will determine if you qualify for visa-free entry to the Schengen area when you first cross any external Schengen border. You will have to present your passport at that time. The officer may deny your entry if you do not qualify.

You should also check passport validity requirements if traveling onward from the Schengen area to a country outside the Schengen area. You can find this information in our Country Information pages.

HOW LONG CAN I REMAIN?

With a valid U.S. passport book, you can stay up to 90 days in the Schengen area for tourism or business during any 180-day period. You must wait an additional 90 days before applying to re-enter the Schengen area.
If you plan to stay in the Schengen area longer than three months, contact the embassy of the country where you plan to spend the majority of your time and apply for a visa.

Countries in the Schengen area may reinstate temporary internal or external border control without notice. U.S. citizens should carry their U.S. passport book at all times when entering or leaving the Schengen area. They should also bring it when traveling between Schengen countries.

How can the U.S. government help me if border officials do not let me enter?

We can give you the contact information of foreign embassies of the countries you wish to visit.
We can provide information about hiring an English-speaking foreign attorney overseas if you choose to do so.
Note: We cannot influence a foreign government’s decision about allowing you to enter. We cannot intervene in another country’s criminal or administrative procedures.

What countries are members of the Schengen Borders Agreement?

Click on the country name for more information.

Bulgaria (entering in March 2024)

Czech Republic

Liechtenstein

Netherlands

Romania (entering in March 2024)

Switzerland

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Visas and entry requirements in europe and the schengen area.

This page is for Australians travelling to Europe.

Read this page to learn about:

the Schengen Area
entry and exit to the Schengen Area
other European countries with visa waivers
non-Schengen European countries

The Australian Government doesn't issue visas for other countries. We can't provide final information on border rules. Ask your destination's high commission, embassy or consulate for details before you travel.

The Schengen Area

The Schengen Area is made up of 27 European countries with common border rules. It lets travellers move freely between member countries without

going through border controls
getting a visa for each country.

The members of the Schengen Area are:

Czech Republic
Liechtenstein
The Netherlands
Switzerland

Bulgaria and Romania partially joined the Schengen area on 31 March. Border checks should have ceased for air or sea travel between Bulgaria, Romania, and other Schengen Area countries. Checks are still undertaken for land-based travel. Stays in Bulgaria and Romania now count towards your total visa-free stay in the Schengen Area (see below).

Entry and exit in the Schengen Area

Australians can travel visa-free in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. Your travel must be for:

business purposes
visiting friends and family
tourism and holidays
cultural and sports events
official visit
medical reasons
short-term study

Apply at the embassy, high commission or consulate of the country where you'll stay the longest. If you're staying for the same length of time in each country, apply at the embassy of the country you'll visit first.

You'll need to apply for a visa if:

you're planning to stay for more than 90 days
your reason for travel changes, and you no longer qualify for visa-free travel.

You'll need to apply outside the country you want a visa for.

Calculating your 90/180 days

Calculating your visa-free days can be complicated. The European Commission provides a calculator to help you track your visa-free days .

The 180 days isn't fixed in time. It's calculated backwards from today.
Your 90 days are calculated from your first day in the Schengen Area within the 180 days.
If you leave and return within 180 days, your last stay will count towards the 90-day maximum.
If you use up your visa-free days, you must leave until you accumulate more or apply for a visa.
You may be fined or banned from the Schengen Area if you overstay your 90 days.

Example You arrive in Spain on 18 March. You fly to the UK on 21 April and stay there until the 29th. On 30 April, you travel to Greece and stay until 23 June. Your trip was 97 days, but only 90 were in the Schengen Area. You can't re-enter the Area until at least 14 September, when the Spanish leg of your trip falls outside your 180 days. If you re-enter on 14 September, you can only stay another 35 days as your time in Greece still counts towards your current 90 days. If you re-enter on 22 September, you can stay another 90 days, as you haven't been in the Area in the past 180 days .

Entering and exiting the Schengen Area

You must show a valid passport when entering the Schengen Area.

Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the date you intend to leave.

Make sure you get a clear entry stamp in your passport when you enter the Schengen Area for the first time. Without a stamp, you could be fined or detained.

Some countries need you to register within 3 days of arrival.

See our destination-specific travel advice for entry and exit details for each country. Check the European Commission for information on temporary border controls .

These visa rules only apply when travelling on your Australian passport . If you're a dual national travelling on your other passport, check the rules for that nationality.

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is an electronic security system. It will do a security check before you can enter participating European countries . ETIAS is expected to start in mid-2025 if the new system is working.

You won't need an ETIAS for EU countries who aren't taking part in the program.

Other European countries with visa waivers

There are other European countries where you can travel visa-free. Travel to these countries does not count towards your 90 days for Schengen Area travel.

Countries can change their border rules at short notice. Before you travel, ask your destination's nearest embassy or consulate for the latest rules.

Visa waiver agreements with Australia

Australia has visa waiver agreements with several countries in the Schengen Area. These agreements may allow you to spend 60 to 90 days in the country for tourism.

Visa waiver agreement countries include:

Using visa waiver agreements with Schengen visa-free arrangements is complex. Each country operates the visa waiver in its own way.

Most countries need you to use the visa waiver at the end of your Schengen Area travel.

