The travel industry has witnessed a full recovery in 2024, with the numbers in many cases even surpassing pre-pandemic levels. American travellers have also experienced a boost, with over 23 million of them travelling to Europe through this period. 

But, alongside the travel industry revival, the year 2024 brought changes for American travellers, who will be subject to new entry rules as soon as the Entry/Exit System comes into force. 

The launch of the Entry/Exit System is expected to occur sometime in 2025 and will impose ETIAS – the European Travel Information and Authorization System, which is a travel authorization and a must-have for foreigners from countries that do not need a visa to enter the European Union, including here the American passport holders. These changes will most certainly improve the travelling experience, making it safer, but also slightly more expensive. 

VisaGuide.World has analysed the trend, and what changes in terms of expenses ETIAS will bring to American travellers. Here is what to expect:

Rising Departures to Europe Will Bring Higher Costs for Americans As ETIAS Becomes Effective in 2025

As the data reveals, a total of 40.2 million departures from the US to Europe were recorded in 2024. Approximately 57.86 percent of them or 23.2 million, were US citizens. 

The number of US citizens heading to Europe has kept rising in the last three years, increasing from 21.4 million in 2023 to 23.2 million in the following year. That is an increase of 8.56 percent during a one-year period. 

Dion Pllana, global travel trend analyst points out that if the number of departures increases at a similar rate (by 8.56 percent), in 2025, Americans could easily be spending $180 million for ETIAS application, which as of January 14, is equivalent to $7.18. 

If the Entry/Exit System had been applicable by 2024, Americans could easily spend $168.1 million on ETIAS applications. To US travellers, ETIAS might sound like an extra expense, but in fact, this minor fee will only make their trip safer in the long run. Besides, travel authorizations are not something new, especially not for Americans.

Indeed, travel authorizations are not an unknown concept to travellers since many other countries have already applied them. ESTA – the Electronic System for Travel Authorization is the US equivalent of ETIAS and was implemented in 2009. 

All nationals coming from countries in the visa-waiver program, have to apply for ESTA at least 72 hours before their travel dates. The system charges a $4 fee for application and if your request is approved, it will charge another $17, taking the application cost to a total of $21. 

What Is ETIAS & What Is Not:

ETIAS is a pre-screening program for travellers who can enter the Member States without a visa, which is the case with 1.4 billion people from 60 countries, including the US, Canada, and Australia.

After several delays, ETIAS is likely to be implemented in 2025 and the €7 application fee for ETIAS will not apply to minors and travellers over the age of 70. The processing time for applications will be short – up to ten minutes, except in cases when additional checks are necessary. 

Overall, the scheme aims to make travelling to the Schengen Area safer, by identifying potential threats and also ensuring a smooth travelling experience, since entry procedures are quick and easy.  

In recent years, media reports mistaking ETIAS for a visa have been quite frequent. In order to shed light on the new system and diminish any unclarities regarding the new travel authorization, here is a short summary of what ETIAS represents:

ETIAS is:

• A travel authorization
• A measure that aims to improve security and transparency
• Similar to other electronic travel authorizations
• An easy and fast procedure
• Valid for up to three years
• Valid only in the Schengen Area
• Applicable to nationals that do not need a visa to enter the Schengen Area

ETIAS Is Not:

• A visa
• Expensive
• Substitute for Schengen visa applications

Americans’ Top European Destinations for 2024 Have Been Revealed

For the third year in a row, the United Kingdom received the highest number of US travellers in the European continent. A total of 10.7 million travellers from the US arrived in the UK in 2024, with half of them being US citizens. 

Germany and France are the second and third countries on this list, receiving 5.5 and 4.7 million travellers respectively. It is important to note that the interest of foreigners travelling from the US to these two countries fluctuated during this three-year period, with 2023 seeing slightly fewer arrivals. 

The list is further concluded with the Netherlands, receiving 2.5 million travellers in 2024, while Italy was positioned as the fifth country with the most arrivals from the United States, substituting Spain, which occupied this ranking for the two previous years. 

Ireland and Turkiye followed as the seventh and eighth countries where travellers from the US flew most for the year, while Switzerland and Portugal were the last countries, concluding the list of top ten destinations in Europe where travellers from the US departed in 2024.