New regulations coming our way for 2025... If you are like me, you are pulling out the computer looking for flights and planning vacations for next summer! Maybe you are finalizing your plans to join a Vive trip to Senegal or Colombia. Whatever your plans, there are a few new regulations in the travel world that you should keep in mind for the New Year.
Do you know about STEP, the Smart Traveler Enrollment Plan for US Citizens?
This one is not a regulation, but I'm always surprised how many teachers who travel with student groups don't know about this service for US Citizens. Whether you are traveling with students on an exchange, or going somewhere with your family, or headed to Colombia or Senegal with VIVE, this is a good service to know about. If you are traveling with Vive, we will sign up the entire group so your Trip Leader will get alerts, but you can always subscribe individually as well. There are three main reasons to join STEP for every trip you take outside of the USA.
1. Get real time updates about health, weather, safety, and security in the country.
2. Plan ahead using information from the local U.S. embassy.
3. Help the embassy or consulate contact you if there’s an emergency like a natural disaster, civil unrest, or a family emergency.
Are you traveling to the United Kingdom anytime soon?
In general US Citizens will need to apply for an ETA in the new year 2025. An ETA is an Electronic Travel Authorization that you will need to have in order to enter the UK. It costs 10£ and is valid for 2 years. It allows you to stay for up to 6 months, but you can re-enter multiple times. You can download the UK ETA App to begin the process, once it's ready to launch. You still will have to go through immigration with your passport.
You need:
the passport you will travel with - not a photocopy or digital passport
access to your emails
a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay
You will need to upload or take photos of the:
passport
face of the person applying
You do not need to enter your travel details.
Are you traveling to the European Union (EU) in 2025?
Non-EU nationals will need to complete the Entry/Exit System (EES) once it’s up and running. It’s an automated IT system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay, each time they cross the external borders of any of the following European countries using the system. You can see more info here. Six months after the EES system is up and running, US Citizens will need to apply for an ETIAS. We don’t know yet when this will be required, but it’s something to keep in mind for those of you traveling to the EU in 2025.
If you are traveling with a US passport to Senegal or Colombia, you don’t need a special visa. Travelers must complete the free Migración Colombia’s Online Check-Mig Form within 72 hours of boarding an inbound or outbound flight from Colombia.
Let us know what we can do to help your travel dreams come true in the New Year. We have informational meetings coming up for Summer 2025 trips - sign up here. I'm also available to meet 1-1 via Zoom. Reach out to me at katy@vivelexperience.com.
We are not immigration experts, so we offer this general advice with links for you to determine your particular situation and requirements for travel in 2025.
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