Visa-free tourism programs in non-Schengen countries

Some European countries outside the Schengen Area allow you to enter visa-free for tourism. Most let you stay up to 90 days. Some are for longer. See our country advisories for details on border rules.

Bosnia & Herzegovina
North Macedonia (Republic of North Macedonia)
United Kingdom

Non-Schengen European countries

Many European countries are not part of the Schengen Area. Non-Schengen countries have their own border rules. These countries include:

Ask these countries' high commission, embassy or consulate for visa information.

General advice on visas .
Before you go, get the right travel insurance .
Read about Australia's 11 reciprocal health care agreements .
The Schengen Area explained

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The U.S. is a year away from requiring Real ID.

The United States is less than a year out from the Department of Homeland Security's federal requirement for Real ID for domestic flights and entering federal facilities, and to help you get ahead -- and avoid a dreaded hourslong wait at the DMV -- "Good Morning America" has gathered all the essential details you need to ensure your identification is up to date.

What is a Real ID?

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security previously delayed the implementation of Real ID several times over the past few years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But as of this week, U.S. residents have under a year to obtain their soon-to-be federally required form of identification.

Here's what you need to know:

The federal Real ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005 following the 9/11 Commission's recommendation that the Federal Government "set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver's licenses," the DHS states on its website .

PHOTO:Miami, Florida, Miami International Airport, Homeland Security REAL ID message

The new rules set out which forms of identification may be used to board flights within the United States and to enter secure federal facilities such as military bases, federal courthouses and other federal facilities.

Applying for a Real ID requires proof of identity, proof of residency and a trip to your local DMV. See below for more on the full requirements and application process details.

All U.S. states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories are issuing Real IDs.

Click here for additional answers from DHS to some frequently asked questions about Real ID.

Real ID application requirements

PHOTO: An example of a REAL ID from North Carolina issued by the DMV.

Requirements are largely similar across the states, but as of 2021, according to DHS , states are no longer required to collect a social security document from a Real ID applicant. They still must collect and retain the number as part of the application process to verify that information with the Social Security Administration as currently required by the Real ID regulations.

"Not all states have applied this, so please check with your state driver's licensing agency to find the most up to date information," the DHS website states.

In California for example, residents can apply for a Real ID by filling out an application online and upload documents before visiting a DMV office with their uploaded documents to complete the application, which should only take about 15 minutes in person, depending on wait times.

MORE: Millions of Americans could be grounded from flying because of REAL ID deadline

PHOTO: An example of a REAL ID from California issued by the DMV.

Here's everything California residents would need to provide for the application:

Proof of identity: One original or certified document. For example, a valid passport or birth certificate. Legal name change document is required if name on proof of identity is different from the name on the other documents such as a marriage certificate or adoption papers.

Proofs of California residency: Two documents, paper copies. For example, a utility bill or bank statement.

Social Security number: Some exceptions may apply. Click here for additional details from the DMV REAL ID page.

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What is the latest deadline for Real ID?

PHOTO: An example of a REAL ID from New York issued by the DMV.

Earlier this week marked one year before DHS begins enforcing the Real ID requirement on May 7, 2025.

Starting on that date, a Real ID or other federally approved identification will be required to board domestic flights and access certain federal facilities.

Federal agencies including Transportation Security Administration may only accept state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards as identification for the purposes of accessing federal facilities -- including TSA airport security checkpoints -- if the license or card was issued by a Real ID compliant state in accordance with the Real ID security standards.

Enhanced Driver's Licenses issued by Washington, Michigan, Minnesota, New York and Vermont are considered acceptable alternatives to REAL ID-compliant cards, according to DHS , and will also be accepted for official REAL ID purposes.

What does Real ID look like?

The Real ID looks almost the same as a current state ID card or driver's license, but has a compliant star marking.

Some differences may vary by state, such as in California, where a small golden bear appears on the top right corner with the white star on the animal's left side.

If an ID says "federal limits apply," that person will not be able to board a domestic flight or enter federal facilities, such as military bases, federal courthouses, and other locations after the May 7, 2025, deadline.

Does Real ID replace a passport?

The Real ID does not replace a passport for international travel, however it ensures that travelers can fly domestic within the U.S. and access secure federal locations without additional documentation, according to the DMV.

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10 tips for Canadians travelling to Europe in 2024, from visa requirements to tipping culture

P lanning a European vacation this year? Whether you're eyeing a summer trip spent Greek island hopping or you'll be heading to Paris this fall, there are plenty of things you'll want to keep in mind before you head out.

From entry rules to what to pack, there are quite a few key things that Canadians should be sure to prepare for if they're travelling overseas.

To help, we've laid out a few key tips for Canucks visiting Europe in 2024. Including requirements for your Canadian passport , how to get a tax refund and local tipping etiquette, here are 10 things to keep in mind before embarking on your trip.

Check visa requirements

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Before travelling to Europe, make sure you're aware of the entry requirements of the country or countries you'll be visiting.

While Canadians won't need a visa to visit most European countries, some have different rules when it comes to how long Canadians can visit visa-free .

For instance, in Schengen area countries such as Iceland, Italy, Portugal and Spain, visa-free travel only applies to stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period and includes visits to any Schengen area country.

Other countries outside the Schengen area may have different rules. In the United Kingdom , for example, tourist visas are not required for stays of up to six months.

