This is a message for all persons traveling from the USA to the Europe starting in 2024. There is the potential that the European Union countries are gong to start a visitors visa requirement similar the to ESTA visa now required if you travel to the USA.
So keep your eyes on the news and if need be you can apply before you fly to Europe.
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From the website that Amparo shared, for people with relevant citizenship:
The ETIAS application process requires an application fee of 7 (EUR) euros. Payment is required to complete the application process. ETIAS will only accept electronic payments from your debit or credit card. … Once payment is completed, most applicants will receive an approval within minutes. An approved ETIAS visa waiver will be valid for three consecutive years upon issuance. <<
This will probably take little time for many travelers. It would be nice if they kept stuff on file so you wouldn’t need to repeatedly fill out the same info. The check itself looks cursory. And some countries already do some form of this.
Thanks for the link, @Amparo. We are going to France in January 2024, so have been checking on it regularly. Now they will email us when the decision to start is finally made! They keep pushing it back because of concern for large numbers of people coming for the Olympics and the systems not working properly. 
What could possibly go wrong!
The ETIAS has been put back yet again as @Mary.Willmon says and won’t be operational until at least 2025 so watch this space! ETIAS postponed until 2025: what does this mean? - Schengenvisum.info.
I live in France and can say that I’m not surprised the ETIAS has been put off! The E.U. is in a constant state of flux. I can’t think of any new regulation that has started on time or hasn’t had a problem. Patience, as they say, is a virtue!!
This is not just for USA visitors and has been discussed at length in the past on the forum
From 2024, If you are a citizen of any of these countries
And want to visit any of these countries
Then you will need to apply for an ETIAS before travelling
Full details can be found here
New requirements to travel to Europe
ETIAS
Official EU website on ETIAS, the new travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers to enter 30 European countries. Applications should be filled in this website from 2024.
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Hopefully EU homeowners will list their sit as soon as they are able, so international sitters have enough time to get their ETIAS
@AmyJayne from the ETIAS website “Most applications will be processed within minutes and at the latest within 96 hours.”
Once issued It will be valid for three years for multiple trips so when it comes into operation any sitter who needs one to travel to Europe can apply and be ready to go .
Hi @AmyJayne as @Silversitters just mentioned, once the system is up and running, applications should normally be processed within minutes, sometimes they might take a little longer but it will be a very simple process much like other ESTA’s, ETA’s etc
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