In 2025 it could get both more complicated to travel to Europe and easier to travel to the US under changes being introduced to their respective visa systems.
Australia has signed on to participate in the US Global Entry program from next year, which will make passage into the country easier for applicants.
At the same time, long-touted changes to the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias) will come into effect in 2025, and will change entry requirements for Australians.
Here is everything you need to know about the changes:
What is changing for visitors to the US?
The Global Entry program will make the screening process easier for some Australians travelling to the US.
The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program means pre-approved, low-risk travellers will gain access to an expedited screening line upon arrival. It could mean skipping long queues and avoiding lengthy wait times.
But not all travellers will benefit. To sign up to the program, people will need to make an application including a rigorous background check and an interview.
The program is intended for people who travel to the US often for business, with Australia’s foreign minister, Penny Wong, saying at a press conference in Washington the program was “good for Australian businesses, and it’s good for our friendship”.
The program is already open to citizens from more than a dozen countries, including the UK, Germany, Singapore, Bahrain and Brazil.
How will it work?
The exact process for Australians is yet to be finalised but there are some details already available.
Applications are done through the CBP’s Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) website, and must be done online. A five-year Global Entry membership application will also cost US$100 – or nearly A$150.
Once the application is approved, an officer from the CBP will contact the applicant and conduct a scheduled interview, before making a final eligibility determination.
The application process could take weeks to complete in full, but will make it much easier to travel to the US.
What are the benefits?
The benefits include avoiding processing lines and the need for any kind of paperwork when travelling to the US. Members will instead just head to an automated kiosk upon arrival.
It is also expected to make domestic travel within the US much easier, with members gaining access to the Transportation Security Administration’s PreCheck program, which provides faster security screening for domestic US flights.
When will the changes come into effect?
The changes will come into effect in a two-step process, with the first stage launching in January 2025.
Initially, 1,000 frequent travellers will be able to apply in the first stage, and they will need to have travelled to the US at least five times in the previous 12 months.
In the second phase, that requirement will be lifted, and the program will be available to all Australian citizens. But this phase requires Australian legislation, and is expected to begin later in 2025.
What about Europe, what is changing there?
Previously, Australians could travel to most of Europe with just their passport, but the new system being introduced means travellers will need to apply for a visa before arriving.
The Etias will be linked to your passport, and will be valid for up to three years.
Applications are made online or through the Etias mobile app, and should take minutes to be approved.
A valid visa means travellers can enter member countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Is there an additional cost?
Unfortunately, there is a cost associated with the Etias visa.
Applicants must pay €7 for the visa, which works out to about A$11.50.
Which countries are part of the new system?
The countries this will affect include a majority of European nations, including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
When will it come into effect?
The program is scheduled to come into effect in the first half of 2025, although the actual start date has yet to be finalised.
