Traveling into the EU region is changing in the last quarter of 2026

From October 2026 onwards, citizens of visa-exempt countries will have to apply for an ETIAS travel authorization when traveling to the Schengen Area. EU citizens entering the Schengen Area will need an EU passport.

Starting in October 2026, dual citizens of an EU country and a non-EU country will need an EU passport to enter the Schengen Area.

Citizens of visa-exempt countries, such as the United States, will be required to obtain an ETIAS travel authorization, which you can apply for online. ETIAS stands for the European Travel Information and Authorization System.

Citizens of EU countries, including dual citizens, cannot apply for an ETIAS travel authorization. Instead, they must use a valid EU passport when traveling to the Schengen Area. For a Finnish citizen, this means a Finnish passport.

The rule changes do not affect individuals who hold only Finnish citizenship or only the citizenship of another EU country.

In Finland, the authority responsible for ETIAS permits is the Finnish Border Guard. Information about the ETIAS system and answers to frequently asked questions can be found on their website.

Additional information about applying for an ETIAS travel authorization is also available on the EU’s official website: European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS).

As a Finnish citizen, you can apply for a Finnish passport abroad at Finland’s diplomatic missions. See detailed passport application instructions on the Ministry for Foreign Affairs website: https://finlandabroad.fi/web/usa/applying-for-a-passport-or-an-identity-card