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Starting in 2025, travelers who plan to visit certain countries in Europe will be required to have a Travel Authorization form approved through the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). This isn't a visa, but rather is a pre-authorization to gain entry into the area. An official start date hasn't been announced yet, but it's anticipated to be May 2025 or later. Thankfully this process is not as intensive for short-term travel (90 days or less within a 180 day period) as it is for someone looking to spend extended time in Europe needing a visa. The ETIAS travel authorization is an entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals traveling to any one of thirty European countries. It is linked to a traveler's passport and is valid for up to three years, or until the passport expires. The cost for applying is only 7 Euros, or less than 8 US dollars. Most applications through ETIAS are processed within minutes, but it is possible that the process could take longer. It is said that you will receive a decision within four days. In addition, you could be extended by up to 14 days if you are required to provide additional information or documentation, or up to 30 days if you are invited to an interview. Once you have applied, you'll receive an email confirming the submission of your application which will include your unique ETIAS application number. You'll then receive an email informing you of the outcome. If your application is refused, the email will provide the reason for the decision and information about how to appeal. Once you arrive to the airport, you'll be required to have your ETIAS travel form linked to your passport. Otherwise, you won't be allowed to board your flight, bus or ship, or enter any of the European countries requiring ETIAS. And, having your ETIAS authorization form approved also doesn't automatically grant you entry into any of the participating European Countries. You can still be subjected to border checks and refused if you don't meet entry conditions. The document you use to apply for the Travel Authorization and the Travel Authorization will need to be with you your entire stay. The countries that will require the Travel Authorization can be found listed below. Austria Germany Netherlands Belgium Greece Norway Bulgaria Hungary Poland Croatia Iceland Portugal Cyprus Italy Romania Czech Republic Latvia Slovakia Denmark Liechtenstein Slovenia Estonia Lithuania Spain Finland Luxembourg Sweden France Malta Switzerland Additional information about applying and what is needed. Your ETIAS checklist If you have a trip planned to Europe, apply for the Travel Authorization well in advance of the trip you are looking to take. While the application process can be pretty quick, you won't want to get bogged down or risk missing your trip since you waited so long. It is also recommended that you have your ETIAS travel authorization well in advance before you book your accommodation or buy your ticket. Make sure your passport details match up with your ETIAS authorization. If they don't match, you'll be refused boarding and entry. Make sure your passport is valid for three months after your intended departure from the list of countries above. Looking to travel to Europe soon? We can help. Use our Dream Travel Form so you can have a trip designed with your name on it!

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, processing times for passports became notirously long, in some cases taking months. But the Department of State has pledged to fix that problem with remarkable success. And now, they are offering a new service that speeds it up even more for those with existing passports that meet certain conditions. As of late September 2024, you can now renew your passport online. This means no trying to swing by the post office within their business hours or trying to schedule a meeting at an office. While the convenience aspect of renewing your passport online is great, there are a few limitations. If you need your passport expedited you will need to renew your passport by mail as there is no way to expedite your passport through the online option at the moment. Urgent travel services are not offered with the online passport renewal portal. You will still need to make an appointment at a passport agency or center. Other than that, the process is very straight forward with the steps clearly laid out on the Department of State website. Steps for renewing your passport online: Make sure you meet the requirements! (Please see the U.S. Department of State website  for all requirements) Must be 25 or older The passport you are renewing will be canceled once you submit your application Login/Create an account  Do this by clicking the Sign In button on MyTravelGov Complete the application process Upload passport photo Make sure your photo meets the requirements Photo Requirements Sign and pay, and enroll in email updates to receive notifications That's it! This new service is a hit for those with passports that need to renew. The process is simple and straight-forward. And, future plans are expected to include renewals for children and Americans living abroad. Always remember the 6 month rule when it comes to your passport and don’t wait too long to renew it! Six Month Rule: Some countries require your passport to be valid for 6 months past your travel dates. This rule also applies to some airlines that will not allow you to board the plane if your passport is not valid for at least 6 months. Wanting to use your passport but not sure where to go? We can help. Use our Dream Travel Form to help us get an idea on where you might want to go and we can help plan a trip that will be unforgettable!