According to the Government of Canada, it's important to get your passport stamped when you first enter the Schengen area.

Without this, you may run into problems if you encounter the local police (or other authorities) anywhere in the Schengen area during your visit or with immigration officials when you depart.

Make sure your passport is valid

How long your passport needs to be valid for will also vary by country.

For instance, in Schengen zone countries, your Canadian passport must be valid for at least three months beyond the date you expect to leave the area.

Other European countries, such as Andorra , only require that your passport be valid for the duration of your stay.

Some countries in Europe are landlocked and without their own airports, meaning you'll have to also meet the entry rules of neighbouring countries in order to visit.

You can check the entry and exit requirements of a country by referring to Canada's travel advisory page .

Pack an adapter

Be aware that your Canadian appliances won't fit in the electrical outlets in Europe, which uses two round prong outlets unlike the flat pin outlets used in Canada.

A simple solution is to purchase a power adaptor or voltage converter beforehand. A voltage converter can also save you from potentially frying your hair dryer, as Europe uses 220 volts, compared to Canada's 110, according to the Travel Industry Council of Ontario.

If you're partial to Apple products, the company sells a World Travel Adapter Kit that you can buy on Amazon. However, you can get them from pretty much any travel store and even at the airport for last-minute shoppers.

It may be a good idea to bring more than one — that way, you can charge multiple items at once.

Travel with local currency

If you're travelling to Europe, you'll want to have some of the local currency on hand, which is especially important if you’re travelling outside big tourist cities to smaller towns.

While many European Union countries use the euro , some countries still use their own national currencies. Currently, the euro is the official currency of 20 out of 27 EU member countries which together constitute the Eurozone.

They are Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.

There are also six countries that are part of the EU but use their own national currencies: Bulgaria, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Sweden.

Non-EU member countries, including Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, use their national currencies.

It's a good idea to check beforehand what kind of currency you'll need for your trip and to have some on hand.

Besides cash, you can usually also use your Canadian credit card when travelling in Europe, but be aware of differing conversion rates depending on the local currency.

Be aware of tourist fees

As a Canadian, there are certain fees you'll have to pay when visiting Europe that vary by country.

Many countries impose tourist taxes on foreigners in certain major cities, usually added to the price of the tourist's accommodation.

For instance, Barcelona in Spain charges a tourist tax that's levied on official tourist lodging and varies depending on the type of accommodation. As of April 2024, the tax is 6.75 euros (about CA$9.92) for five-star hotels, 4.95 euros for four-star hotels, and 5.50 euros for "housing for tourist use."

Other European countries including Switzerland, France, Portugal and Greece also charge tourist taxes. Check with your accommodation or the tourism board for each destination before travelling to be sure how much you need to pay.

Canadians will also have to soon pay a fee to visit 30 countries in Europe.

Starting in the first half of 2025, Canadians will have to pay a travel authorization called the ETIAS to travel to countries including Portugal, Belgium, Iceland, Greece, Italy, France, and Germany.

The ETIAS will allow travellers to stay in the territory of European countries requiring an ETIAS for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

A full list of countries where the ETIAS will apply can be found on the European Union website .

Once it does come into effect, Canadians will be charged a fee of 7 euros (CA$10.29).

Get a VAT refund

Canadians visiting the EU who are about to leave EU territory to go home or to some other place outside the area may be able to buy goods free of VAT.

VAT, which stands for "value added tax," is a sales tax included in the price you pay for the goods you purchase while in the EU.

As someone who does not live in the EU, however, a Canadian traveller is eligible to buy goods free of VAT in special shops.

Generally, you will have to pay the VAT while shopping, but can get a refund on the tax.

The European Commission advises asking the shop assistant in advance whether they provide this service, and finding out what threshold applies to the purchase in order to be eligible for a refund.

To get your refund, you'll need to show your passport or other identity document proving your residence outside the EU, and will be asked to fill out a form.

You'll then receive an invoice for the goods which you must show to customs officers of the last EU country you leave in order to obtain the refund.

According to the European Commission, you can claim your VAT refund in bigger airports immediately; otherwise, you will have to send the refund form to the address given to you in the shop.

You can also get a refund on VAT when shopping in other European countries that are not members of the EU, such as Iceland and the U.K.

Know the local laws

Remember that different countries will have different local laws that you must abide by. Some apply to certain activities that may be perfectly legal in Canada, but could land you in hot water while abroad .

For instance, in Italy, certain municipalities — particularly those that see a high number of visitors like Venice, Rome, and Florence — have adopted strict public conduct rules, according to the Government of Canada .

In these areas, certain behaviours including sitting, eating or drinking on a monument or an archaeological landmark, walking in an urban setting in swimwear or without a shirt, and feeding pigeons are actually illegal.

Other European countries have their own rules for activities that would be innocuous in Canada. In Spain , some municipalities, including Barcelona, have banned beachwear outside of local beaches, and those caught could face on-the-spot fines.

Be sure to research the destination you're travelling to. You can consult the Government of Canada's travel advisories for information regarding local laws and culture.

Understand tipping etiquette

While tipping is practically obligatory in Canada, tipping culture is much different in Europe.

While it varies by country, generally, tips are not expected in Europe as they are in Canada.

"For most, tips are not expected in Europe, and it's fine not to tip at all, especially in more casual settings like bars or cafes," says ETIAS.com .

