FAQ’s

Clarifying ETA, EES, and ETIAS 

With these 3 programs launching at similar times, but being quite different, it’s no wonder many people are confused.  Here’s a brief explanation of what each system represents, and next steps needed to obtain them.

ETA, which stands for electronic travel authorization, is a system that has existed for many years in countries like Australia and Canada, but was just recently implemented for the UK.  Implementation was gradual, beginning in late 2023, however as of January 2025, all travelers from the US are required to have a UK ETA prior to travel.  The current fee for a UK ETA is £16 (approximately $22US today). By far the easiest way to apply for a UK ETA is by downloading the official app on your mobile phone, as you will need the phone camera to scan your passport and provide a digital photo. You can find more information here: https://www.gov.uk/eta/apply. Note that an ETA is not required if you are transiting through a UK airport but will not be passing through border control. 

EES, which stands for Entry/Exit System, is a new digital border control system being rolled out across the EU Schengen countries starting in October 2025, with full implementation by April 2026. It replaces traditional passport stamping with a secure process that records biometric data, entry dates, and exit dates, making border checks more accurate and efficient for travelers. For travelers from the US this system was implemented in October 2025 and is now a requirement.  This process takes place once you arrive at the first border crossing (i.e. your point of entry), where biometric data will be collected and stored in the system, including fingerprints, facial image and a scan of your passport. Once your information is in the system, arrival at other Schengen countries will be a faster and smoother process. There is no fee for this new screening system.  You can find detailed information about the EES here:  https://travel-europe.europa.eu/en/ees

ETIAS, which stands for European Travel Information and Authorization System, is an electronic travel authorization for visa-exempt visitors to 30 European countries. It is not a visa, but a pre-travel screening system designed to enhance security and streamline border checks. ETIAS has not yet been implemented. It was first announced in 2023, but implementation has been postponed several times and is currently scheduled for the last quarter of 2026. Once implemented, all travelers from visa-exempt countries (including the US and Canada)  will need an approved ETIAS to travel to participating countries for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. The fee will be €20. European countries participating in the ETIAS system include the most popular destinations for US travelers. You can find more details about the ETIAS program here: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias

Planning a trip is a time-consuming and complicated process. Travel agents do all the work of planning and booking every component of your vacation for you, while also providing invaluable consultation services to help you make the best choices and get the best prices. If problems should arise during your trip, your travel agent is just a phone call away to help resolve them as quickly as possible.

In many cases, travel agents are paid commissions by the service providers they sell, and therefore do not charge their clients additional fees. In some cases, however, such as with airline, rail and ferry tickets, travel agents have to charge moderate fees because those suppliers do not pay commissions. Additionally, for customized itineraries, which are usually complicated and extremely time-consuming, most travel agents charge a booking fee.

Nowadays, it’s a safe bet that you will need a valid passport to travel anywhere outside the United States. Many countries also require that your passport be valid for at least 6 months after the date you return from your trip. For detailed information about passport and visa requirements for your destination, go to https://travel.state.gov/content/travel.html

Disclaimer: Travel Muse acts solely as “a booking agent” for travel services and related products based upon the criteria supplied by you. Therefore, Travel Muse disclaims all responsibility regarding the actual travel services and related products that are purchased. Once a booking is completed through Travel Muse, any funds received from you are sent directly to the actual supplier of the service or product. Any acts, errors or omissions of independent suppliers (such as airlines, cruise lines, tour or ground operators) are not the responsibility of Travel Muse. Under no circumstance will Travel Muse be liable or responsible for any illness, injury or damage (including consequential and incidental damages) to persons or property in connection with any accommodations, transportation or other services or products purchased, even if those services are canceled, delayed or not available at the time of travel. Under no circumstances will Travel Muse be liable or responsible for any acts of third parties that disrupt or prohibit the receipt of any service or product, such as riots, strikes, acts of terrorism, overbooking, weather or other events.
Office hours are Monday – Friday 9:00am to 5:30pm, and Saturday 10:00am – 2:00pm CST. Closed on major holidays.
The client agrees to verify & confirm the accuracy of the travel itinerary and invoice before providing payment or penalties for changes may be incurred and will be the client’s responsibility.
The client agrees to carefully review all offers and proposals and meet the supplier imposed deadlines for approval and payment. Failure to meet strict supplier deadlines could mean automatic cancellation and all monies forfeited.
The client agrees to personally verify and be aware of any and all State Department Travel Warnings, CDC issued Travel requirements, Vaccinations requirements, Entry/Exit requirements, passport or recommendations.
For International Travel, please visit www.travel.state.gov for VISA/Passport info Entry/Exit requirements of the country you are visiting.
Domestic Travel: All passengers 18 years of age or older are required to present 1 form of government-issued photo ID such as a valid driver’s license, before boarding a flight.
Beginning on Jan 22, 2018, TSA will enforce the federally mandated REAL ID requirements on all domestic travel. The state of Texas is compliant with REAL ID. Passengers traveling with a valid Texas driver’s license can continue to use it as the required form of identification. But for states that have not been granted an extension, travelers 18 and over are required to present a passport, or other REAL ID compliant form of identification before boarding a federally regulated commercial aircraft. For more information: https://www.dhs.gov/real-id-public-faqs

Travel Muse is committed to protecting the privacy and security of the information you share with us. The information you provide is used solely to identify you, make travel arrangements on your behalf, keep you informed of our current and future promotions, and contact you for continued customer service.
Travel Muse will never provide your information to any third party not relevant to your requested travel arrangements.

There are a number of ways in which your travel investment can be put at risk, even before you leave home. Cruise lines and tour companies require payment in advance, usually several months prior to departure. And they begin assessing cancellation fees as soon as your payments are made in full. The closer you are to your scheduled departure the higher the cancellation fees become. Last minute cancellations can mean a complete loss of your travel investment.
Travel Muse strongly recommends purchasing travel insurance to protect your travel investment and provide peace of mind during your trip. We can help you choose the plan that works best for you, whether it’s insurance provided by a cruise or tour company, or an independent carrier like Travel Guard.