This post contains references to products through our Amazon Store site.  We may receive a commission when you purchase these products from my store, though at no additional cost to you.   I hand-pick and recommend only the products that I am either familiar with or comfortable recommending. There's nothing better than a long flight to a foreign destination. We've taken plenty of them ourselves! And while the idea of business class sounds fun, there are some items we use that will even take economy seating to the next level of luxury! Here are the top 5 items we have found to enjoy on our long distance travel adventures! Silk/Satin Eye mask Sleeping on flights can be difficult with the lights, open windows and more. That's why we always travel with an eye mask. This is a must-have item to block out the light and help you get your beauty rest so you're ready to go when you land. We prefer silk because of the softness and how easy it is on skin, but satin ones work great! Here's a great silk one that comes in different colors, so you'll be able to know which mask is for you and which is for your travel buddy! LINK: LULUSILK Mulberry Silk Sleep Eye Mask Travel Neck pillow Airplane seats can be uncomfortable, and you don't want to strain your neck if you fall asleep in an awkward position. We've found that a good quality neck pillow is the way to go to make sure you can sleep comfortably in an economy seat! We like the memory foam ones that give you more support, and the brand we bought has a carrying case, and cooling airflow vents to keep us comfortable on flights! LINK: Cabeau Evolution Cool Travel Pillow for Sleeping If you're looking for an extra way to fit some more clothes/luggage in, they make tube pillows that you can stuff socks and garments in while you travel! It's a neat way to stretch packing space if you need it while getting a pillow for your neck. This is good for light packers or for those not wanting to check any luggage for a short weekend trip! LINK: Stuffable Travel Neck Pillow for Clothes Compression Socks Compression socks should probably be at the top of the list as they make traveling so much more comfortable and better. Compression socks help squeeze and compress your legs which increases blood flow. On an airplane, the extended pressure difference in a plane can cause your legs to swell and feel achy. These will help prevent this and help with jet-lag and puffiness of your legs. We got these for our first international flight and swear by them so much that we'll even use them on long car rides when we don't get to move much! They are also beneficial on flights as they can lower your risk for blood clots, especially if you have circulation issues. Here's the compression socks we use. We plan on having one pair for on the way and another for when we head back home. These come in sets of three which makes it nice! They also have some fun colors, but we've just gotten the black ones. LINK: FITRELL Compression Socks for Men & Women. Phone Mount for Airplanes While most all international airlines have built in entertainment systems, sometimes we've got shows on our phones that we want to watch instead. These phone mounts are a game changer. They connect into the tray tables when they are still folded up and hold our phones really well. We've even gotten complements from flight attendants about them. One time, we had a seat with a broken entertainment system, but this came in handy, and we were able to still watch shows and keep busy on the long journey. LINK: Airplane Phone Holder Mount - 360° Rotation with multi-directional usage Noise-cancelling Wireless Headphones A quality pair of noise-cancelling headphones will make all the difference on a flight. Our family has even gotten these Bose QuietComfort Headphones . Bose is a well recognized brand in sound and they work incredibly well to almost mute the loud engine noise on an airplane. These are an investment that are worth it to the savvy traveler, whether you're in the plane or in the car ride, and when fully charged the battery will last up to 24 hours, a must have if you have more than one flight with a layover somewhere. LINK: Bose QuietComfort Headphones If the price of a Bose Headset is a little much for you, my father-in-law raves about his Sony Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones. We had my in-laws come with us on a trip to the Christmas Markets in Europe, and he kept talking about how much he enjoyed these. I think he even put them on so he didn't have to hear me, LOL! LINK: Sony WH-CH720N Noise Canceling Wireless Headphones We've also found that these Beats Powerbeats Pro Wireless earbuds do a really good job in both planes and cars. They are also a little more handy and easy to travel with since the case can fit in the dimensions of a standard iPhone; easy for slipping in your pocket or carry-on suitcase. Plus, the ear-clip keeps them from falling out as easily, making them perfect for napping with music. LINK: Powerbeats Pro Wireless Earbuds And, the best thing about both of these is that a solid pair of headphones is great in many more situations than just travel. You can use these while mowing the lawn, watching TV late at night, working in a public coffeeshop and so much more. A quality pair of headphones is a great investment and an even better gift. Honorable Mentions: While these products didn't make our top 5 list, they definitely are great buys and a convenience when we travel! Airfly Duo This is a neat little gadget that plugs into the built-in entertainment systems. Rather than waiting for a cheap pair of wired headphones from the flight crew, this connects in with your bluetooth headphones. The duo version also allows both you and your travel companion to connect, meaning you can watch the same movie/show at the same time. LINK: AirFly Duo | Bluetooth Wireless Transmitter Apple Air Tags These are great to stick in your luggage so you can follow your bags along when you're traveling. There's been more than one occasion where we've watched our luggage get loaded on the plane while using these! AirTags are permitted by the FAA for use in luggage, and there is even a setting available that will "notify you when left behind" in case you are separated from a carry-on bag. How helpful that could be, especially if your luggage is lost or left behind by the airline. LINK: Apple AirTags (4 pack) We've also done this with Tiles and had relative success with it as well. We'll stick a tile in our wallet, a laptop bag and with our passport document so we'll know where it is. Even on a keychain, a Tile can be helpful to locate lost keys! That makes these a product that's useful for more than just traveling! LINK: Tile by Life360 Essentials (4 pack) RFID Travel Passport & Documents Wallet My wife has the cutest pink RFID Travel Passport and Document wallet . It can hold credit cards, medical cards, plane tickets and more. As stylish as it is, it's also good as it can protect you from identify theft thanks to the RFID blocking that protects your items from someone with a radio frequency reader. LINK: Genuine Leather Passport Wallet with RFID Blocking Ever since I've traveled abroad my first time in High School, I've opted for one that I can wear around my neck and under my clothing. That keeps it even more secure from pick pocketers and thieves, and makes sure my documents are always on me. This Travel Neck Wallet has worked for me for over 15 years! LINK: Travel Neck Wallet with FRID Blocking by Venture 4TH Powerbank for Charging Devices While we always hope that the plane's USB ports will work, sometimes having a back-up power bank is a smart decision, especially if the USB port in the seat doesn't charge very quickly. These were a great buy for us and have come in handy on long flights when we land and need that extra battery life once we get to our destination. We'll charge them up the day before and they last a long time! We got a two pack, one for my wife and one for me, but we could probably be just fine with one! LINK: Portable Charger Power Bank - 2 Pac k

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