The website lays out tipping etiquette in several popular European destinations. For example, in France, tips are not obligatory, it says, and diners instead may notice a " service compris" or "service included" fee equivalent to 15 percent of the bill added to their cheque.

That said, diners may want to still leave something small to show their appreciation; in this case, they can simply round up the bill to the next euro, a common practice for when a larger tip may not be warranted.

For other country-specific tipping information, travellers can look to the local tourism board for their destination, which will often have information on local tipping etiquette.

Consider a budget airline

While Canada doesn't have many budget airlines flying to Europe, in 2023, Play Airlines launched its first flights from the True North, offering Canucks cheap flights to over 30 European destinations.

With Play, you can fly from Toronto to destinations like Greece, France, Italy, Portugal and more for considerably cheaper than other major Canadian airlines.

The airline also frequently has sales that offer additional savings on their already cheap flights.

Check baggage restrictions

If you'll be travelling in Europe, be aware that local European airlines will often have different luggage restrictions compared to those of Canada.

For instance, if you were travelling to the islands of Greece, you'd likely have to take a Greek flight once you arrive in the country on your flight from Canada.

While your Canadian airline may have not had any restrictions on cabin baggage weight ( Air Canada , for instance, specifies that cabin baggage has no weight restrictions but must be light enough that you can store it unassisted), the local airline you fly with in your destination may have different rules.

Popular Greek airline Aegean , for instance, says that carry-on baggage must weigh no more than 8 kilograms (17.6 pounds).

Be sure to check the luggage requirements for every airline you'll be flying with to avoid any hassles during your trip.

Bon voyage!

Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.

10 tips for Canadians travelling to Europe in 2024, from visa requirements to tipping culture

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TRAVIS SCOTT

Utopia - circus maximus tour 2024.

In the run up to putting a show on sale we often get asked lots of questions about ticket sales, the stadium and the show itself. We’ve put together this handy guide to help you navigate your way through the process.

Purchasing tickets

Thursday 11 July 2024.

General on-sale is at 10am, Friday 10 May.

Reserved seating and Standing tickets are available HERE.

Accessible Area tickets are available HERE.

Yes, full details of available packages and prices can be found here.

You can also call the Stadium's Premium Sales team on 0208 365 5150 or email [email protected] for more information.

General sale bookings are limited to 8 tickets.

Tickets are sold subject to booking fee which may vary by ticket provider.

Yes, there are designated wheelchair and ambulant access seating available. Please refer to the event ticket page directly for details on how to purchase these tickets.

Please note, these tickets are intended for visitors with access requirements and therefore supporting documentation is required. Once you have purchased an accessible ticket, you will be provided with instructions on how to provide this and request a personal assistant ticket. Information will also be provided on how parking may be requested.

Questions about your ticket?

Please refer to the terms and conditions of your ticket provider for full details of their refund/resale policy.

Tickets are usually issued by your ticket provider nearer the date of the show. We would there encourage you to refer to your point of purchase for guidance on how and when your tickets will be issued.

To avoid disappointment, visitors should only purchase from official, partnered ticket sellers. If you have bought from a secondary platform you will need to contact them directly to discuss your purchase.

Please submit your request using this form and a member of the stadium access team will be in touch.

Timings may vary dependent on the type of package booked. Full details pertaining to your booking, including all timings, will be emailed to you closer to the day of the event.

General Questions

The concert is scheduled to take place on Thursday 11 July 2024

All event times, including doors opening and main act timings, will be confirmed nearer to the event date and communicated on the event page.

Further details will be communicated on the event page.

Please refer to your concert ticket at the time of issue.

All timings are subject to change.

You will receive all the information you require for the event, including timings, from your ticket provider nearer the time. If you have a premium package, details of your package and itinerary will also be provided.

We will continue to update the stadium website with full details and strongly advise all visitors to download the Official Stadium App .

The main stage will be located in front of the stadium’s North Stand.

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is well served by public transport and full information on the best ways to travel to the stadium can be found on our ‘Getting Here’ pages. You may also follow us for the latest travel updates.

Driving is not encouraged and there is no parking available at the stadium.

Coach travel is available from Big Green Coach. Coach services run from the following locations:

Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Canterbury, Chelmsford, Colchester, Coventry, Dartford (Bluewater), Dover, Gillingham, Ipswich, Maidstone, Milton Keynes, Norwich, Reading, Southampton and Swindon.

Click here to see the available options from Big Green Coach.

Coach parking will be available with a pre-purchased parking ticket, please check back here for a booking link.

Stadium Facilities

Yes, with over 60 premium food outlets, the Stadium offers a variety of food and drink options. For full details of what’s on offer, please visit our Food and Beverage section here.

We also operate a Challenge 25 Policy for all alcoholic beverages – anyone who looks under the age of 25 will be required to provide ID.

We would recommend downloading our Official Stadium App to access an interactive map of the stadium.

Food purchased externally is not as standard permitted to be brought inside the stadium, though discretion may be shown for children’s snacks.

Over 60 food and drink outlets are available inside the stadium, and a full list of what’s on offer can be found on our Food and Drink pages here .

If you have specific dietary requirements or need to bring your own food on medical grounds, please submit an exemption request using this form.

Yes, there will be multiple merchandise outlets around the stadium on the day of the event, with merchandise also sold in the Tottenham Experience located on the High Road (N17 0AP).

