While it’s often referred to as a visa, this registration is actually a type of visa waiver, so those traveling to the U.K. who don’t need a visa will need to have this waiver completed to enter the country.

Although this registration is a new requirement, it can be completed digitally. Just make sure you do so in advance of your trip to avoid any delays.

Need help navigating the process? Here’s everything you need to know about the new U.K. ETA.

How to apply for the U.K. ETA

There are two primary ways to apply for the new ETA. The easiest option is to download the U.K. ETA app, which is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play. According to the U.K. government, applying by the app takes about 10 minutes and leads to quicker processing.

However, if you are unable to download the app, you can also apply online. Application and processing times may take slightly longer using this method.

What you need in order to apply for the U.K. ETA

Before applying, make sure to have your passport and a digital payment, such as a credit card, debit card, or digital wallet, close by. You can apply on behalf of someone else, but that person must be with you when applying, because the application includes taking a photo and, for people over age 9, scanning the face.

To sum all that up, here’s a list of what to have with you before applying:

• Anyone you will be applying for should be with you during the application process
• Valid passport
• Form of payment: credit or debit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay

Cost of a U.K. ETA

Yes, you will have to pay to apply for the ETA. Currently, the U.K. ETA costs £10 (around $13).

U.K. ETA processing time

It’s particularly important to know how long it takes for the ETA to be approved, because you’ll want approval before entering the U.K. If your ETA isn’t completed and processed in time, you will not be allowed out of the passport control area upon arrival.

The U.K. ETA processing may take as little as one day or up to three working days. With this in mind, be sure to apply before it’s time to head out on your trip so you aren’t delayed at the airport waiting for the application to be approved.

How long is a U.K. ETA valid?

Fortunately, if you plan to do multiple trips to the U.K., one ETA is valid for two years or until the passport used during application expires, whichever comes first. The ETA is valid for visits under 6 months in length.

Because the ETA is digitally connected to your passport, if the passport used during the application process expires, you will need to apply for a new ETA. Make sure to check those expiration dates well in advance of your trip to avoid some inconvenient surprises!

Who needs a U.K. ETA?

Every person traveling into the U.K. for less than 6 months, even if it’s a quick pass through the country to another destination, will need the ETA. Each person traveling to the U.K. will require their own ETA, including infants and children. However, one individual can apply for the ETA on behalf of another person, and children ages 9 and under will not have to complete the face-scanning requirement.

The U.K. government website includes a list of countries from which people can apply for their ETAs now, as well as another list of countries from which people can apply for ETAs beginning on March 5, 2025.

What other documentation will I need to travel to the U.K. or Europe?

Travelers from the U.S. will need their passport along with the ETA or a visa (if you plan to work in the country or will visit for longer than 6 months) to travel to the U.K.

Starting later in 2025, anyone from the U.S. (and select other countries) traveling to Europe will also need an ETIAS, another type of visa waiver. You can learn more about the requirements on the official ETIAS website.

More information on the ETA

Be sure to explore the U.K. government website and the U.S. Embassy website for more information on ETA and other travel requirements, then explore our U.K. blog posts for more travel tips!

The post The EuroCheapo guide to getting a U.K. ETA ‘visa’ appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

There’s just one big question: Exactly how long can you stay in Europe with a US passport?

Here’s the short answer: It depends. It depends on where you want to go and what you want to do while you’re there.

For the longer answer, read on to see how you can take a long-term trip to Europe.

More articles and tips for traveling in Europe
• Planning a trip to Europe? Avoid these 10 costly mistakes
• How to plan a European travel itinerary that won’t leave you exhausted
• Pre-Trip Checklist: 10 ways to save time and money before you leave for Europe

How long can you stay in Europe with a US Passport?

Most Americans take off to Europe for a week or two for a typical vacation. But sometimes that just isn’t enough time to really enjoy your stay. Spain, Italy, France… these are all places where you could spend months exploring and still need more time.

But how long do the rules allow you stay? We have your answers below.

Schengen countries (in blue) are among the most popular in Europe for tourists. (Yellow countries are members of the EU that have not yet joined Schengen.) Map: Wikimedia

Understanding the Basics of Visitor Visas in Europe

Europe can be divided into three basic categories for American travelers:

1. Schengen Countries
2. United Kingdom
3. Non-Schengen countries

Each of these groups of countries has their own rules. Here is a quick rundown of each region and the different rules that apply.

