ESTA for Europe: Does it Exist in 2025?

We're going to spare you the time and give you the answer in the first sentence: No.

However, it doesn't mean there aren't any requirements. There are, and they're just around the corner.

Different countries have different entry requirements, and ESTA is for the USA. The UK also has a similar requirement: ETA, which recently went into full effect.

Almost all travelers (other than US citizens and visa-holders) have to get ESTA before traveling to the States (there are a few exemptions).

Which does warrant the question: Do other countries require ESTA too?

Because ESTA is unique to the States, other countries do not require it. That said, other countries have similar entry requirements in place.

Europe's ESTA: ETIAS

Europe has announced and will soon launch its very own "version" of ESTA.

ETIAS will act similarly, in that it will:

• Be completely online.
• Be quick and easy to apply for.
• Allow for re-entry within a certain time period (3 years).
• Have an associated fee (20 euros per person).
• Be mandatory for specific travelers heading to certain countries in Europe.

ETIAS isn't identical to ESTA, but it does operate in the same way and will feel relatively similar to travelers who are familiar with ESTA.

You do not need an ESTA for Europe

This is because ESTA is for the United States of America. Some travelers will need an ETIAS for Europe once the policy goes live (likely later in 2026).

If you are traveling without a visa and are not an EU/Schengen country citizen, you will need to apply for an ETIAS before traveling to 30 different countries in Europe, once it's in effect, of course.

Once it has gone into effect, if you meet the eligibility criteria and are traveling to either:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, or Switzerland, you will need to apply for ETIAS.

Note: If you are from a country that requires a Schengen visa to travel to Europe (such as India or China), you do not need to apply for ETIAS. ETIAS is for visa-exempt travelers.

Where to learn more about ETIAS

You can learn more about ETIAS in one of our guides designed to answer everything you need to know about this new policy and how it might affect your travels.

FAQs about ESTA vs. ETIAS

Do I need an ESTA for Europe?

Is ETIAS the same thing as ESTA?