Find full details of the Tottenham Experience here .

Venue Policies

Yes, please submit your request using our online form here .

If you require medical assistance during the show please alert the nearest steward.

Although we strongly recommend that children under the age of 5 are not brought to events at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, please note that babes in arms, young children and all visitors to the stadium require their own ticket.

Anyone entering the stadium under the age of 16 must always be accompanied by an adult aged 18 and above.

Tickets in standing areas are only available to persons aged 14 and above.

No professional cameras or recording equipment will be allowed into the stadium – for a list of all prohibited items, please see our Stadium Facilities – Prohibited Items section here.

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is a strictly non-smoking venue – this includes the use of all electronic cigarettes.

Small umbrellas are permitted, however these cannot be opened once inside the Stadium. Please see our prohibited items list here for further details. In the event of adverse weather conditions, we would advise bringing a rain mac or disposable rain coat.

As per the Promoter's Terms and Conditions, flags, banners and poles or other similar articles are not permitted in the venue. Items will be confiscated or the person in possession of any such articles may be refused entrance.

There are first aid areas in each of the stands and there will be visible first aid provision on the pitch.

Your ticket will provide your seat details and information about which entrance to use upon arrival. All entrances and blocks are clearly signposted, though event staff will also be on hand to provide wayfinding assistance should you require it.

Golden Circle tickets are located on the pitch, with Pitch Standing tickets located to the rear of the pitch. Unreserved seating is located in the South Stand.

For everything you need to know, please visit tottenhamhotspurstadium.com or download our Official Stadium App here .

International edition
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A lighthouse at Lindau, one of the finest harbour towns on Lake Constance. Sunrise

Extra time at Euro 2024: day trips and more from Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Leipzig

Spectacular scenery and rich culture from the Alps to the North Sea are just a train ride away from the main hubs at this summer’s football tournament

From Munich: chill out by Lake Constance

Of all the ways to explore southern Germany this summer, the most memorable is not by train, bus or hire car but by boat. Lake Constance, nearly 40 times bigger than Windermere and two hours south-west of Munich by public transport, is a wonderful water world ringed by harbour towns, and it makes an idyllic break from the Bavarian capital.

With pomp and pageantry to spare, the medieval gateway town Lindau is the most memorable place to start your exploration. First impressions are a serious business there. Upon arrival, you see the same Germany that travellers saw 200 years ago. The seated lion statue that eyes the quayside is still visible from miles around, as is the chess piece lighthouse and the Mangturm , a Rapunzel tower that colours the skyline with zigzag tile patterns in gold and green.

On Lake Constance’s German shore, running north-west from Lindau and accessed by the affordable, shoreline-hopping BSB ferry service , is an even older world. There are old vineyards, old churches, old castles and older monasteries, many of which could well outlive Munich’s tower blocks and football stadiums. The delights of sailing and windsurfing on one of Europe’s largest lakes – as well as swimming in it – worked wonders on me when I first visited after the 2006 World Cup.

After enjoying Lindau’s fortified walls, ivy-draped towers, promenade streets and beer gardens, it’s a 90-minute boat trip to Friedrichshafen , 15 miles up the lakeshore. Here there is often a strange, keel-like structure in the sky above the lake. As much a reminder of the first world war and the Hindenburg disaster as it is of Germany’s engineering prowess, the Zeppelin remains the symbol of Friedrichshafen, and the rigid airships whirr visitors on sightseeing tours above Lake Constance daily in summer. The Zeppelin was born here – on 2 July 1900, the blimp’s initial test flight took place over the shore – and its history can be traced at the harbour Zeppelin Museum . From up in the airship, the blue, far below, makes the inland sea look as if it belongs in a Romantic painting by Caspar David Friedrich.

Most people think Germany is for beer drinkers, but Lake Constance is less about the grain and more about the grape. Pinot gris, blanc, noir and local cultivar Müller-Thurgau have revered status here, and the lakeshore’s pitched sides are braided with vineyards and wine hiking trails.

Meersburg , 12 miles west of Friedrichshafen, offers lakeshore taverns, delicious €4 glasses of plonk and a summer coat of vines, as well as an extraordinary, rose-tinged castle. There are plenty of wineries to choose from, but a long favourite is the Staatsweingut Meersburg , a former prince’s pet winery a steep stroll from the quayside.

From Meersburg’s ferry landing, it’s a 20-minute crossing to Mainau , an extravagant island off the lake’s western shore with a party piece baroque castle. It’s owned by a foundation started by the Count of Wisborg, and in summer its vast gardens – with arboretum, swathes of alpine flowers and an Alice in Wonderland vibe – are open to the public. It’s so wild you can lose yourself among the evergreens, and it feels a world away from any pitch, penalty or football score.

Where to stay Hotel Zum Schiff in Meersburg (doubles from €139 B&B) is on the lakeshore, has comfy rooms, a chaotic restaurant and a terrace that’s the best location on the water. Mike MacEacheran

From Leipzig: visit Saxon Switzerland

The rocky outcrop called Bastei is a tourist magnet in Saxon Switzerland, with mountain and river views

It’s best to try to pronounce Sächsische Schweiz after a couple of strong schnapps. Or just cheat and use the less tongue-tying English translation, “Saxon Switzerland”. However you manage to say it, it’s certainly worth taking some time to see it.