Schengen Countries 

The list of Schengen countries in Europe includes the following 26 countries:

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Of the 26 countries in the Schengen Zone, 22 are members of the European Union.

American travelers (along with Aussies, Canadians, and Kiwis) can stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. For example, you can travel to France and stay for 30 days, go back home for 60 days, come back and gallivant around Italy for 60 days, then go home for a month and start the cycle all over again.

First, the bad news

If you overstay your limit, you’re subject to a fine and deportation and potentially being banned from future travel in Schengen countries. Northern European countries are notoriously strict on this, while the South and East are known to be a little more flexible if you don’t overstay by more than a few weeks, at most.

Either way, we wouldn’t ever risk overstaying the legal welcome, but it’s totally up to you.

… and the good news

You don’t need to go through any difficult processes or pay a fee to enter these countries as the holder of a U.S. passport.

Some more good news? You can break up your 90 days in 90 days out in a 180-day period however you like. If you prefer to break it exactly into 3-month periods, that’s your prerogative, but you’re also welcome to break it up into whatever size chunks of time you prefer, as long as you respect the 90 days in, 90 days out ratio in any one 180-day period.

Remember, entry and exit dates count as a full day, no matter what time of day you arrive or depart.

Need some help? The folks at the European Commission have a handy calculator that you can use to figure out the numbers as well as a Schengen map to help you visualize the countries.

The best news

The EU is working on something they’re calling a Touring Visa that would last up to a year for travels around the Schengen area and be renewable for a second year.

Need some tips on saving euros in popular Schengen destinations? Head to the links below:

• Budget tips for Spain
• Budget tips for France
• Budget tips for Italy
• Budget tips for Germany

The United Kingdom

Americans can spend up to six months on a visitor visa (automatically bestowed in stamp form in your US passport upon arrival). Note that this includes England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland–NOT the Republic of Ireland, which declared its independence nearly a century ago.

The bright side is that obtaining this visa is simple. You get off the plane, go through passport control in London (or any other entry point), and get your stamp. Be aware though, that this visa doesn’t allow you to seek employment, so if you’re on the hunt for work abroad, you need to get a work permit.

The not-so-bright side?

The United Kingdom is one of the spendiest places in Europe to travel. But there are plenty of ways to keep your expenses under control, including these articles:

• Budget tips for visiting the United Kingdom
• Visiting London: Avoid these 10 costly mistakes
• Budget tips for exploring Scotland

Double check the travel requirements before jumping on a low-cost flight in Europe. Photo: Riik

Non-Schengen Countries

Regulations for visitor visas in Non-Schengen countries vary widely.

Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Republic of Ireland, and Romania all extend 90-day visitor visas to US citizens upon arrival. In Croatia, visitors must register with local police upon arrival. Other countries, like Belarus, only allow visitors to stay five days (including your day of arrival and departure) without a visa.

For up-to-the-minute country-by-country details, go to the passports and international travel section of the U.S. State Departments official website, travel.state.gov.

A few things to keep in mind

Some of these countries require you to have two blank pages in your passport, and six months left before it expires. You may also need to be able to demonstrate appropriate travel insurance for your stay (read our guide about travel insurance); in addition to prove you have sufficient resources to support yourself during your stay.

Need some tips on getting the best deals in Non-Schengen destinations? Check out the following articles:

• Budget tips for exploring Ireland
• Budget tips for traveling in Croatia
• Budget tips for going to Bulgaria

Tips for Americans on how to stay longer in Europe for less

Go by train or budget air

It may sound counter-intuitive, but slow down and travel overland whenever you can. You’ll see more and spend less.

That said, if you’d rather flit around Europe on a plane, fly budget airlines into major cities’ secondary airports. Think London-Luton, Paris-Orly, and Venice-Treviso. Check for affordable flights with CheapoSearch.

Stretch your time limit out as far as possible

Our advice would be to slow down, simplify your travels, and head to more affordable destinations. While the UK is the best option when it comes to how long Americans can legally hang out and tour the countryside, our advice would be to work with the Schengen limitations to stretch your euros the furthest.

A sample itinerary for budget travelers

Remember that you can combine Schengen and non-Schengen countries to stretch out your travels. For example, you could spend 90 days touring Schengen members, then 90 days exploring any one or a combination of the cheaper non-Schengen destinations (Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania) before returning to the Schengen Zone for another 90 days if desired.

