Okay, here’s a breakdown of the visa/travel authorization information from the provided text, organized for clarity:
1. Events Requiring Visas/Authorizations:
Commonwealth Games (Glasgow, UK): Requires a UK visa for non-EU travelers. Phocuswright Europe Conference (Barcelona, Spain): Requires a Schengen visa for non-EU travelers. This visa allows travel within the Schengen Area.
EASL Congress (Barcelona, Spain): Requires a Schengen visa for non-EU travelers. This visa allows travel within the Schengen Area.
Winter Olympics (Italy – mentioned in conclusion): Likely requires a Schengen visa (Italy is in the Schengen Area), though the text doesn’t explicitly state this.
2. new Travel Systems Coming in 2025/2026:
Entry/Exit System (EES): Starts October 12, 2025.Requires biometric data (fingerprints and facial scans) from travelers entering the EU. Applies too all travelers,nonetheless of visa status.
European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS): Starts late 2026. Required for travelers from over 60 non-EU countries (including US, Canada, India) for short-term travel. It’s an online application with a fee of approximately €7 and is expected to replace some existing visa requirements.
3. Key Takeaways/Recommendations:
Early Application: Visa processes can take weeks, so apply early.
Schengen Visa Benefits: A Schengen visa allows travel to multiple countries within the Schengen Area.
Stay Informed: Travel rules are changing, so keep up-to-date on ETIAS and EES requirements.
Plan Ahead: Factor in time for visa applications and the new EES biometric data collection when planning your trip.
In short: If you’re a non-EU citizen planning to travel to Europe in 2026 for any of these events (or any other short-term travel), you need to be aware of both potential visa requirements and the new ETIAS/EES systems.