A 25-minute train ride from Saxony’s magnificent state capital, Dresden, and two hours from the its biggest city, Leipzig, this picturesque national park rises impressively from the east bank of the River Elbe and is one of the region’s most popular recreational areas. Yet Saxon Switzerland remains fairly under the radar for most non-German visitors.

The park is the German section of the broader Elbe Sandstone Mountains, which straddle the Czech border (the larger Czech side is called Bohemian Switzerland), and its generous 340-square-miles are characterised by undulating landscapes, craggy sandstone formations, vertiginous valleys, waterfalls and sweeping ravines.

Discovered as a tourism destination a couple of centuries ago, it captured the imaginations of Romantic artists such as Caspar David Friedrich, who painted his classic Wanderer above the Sea of Fog here.

The park was also one of the birthplaces of rock climbing, a pursuit that continues on the area’s thousand-plus free-standing rock faces and climbing peaks. More recently, the park’s scenery has found cinematic fame in films such as Cloud Atlas , The Reader , and The Grand Budapest Hotel .

Tiny Schmilka is within easy reach of Dresden.

But even though it drew 1.6 million overnight stays in 2023, it never feels as crowded as, say, the Bavarian Alps further south – with the exception of the park’s obvious tourist magnet, the Bastei Bridge, an attractive outcrop of sandstone offering sweeping, Instagrammable views across the winding Elbe and surrounding mountains.

Just a short way beyond the bridge, however, is quiet, almost deserted forest and 750 miles of crisscrossing hiking trails and climbing routes. Even the most famous multistage trail, the Malerweg (Painters’ Way), which runs for more than 70 miles – divided into eight official day-hikes that vary from easy to demanding – gets immediately quieter after the initial Bastei section. Deeper into the park, there may be the chance to spot peregrine falcons and black storks, kingfishers and Eurasian pygmy owls, lynx and deer, chamois and beavers.

There are restaurants and accommodation options peppered throughout the park, as well as public transport options for many hikes and even luggage transportation services. For cyclists, there are about 30 miles of mountain bike trails, as well as the more leisurely Elbe Cycle Route , which can be picked up at Dresden and remains reassuringly flat and delightfully curvaceous all the way to the mountains and the Czech border.

The park is renowned for its rock formations.

The pretty spa town of Bad Schandau, at the foot of the Saxon Switzerland mountains, is one of the park’s main gateways and easily accessible by train from Dresden. A few miles further, reachable by car, bus or train, is the tiny village of Schmilka, which has its own Bio Village – a complex of sustainably built hotels and eco-restaurants with equally excellent access to the park.

Where to stay : Hotel Helvetia (doubles from €229 half-board) has riverside views, a sauna complex, an organic restaurant, daily yoga classes and guided hikes. It’s on the Elbe Cycle Route and close to the Malerweg too. Paul Sullivan

From Hamburg: head for the North Sea coast

The huge sandy beach at Sankt Peter-Ording is said to be the widest in Europe.

Less than two hours’ drive from the hustle of Hamburg, Sankt Peter-Ording is a popular seaside spa town that also offers untamed nature, as it sits within the Unesco-listed Wadden Sea, one of the world’s largest stretches of wetland. Blurring the lines between water and land, and running from the northern Netherlands across Germany’s north-west coast and up Denmark’s west, this is a panorama that offers visitors a rare glimpse into the cycles of nature.

At low tide, a vast mudflat world is revealed, while at high tide porpoises can be spotted. Away from designated surfing and land sailing zones, photographers and nature lovers come to spot migratory birds (geese, waders, ducks) flying over the salt marshes and dunes on the “ east Atlantic flyway ” from the Arctic to Africa. The only points of orientation are the occasional stilt houses, a symbol of humanity’s adaptation to this unique natural backdrop.

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In this remarkable landscape, Sankt Peter-Ording offers another feature that may appear contradictory to the natural surroundings – cars parked on the beach. This may appear absurd, but is a clever approach to enabling a direct experience with nature while funding conservation efforts. Parking fees go towards the preservation of this ecosystem, a sustainable model that strengthens the connection between people and nature.

Katharina Simon and Tobias Seemeier, who run the Good Times Surfshop in Sankt Peter-Ording.

While the birds gorge on delicacies in the mudflats, the culinary offerings in Sankt Peter-Ording are equally rich. Salt & Silver is a stilt restaurant run by Johannes Riffelmacher and Thomas Kosikowski, who also have two branches in Hamburg. Recently recommended in the Michelin guide, it offers locally sourced meat and fish cooked with Nordic finesse. Nearby, Yamacito Seafood Bar serves fresh fish sandwiches, while Auntie Clara in the Urban Nature hotel (see below) serves “soul” food such as hotpot curry.

From the Good Times Surfshop in the Beach Motel (doubles from €85), Tobias Seemeier and Katharina Simon organise punk concerts, skateboarding and surfing events that add a youthful vibe to the town. But at the oldest pub, the Thalamegus, innkeeper Lisa maintains the Frisian tradition. Here, Frisengeist , a flambéed grain brandy, is served with a special toast, which is not only a ritual, but a tribute to Frisian hospitality.

