Passports, Visas and Customs - the process for entering Europe and coming home again

Nothing ruins a dream vacation faster than discovering at the airport that you missed an important travel requirement. Fortunately, most of these problems are easy to avoid if you know what to expect before you leave home.

Content:

Passport Requirements for Traveling to Europe
ETIAS & ETA
Vaccinations
Losing Your Passport
Arrival Process in Europe
Getting to the hotel
Process for Returning Home
Before you leave checklist

Passport Requirements for Traveling to Europe

What to know about passports: You can now apply for a renewal online.

TIP: If you are having trouble taking a photo that the Passport website will accept because of the background try taking the photo using portrait mode (or any mode that blurs the background). Step away from the background about 18” or so that the blur effect will be able to separate you from the background.

Keep a color hard copy of your passport separate from your actual passport so that it doesn’t get stolen – leaving it in your luggage might be a good option.
Maintain an electronic version online that you can access while traveling – preferably not stored on your phone in case you lose both your passport and phone.
Leave a color copy with someone at home that can contact the State Department on your behalf if something happens.
A copy of your passport will expedite the replacement.

Do Americans and Canadians need a Visa for Europe?

ETIAS is being introduced for visa-exempt travelers. Before your trip, check the current requirements and implementation date. This not a visa but rather a pre-screening tool that is obtained by completing an online form and submitting approximately 20 Euros. The approval is good for three years or until your visa expires. A valid passport is required.

TIP: apply in advance for approval to avoid any delays due to the volume of ETIAS requests.

TIP: Schengen member countries plus Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Lichtenstein, will be implementing ETIAS. Check visa requirements for all other countries before you go (expect this list to be changing dynamically).

Do Americans and Canadians need a Visa for the UK?

No, however along with a valid passport, Americans and Canadians will have to apply for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) prior to leaving for your destination. This applies to Northern Ireland but not Ireland. The difference is that Northern Ireland is part of the UK whereas Ireland, or the Republic of Ireland, is independent.

Vaccinations

Vaccine requirements vary from country to country and can change quickly. Check the requirements for each country you expect to visit. The CDC recommends several vaccines such as MMR, Hepatitis A and B etc. Vaccination for tick-borne Encephalitis is advised for anyone traveling to central or eastern Europe that may be exposed during visits to rural or forested areas.

What do I do if I lose my passport while traveling?

Stay calm. You can recover from this and not ruin your trip. First report the loss to the local police and obtain a police report. Then report the loss to the closest embassy. You will have to go to the embassy in person to apply for a temporary travel document. Bring your copy of your passport. NOTE: Once the passport is reported lost or stolen to the embassy even if you subsequently find it you can no longer use it for travel.

🧳 Don’t be Surprised

Entry restrictions are changing in many countries. Check the country websites well in advance of your trip to make sure you have enough time to comply.

What is the process at the airport when you arrive in Europe?

Step 1: Passport Control
Step 2: Baggage Claim
Step 3: Customs
Step 4: Ground Transportation

When you come off the plane, generally follow the crowd or the signs for customs, passport control etc. As you near the customs stations the signs will start separating the people based on where they are from. At this point your passport will be checked. Next, if you checked your luggage pick it up at a standard Baggage Claim area. Finally, proceed to the customs section where you will have an opportunity to declare anything before you enter the country or go through the “Nothing to Declare” exit.

Next, head for your desired ground transportation, all the while keeping an eye out for ticket machines if you need them.

TIP: Check the Country Specific Section for details on specific airports

🧳 Don’t be Surprised

When the European Union introduced its new Entry/Exit System (EES), some airports experienced significant delays while travelers and border officials adjusted to the new procedures. News reports, including coverage by The New York Times in July 2026, described long lines and confusion at some airports, although the impact varied by location. If you’re traveling soon after a major change to entry procedures, it’s a good idea to check with your airline before you leave and allow extra time at the airport.

What is the best way to get to your hotel from the airport?

The right answer to this depends on your preferences, your confidence in taking public transportation and where you are going.

If you prefer the fast, easy way and are not concerned so much about the cost then grab a taxi or a rideshare service and head off to your hotel. After many hours of flying getting to the hotel right away may be a welcome relief. This approach is the least stressful for you at a point when you are exhausted and perhaps a bit disoriented having just landed and cleared customs.

However, if you are more adventurous or price-conscious, then a public transportation solution might work out well. Most major airports have a train system available. If the airport is not served by a train then look for a shuttle service.

Taking the train from the airport to your destination will require a bit of research prior to leaving for Europe. While it is possible to arrive without having done a pre-planning and just ask someone for help with the logistics of getting to your hotel, however this is time consuming after having endured a long flight.

A better option is to research the available transportation options in advance. You may be able to purchase the tickets in advance and be able to head directly to the platform. Otherwise you will have to buy them when you arrive.

TIP: search the internet for pictures of the ticket machine you need to get the tickets from. Knowing what the machine looks like makes it much easier.

If you are in a hurry and are willing to pay for it, many of the major airports in Europe have a service to walk you from you plane directly through customs, thereby avoiding the line.

Returning Home: What Happens at the Airport?

Step 1: Land.
Step 2: Passport Control.
Step 3: Pick up luggage.
Step 4: Customs.
Step 5: Recheck luggage.
Step 6: go through Security.
Step 7: proceed to your next flight.

Regardless of your final destination, you and your luggage will go through Customs at the first US based airport that you land in, even if you are making a connection and continuing onto another city. Make sure you have enough time to pass Customs and, if necessary, go to a different terminal to catch your connecting flight.

🧳 Don’t be Surprised

Christmas markets are common year-round. Check the restrictions on liquids when bringing home a snow-globe in your carry on luggage.

TIP: If you are checking your luggage you will have to go back to the airlines counter and recheck your bags. Then you will pass through security to get to your gate. Make sure you have enough time!

TIP: Rechecking luggage is one more reason to seriously consider taking only carry on luggage. See the section Should I check my luggage or carry it on with me for more information on how and why to do this.

🧳 Don’t be Surprised

It may take you a great deal of time to go through the full process and get to your gate if y0u have to make a connection. You may not have time for a bathroom break to an opportunity to get food before you board your next flight.