Starting in the spring of 2025, those traveling from the United States bound for most European Union and Schengen Area countries will no longer need to have visas printed in their passports, but will have to register online. Faces and fingerprints will be scanned and collected in a new digital registration system, Etias-an acronym that stands for European Travel Information and Authorization System.

The electronic authorization will apply to travel of up to ninety days, including even short stays for tourism. The European Union will require travelers to enter their information on the Etias website before they travel. Not all European countries will join: Switzerland and Norway will continue to require authorization.

For other EU member countries, procedures are expected to become very fast: most applications will be recorded in a few minutes, while in special cases additional information or an interview may be required. Arrivals and departures will be recorded in a database in the box associated with the traveler's name.

According to European authorities, the new system will reduce waiting and transit times, but at the same time provide greater control over those staying in Europe for longer than the three-month visa period. With the increase in airport traffic, the biometric system is seen as the most effective for easing time on passport controls. According to a survey conducted in November last year by Iata, the international airline organization, 75 percent of passengers favor the introduction of the biometric recognition system.