Where to stay The Urban Nature hotel (doubles from €69 room-only) pitches itself as “somewhere in between for city kids and nature freaks” and contrasts a modern design with the rugged beauty of the surroundings. There’s a range of activities from morning walks to yoga. Malte Brenneisen

From Berlin: take a tour of the Spreewald

“Taste the best pickles in town!” beams the ruddy-faced stall-holder, proffering a large gherkin on a stick. I have to admit it’s pretty good – but best in town? That’s a bold statement given that I’m walking along the Gherkin Mile in Lübbenau, the gherkin capital of Germany.

Lübbenau, a market town 60 miles south of Berlin, is also known as the gateway to the Spreewald (Spree Forest). The remarkable landscape of this vast wetland was shaped during the last ice age, when the River Spree split into a labyrinthine network of narrow waterways, creating an inland delta with swathes of meadows interrupted by dense woodland.

Over the years, settlers converted the streams into irrigation canals in order to drain the mineral-rich land for farming. This unique and abundantly diverse ecosystem was designated a Unesco biosphere reserve in 1991, so that its thousands of species of plants, trees, birds, insects and mammals could be protected.

Unsurprisingly, this green haven is popular with tourists and with Berliners looking to escape the city. Trains run frequently from Berlin Hauptbahnhof to Lübbenau, taking just over an hour and costing about €23 return with Deutsche Bahn . As there are more waterways here than roads, the best way to explore is by boat. I head to the lively harbour area to join a tour on one of the traditional punts, or Kahns .

This region is home to the Sorb people, a Slavic ethnic minority whose descendants settled here in the sixth century. Sorbian customs, crafts, clothing and language have been fervently preserved here, having survived the repression of the Nazi regime. Women wear long colourful skirts, pretty lace shawls and large embroidered headdresses.

Helped aboard by Dirk, our ferryman, I squeeze on to one of the cushioned benches around a wooden table. Dirk pushes off and tells us about the history of the region while we munch on gherkins and thick black bread.

Our half-day trip meanders past quaint villages full of traditional half-timbered buildings. Dirk navigates under rickety pedestrian bridges and through hand-operated locks with impressive dexterity, while pointing out birds, trees and insects.

Dragonflies flash across the water, and I’m sure I spot an otter sliding slinkily beneath the surface.

We stop at Lehde, a village of just 130 inhabitants, to visit its open air museum (the Freilandmuseum Lehde), which celebrates Sorbian culture. Farmsteads have been rebuilt in the original Sorbian style, and I wander around farms from the 18th and 19th centuries, seeing how these rural communities used to live. It’s a fascinating insight into the customs and traditions of this small community. At harvest time, the whole community would come together to pick little cucumbers to pickle. It’s the mineral-rich soil, high humidity and iron oxides in the water that make Spreewaldgurken the perfect pickle.

So unique are this region’s pickled cucumbers, they have achieved Protected Geographical Indication status; the humble Spreewaldgurken are the champagne of the pickle world.

A farmhouse interior at Lehde’s open air museum.

Exploring independently is easy too: there are kayaks and canoes to hire for about €30 a day or bikes from about €15, to paddle or cycle around the tree-canopied canals.

A picturesque 160-mile bike trail, the Gurkenradweg , winds through the Spreewald. After spending a sweaty hour or so on a bike from Lübbenau, cyclists can stop off for a gherkin ice-cream (yes, really) at the Cafe Kleinod in Burg, or a few bottles of gherkin beer.

Deep in the forest a mile or so north of Lehde and accessible only on foot or by bike or boat, Gasthaus Wotschofska is one of the oldest restaurants in the area and has a shady waterside terrace, and large beer garden, naturally.

Where to stay Guesthouse Bludnik (doubles from €130 B&B), on the three-mile circular walk between Lehde and Lübbenau, makes a perfect base. This beautifully restored wooden building is right on the water and has boats and bikes to hire. Celia Topping

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European Tourism 2024 – Trends & Prospects (Q1/2024)

Publication date: May 2024

Language: English

AS CONSUMERS CONTINUE TO PRIORITISE TRAVEL EXPERIENCES, 2024 IS SET TO BE A BUSY YEAR FOR EUROPEAN TOURISM

Data across reporting destinations shows that Europe is experiencing sustained growth in international tourism volumes. With the most recent data available for the full year of 2023, foreign arrivals reached 1.2% below 2019 levels, while foreign overnights recovered to just 0.2% below. This revival continued into the first few months of 2024, which – although based on a smaller number of reporting destinations – showed an increase of 7.2% and 6.5%, respectively, over the same period in 2019.

Year-to-date arrivals data shows that trends regarding the spread of travellers across European destinations have continued from 2023 into 2024. Southern European destinations, and especially those known for their relative affordability, have excelled in attracting international visitors in the first months of the year. Serbia (+46.9%), Bulgaria (+38.8%), Türkiye (+35.3%), Malta (+34.8%), Portugal (+16.9%), and Spain (+14.0%), reported the highest growth rates compared to 2019. Meanwhile, the Baltics continued to lag in their recovery, with international arrivals below 2019 levels for Lithuania (-14.0%), Estonia (-15.1%) and Latvia (-33.5%).

