Tourism is booming in the Schengen Zone, a group of 29 European countries, including France, Italy, and others. With world-recognized events stacked like dominoes – the 2024 Paris Olympics, Rome’s 2025 Jamboree, and then the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, it isn’t expected to slow down.

In 2025 alone, roughly millions worldwide will prepare to travel abroad into this secure area. Frequent flyers may be surprised to see several significant changes before packing their bags and reaching their destination. But what are these changes? And what should tourists expect when traveling to the Schengen Area? 

New Border Processes Are Set to Impact All Non-eu Travelers

All non-EU travelers should be aware of the new EES (short for the Entry/Exit System, which refers specifically to Schengen entry and exit). When entering a country in the Schengen Area, travelers have had to wait in line, approach a kiosk operated by border authorities, and get their passports stamped. The Entry/Exit System modernizes this process. 

Beginning in 2025, at some points of entry travelers may go through a digitized scanning process. 

At these self-operated “stalls”, tourists will place their passports onto a screen, where their information will be scanned. Here, data about the traveler will be collected, such as the date and location of entry. 

After exiting this new system, travelers will continue to border control, where the passport control officer will already have received details from the self-service system, such as the traveler’s identity and the remaining duration of stay. Border control may ask further questions and ultimately decide whether entry is approved or denied. 

According to the EU, the EES aims to modernize border processes, making them more efficient for everyone. They’ve also reported that this system will simplify traveling to and from the Zone and make it safer. 

Pre-travel Authorization Will Be Required for Non-eu Visa-Exempt Travelers

If you are traveling to a country in the Schengen Area, do not require a visa, and are not an EU passport holder, you must get pre-authorization to travel there from 2025. 

To support travel management within the Schengen Zone, a new system is planned for launch in 2025, requiring many travelers to apply for entry authorization.

Notably, US and UK citizens will need authorization, as well as nationals from other visa-exempt countries like Canada and Australia. 

This new authorization is called ETIAS (an acronym for European Travel Information and Authorization System). 

ETIAS is similar to the US’s ESTA. Before traveling, tourists must apply for ETIAS online through the official website. The application process is expected to be straightforward. Travelers must input their personal information, such as their name and passport number. They’ll also need to share a few demographic details, including their occupation and highest level of education. After answering a few questions, they will be required to pay the ETIAS application fee (which is reported to be 7 euros per person). 

Once the form has been submitted, approval should be granted nearly immediately (within a few minutes). This pre-travel authorization will automatically be linked to travelers’ passports. In some cases, it’s possible that ETIAS approval could take 14 days if more information is required, or even up to 30 days if an in-person interview is requested.

Travelers must consider this before traveling to popular European destinations like France, Spain, or Italy. ETIAS will be mandatory once it has been fully launched in 2025, and failure to receive authorization will result in a refusal of entry.

Travelers Will Need to Pay Close Attention to New Regulations

In 2025 and beyond, travelers should pay close attention to requirements before, during, and after entry into the Schengen Zone. In addition to EES and ETIAS, independent countries in the Schengen Area are addressing tourism and migration in their ways, such as by implementing limitations around Airbnb (Italy) or requiring personal data for specific short-term rentals (Spain).

Disclaimer: The information in this article is intended for general informational purposes only and may be subject to change. Travelers should verify the latest entry requirements, visa policies, and border procedures with official sources, such as the European Union or relevant government agencies, before making travel plans. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the details provided.

Published by Stephanie M.