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  • Travel Changes to Be Prepared for in 2025

    One thing about travel is that it’s always changing. This is especially true when it comes to travel rules and regulations. These guidelines are updated regularly, and it’s important to stay up to date with these changes to ensure that you are prepared for any upcoming trips. In fact, there are several significant changes coming in 2025 that will impact travelers, and we think you should be aware of them so that you aren’t caught off guard.

    Ready to learn more? Keep reading for everything you need to know about the major travel changes happening in 2025.

    Electronic Travel Authorization is Now Required to Travel to the United Kingdom

    American citizens who plan on traveling to the United Kingdom will now need to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) beforehand. This change went into effect on January 8, 2025. It’s crucial that you apply for an ETA ahead of time so that you are able to enter the United Kingdom without running into any problems. This new requirement was put into place to enhance security, and to ensure the U.K. government knows exactly who is coming in and out of the country.

    If you are a United States citizen who will be traveling to the United Kingdom for a stay of 6 months or less, you will need to apply for an ETA before your trip. This rule applies no matter if you are visiting the U.K. for tourism, school, or business purposes. If you do not get an Electronic Travel Authorization ahead of time, you will most likely be denied entry into the United Kingdom. Be sure to apply in advance so that you don’t face any issues during your travels. Once you’re ready to apply for an ETA, please visit the GOV.UK website. 

    Here are some other important things that you should know about obtaining an ETA:

    • If you plan on staying in the United Kingdom for more than 6 months, you may need to apply for a visa rather than an ETA.
    • An ETA is valid for 2 years, and is digitally linked to your passport.
    • It costs £10 to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization, and the cost is the same for everyone.
    • Though there isn’t an exact amount of time that it will take to get approved for your ETA, the average time to hear back about your approval is 3 business days.

    REAL ID Will Take Effect in May of 2025

    After experiencing numerous delays throughout the years, REAL ID is finally expected to go into effect in 2025. REAL ID is set to start on May 7, 2025, which means that your driver’s license or ID will need to be REAL ID-compliant in order to fly domestically. If you fail to update your driver’s license or ID by May 7, 2025, you will not be able to board any domestic flights.

    If you aren’t sure if your driver’s license or ID is currently REAL-ID compliant, you may be able to figure this information out simply by looking at them. Check to see if your driver’s license or ID card has a black or gold star, or a symbol with a star in it (this is typically located on the top part of your card). If you find that this is the case, you may already be ready for REAL ID. If you have any uncertainty about whether or not your driver’s license or ID card is REAL-ID compliant, you can make an appointment with your state’s driver’s licensing agency and they can help you.

    Here are some other things that you should know about REAL ID:

    • You can get a REAL ID when you apply for or renew your state ID card or driver’s license. 
    • You should be able to tell if your state ID card or driver’s license is REAL ID-compliant by checking to see if there is a star in the upper corner. 
    • If you are not REAL ID-compliant, you may be able to use another form of identification such as your passport.

    ETIAS Expected to Rollout Sometime in 2025

    The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is expected to go into effect sometime in 2025. ETIAS has been in talks for awhile now, but the rollout of the program has been delayed several times. Currently, the plan is for the program to go into effect during 2025, but there is no exact date for this to happen yet. This also means that ETIAS applications are not yet open to the public at this time.

    The European Travel Information and Authorisation System will affect American travelers who plan on traveling to certain European countries for short periods of time. The cost to apply for ETIAS is expected to be £7, but this could change once ETIAS goes into effect. Once you are approved, ETIAS will be digitally linked to your passport, and will be valid for 3 years or until your passport expires (whichever comes first). 

    Here are some other things that you should know about ETIAS:

    • You will need to apply for ETIAS if you plan on visiting specific European countries.
    • ETIAS approval allows you to visit these countries for short periods of time, typically for up to 90 days.
    • You will not be physically sent a document that you need to carry with you on your trip. Instead, your ETIAS approval will be linked to your passport.

    Though it’s important to be aware of these changes, it’s also important that you make sure that your passport is still valid. If you are going on an international trip but haven’t checked your passport in a while, there’s a chance that it could have expired. If you review your passport and find that it needs to be renewed, Swift can help! Visit our website to get your passport renewal started, and our team will send your renewed passport to you once it has been processed. No matter where you’re going, we’ll get you there!

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