Consumers will continue to prioritise spending on travel over other leisure expenditures in 2024, leading to higher volumes of travellers from intra-European and long-haul markets. Forecasts suggest tourists will spend €742.8bn euros in Europe in 2024, a rise of 14.3% on last year. Travellers’ expenditure on food and beverages is projected to surge by 30% compared to 2023, posing good prospects for providers of gastronomic experiences in Europe. Similarly, growth in spending is expected for recreation, culture and sport (+27%), retail (+23%), transport (+23%) and accommodation (+19%), driven by both inflationary pressures as well as demand preferences. A balancing act will be required from suppliers to ensure that higher prices do not lead to poorer perceptions of value-for-money.

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European Union 2024 Election: What to Know

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By Matina Stevis-Gridneff and Monika Pronczuk

Reporting from Brussels

Why does this election matter?

What does the e.u. parliament do, how does the e.u. vote, who is running and who is likely to win, when will we find out the results, where can i find out more information.

Hundreds of millions of voters in all the 27 countries that make up the European Union are heading to polls between June 6 and 9 to choose their representatives in the European Parliament, the only directly elected institution of the alliance.

The European Union is one of the world’s most ambitious political experiments, but because of its complex governing structure, it has often been criticized for a lack of transparency and democratic accountability. The European Parliament election, which takes place every five years, is the only way in which E.U. citizens can have a direct say in shaping the bloc’s policies.

Voters have been electing lawmakers to the body since 1979, when the union was much smaller. This year, there are more than 330 million Europeans who are eligible to choose 720 lawmakers.

The results will affect the bloc’s policies for the next half-decade, but they also provide a rare and important check on the political mood across Europe. They can even trigger political upheaval in individual countries, particularly if a ruling party takes a big beating at the E.U. polls.

In a significant divergence from most European legislatures, the European Parliament does not have the power to initiate laws, which many see as a crucial limitation on its powers.

The European Commission, the E.U.’s executive body, drafts legislation for the bloc, and the Parliament can veto it, which still gives it important leverage. It also ratifies international agreements, approves the E.U. budget drafted by the commission and oversees the other E.U. institutions by scrutinizing their output and budgets. Its members choose their own president and have the final say in approving the president of the European Commission.

There are signs that Europeans would like the Parliament’s voice to be louder: In the 2019 elections, the turnout grew compared to previous years, and 63 percent of Europeans said that they would like the body to play a more important role.

Each member state makes its own arrangements for the elections, but most countries have organized their voting to happen on Sunday, June 9.

The details of how elections are managed are determined by the local authorities, so there is some divergence from country to country. For example, this is the first E.U. election in which Greeks can vote by postal ballot, but that option is not available to all Europeans.

Each nation elects a certain number of members of Parliament determined by the size of its population. Germany, the bloc’s most populous country, will elect 96 of the 720 deputies in this vote; Malta, with the smallest population in the E.U., just six.

Importantly, each country chooses its members of the European Parliament following its national electoral system.

Candidates run through their national party affiliations, but, once elected, they usually choose to attach themselves to the European Parliament “families” or groupings, which largely reflect their home party’s politics.

A grouping of conservative parties, the European People’s Party, which is currently the biggest in Parliament, is expected to maintain its lead. Polls also predict a surge in nationalist right and far-right members, who may even take up a quarter of the seats, from the 17 percent they control today.

The second-largest group is the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, which encompasses social democratic parties from across the E.U.

Next is Renew, a pro-European liberal family of groupings that shares political positions with both the conservatives and the socialists, followed by the Greens. Two smaller but ascendant hard-right parties — which include deputies that are anti-migrant, anti-European Union and nativist — are the European Conservatives and Reformists and the Identity and Democracy groups. The smallest force in the Parliament today is The Left, which brings together far-left members.

Results will be broadcast and parsed in real time across the European Union countries, but the European Parliament itself will aggregate and put out all results here .

The first indication should come overnight between June 9 and 10, as actual votes are counted in the countries that held their election on June 9. The trends will be clear immediately after polls close on Sunday, and the results of the handful of nations that vote on June 6, 7 and 8 will also be public. But the evening of June 9 will give the clearest sense of how the election has gone.

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Far-Right Greek Party Is Banned From E.U. Parliament Elections

Matina Stevis-Gridneff is the Brussels bureau chief for The Times, leading coverage of the European Union. More about Matina Stevis-Gridneff

Monika Pronczuk is a reporter based in Brussels. She joined The Times in 2020. More about Monika Pronczuk

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Please note, these tickets are intended for visitors with access requirements and therefore supporting documentation is required. Once you have purchased an accessible ticket, you will be provided with instructions on how to provide this and request a personal assistant ticket. Information will also be provided on how parking may be requested.
Extra time at Euro 2024: day trips and more from Berlin, Hamburg
Sat 11 May 2024 06.00 EDT Last modified on Sun 12 May 2024 08.39 EDT. ... The delights of sailing and windsurfing on one of Europe's largest lakes - as well as swimming in it - worked ...
European Tourism 2024
Consumers will continue to prioritise spending on travel over other leisure expenditures in 2024, leading to higher volumes of travellers from intra-European and long-haul markets. Forecasts suggest tourists will spend €742.8bn euros in Europe in 2024, a rise of 14.3% on last year.
European Union 2024 Election: What to Know
Voters have been electing lawmakers to the body since 1979, when the union was much smaller. This year, there are more than 330 million Europeans who are eligible to choose 720 lawmakers.