- The European Union has pushed back its new “ETIAS” travel authorization to 2025.
- The new rules will require US travelers to pay a $7.50 fee and fill out an entrance form.
- US tourists are flocking to Europe as international travel recovers from its pandemic slump.
US tourists will get an extra year of free travel to Europe after the European Union pushed back its plans to charge a fee for entry.
European officials confirmed on Friday that the EU’s “ETIAS” travel authorization, which will require travelers from the US to complete an application form and pay €7 ($7.50) to enter the bloc, has been delayed until 2025.
The new rules, which were expected to roll out in 2024, will apply to 60 visa-free countries, including the US, UK, and Canada.
The EU has said that the application for entry will not take more than 10 minutes to process, but some travelers could be kept waiting up to 30 days if they are required to do an interview or submit extra documentation.