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New travel restrictions set to be enacted in 2025 could make Americans' passports useless.
All travelers will be required to use a Real ID in order to take domestic flights and gain access to some government buildings beginning in May, an identification requirement that has been postponed numerous times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Americans traveling to the United Kingdom on or after January 8 are required to register with the Electronic Travel Authorization program in order to enter the country.
Anyone from outside the U.K. and Ireland who is set to visit for six months or less for business or study will also be required to apply for the ETA program, which costs $13 and is covered for two years.
“The worldwide expansion of the ETA demonstrates our commitment to enhance security through new technology and embedding a modern immigration system,” Seema Malhotra, the minister for Migration and Citizenship, said in a statement via the New York Post.
Travelers will also be required to apply through the European Travel Information and Authorization Systems (ETIAS) in order to gain access to the continent beginning in May, which will cost just over $7 to apply and could take several weeks to receive a response. A passport will still be required, however, must be more than three months from its expiration date and cannot be older than a decade, according to the ETIAS website.
“Unfortunately, many travelers are not aware of passport requirements and have to cancel plans or may even arrive at the airport and be denied boarding,” travel advisor Sara Russell told FOX News in December. “For a seamless travel experience, I recommend that the renewal process be started at least one year before a passport expires to ensure you get your new book in time and can enjoy your vacation without any hiccups.”