A Schengen visa stamp from Iceland. Photo: Matthew B.

Ideas for traveling in Europe for a year or more

If you simply must stay in Europe for a year or more and don’t really want to worry about entering and exiting to hack the visa system, there are a few more options.

Apply for longer stay visas

Travelers who want to spend their travel time in one country can apply for longer stay visitor visas in France, Sweden, Italy, Spain, and Portugal. Most require you to be able to prove you have sufficient income so you won’t need to work. You’ll also need insurance coverage, the reason for your stay, and proof of lodging.

Student and self-employment visas

A couple more viable options include a student visa or a self-employment visa. Whenever possible, students should check into schools in the country, and not study through their universities, as European institutions of higher learning are usually substantially cheaper — in the thousands as opposed to the tens of thousands an American school would probably charge you.

Freelancers should check out Germany, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic for self-employment visas, as they’re thought to be among the easiest to obtain.

Cheapo bonus tip for would-be long-term travelers

Always renew your passport early and check the right box to have 52 pages added to your passport instead of the standard 28 pages — there’s no extra cost. It takes up a little more space but it’s way better than running out of room for stamps and visas and having to buy a new passport before it expires. (In case you didn’t catch the update from the State Department, you can’t pay to add pages anymore!)

Your tips for taking long trips to Europe

Have you traveled to Europe on an extended visit? Tell us how you did it and what our readers can do to make their own long European journeys a possibility in the comments section below.

The post How long can you stay in Europe with a US passport? appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Well there’s no easy way to stay in France legally for more than 90 days unless you are a EU citizen, but there are plenty of ways to consider coming to France for a chunk of time to put all of these budget tips to use over the course of a year or so.

1. Get a degree

The Sorbonne University, Sciences Po, NYU in Paris, American University in Paris—the list goes on. Whether it’s in French or English, there are many degree programs that offer you the chance to stay at least a year in Paris. While some like the Sorbonne are extremely affordable, others, like NYU in Paris, are less so, but don’t rule out scholarships!

Related: 12 tips for studying abroad in Paris

2. Work

Does your company have an office in France? Poke around and start asking. You’d be surprised at the number of expats who are hear because work forced them to come to Paris, so why not volunteer yourself and help out someone who doesn’t want to make the move?

3. Intern

There are internship opportunities available to young professionals, with a visa specially dedicated to it. All it takes is a company to hire you, and then you can apply for the visa through the French Chamber of Commerce. It’s not going to be easy to find someone to take you on for the year, but it’s worth a shot.

4. Marry

Does that Bruno Mars song come into your head every time you meet a French person? Marriage is one of the easiest ways to move to France. Any EU citizen can be your key to moving abroad, but it’s also a slightly bigger step than taking a yearlong work exchange to France. Moving to Paris should be the fringe benefit of getting married, not the modus operandi, but what do I know anyway?

5. Tourist visa

If you have some pennies saved up, you can take a sabbatical year and move to Paris with a tourist visa. You can’t seek employment, but you can live here for the length of your visa and travel around without any worries. You have to prove that you have enough money to live on and even then, it’s not always a sure thing, but it’s an option to consider.

Related: A guide to beating the crowds at top Paris attractions

6. Launch a business

You want to make some money and move to France, so why not start a business in Paris? Easier said than done, but check out the news about startups and new businesses on the Rude Baguette, France’s startup blog, and maybe you’ll be inspired to start drafting a business plan while signing your visa application.

7. Study for fun

If you don’t care about a degree, the Sorbonne offers a course in French language and civilization that gets you a visa. It’s not cheap, but it’s a lot easier than trying to become a full-fledged Parisian student. And you should be speaking a little French by the end of it…

8. Become Italian or Irish

Have a great grandfather who was from Italy or Ireland? There are ways to apply for citizenship in these EU countries if you can gather all of the paperwork. Once you become an Italian or Irish citizen (read: EU citizen), France is all yours.

9. Research

There is a visa especially designed for researchers, so if you are a chemist or biologist, why not see if collaboration is possible with your French counterparts? It’ll score you a visa and some really cool international contacts.

10. Become French

I mean come on, just do it already.

The post Want to live in Paris? 10 tips for moving to the City of Light appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.