5 Big Travel Updates Clark Wants You To Know – Technologist

From making it easier for you to get screened at international airports to accessing your driver’s license on your smartphone, there are some big changes taking place in the world of travel and money expert Clark Howard wants you to be aware.

With these major developments, traveling around the country and world is going to get easier for some, but it may also be more of a hassle for others, especially if you aren’t prepared. Let’s get into the changes.

1. Electronic Travel Authorization to the United Kingdom

“The United Kingdom has announced with almost no advance notice that starting [January 8, 2025] Americans are going to have to buy an electronic visa ahead of time to enter Great Britain,” Clark says. “The fees are going to be pretty reasonable at first, but who knows what they’ll be eventually.”

According to Gov.UK, the official website of U.K. government services, the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), permits multiple trips and is valid for two years or until your passport expires – whichever comes first.

“The upside is that with this advanced electronic registry, it means that entering the U.K. will typically be a lot easier and that Americans will now be able to go through electronic entry gates in most U.K. airports most of the time,” Clark says.

How Much Does It Cost To Apply for an ETA?

According to Gov.UK, it costs £10 ($13.27 as of October 2024) to apply. “Everyone traveling needs to get an ETA, including babies and children. You can apply for other people,” the website says.

See the list of countries that can apply for an ETA and when.

Spoiler alert: Applications for ETAs for U.S. citizens open November 8, 2024. If you travel to the U.K. planned for January 8 or after, mark your calendar.

2. Americans Will Soon Need Electronic Visas for the Rest of Europe

As of now, Americans with valid passports don’t need a visa to travel to Europe for trips under 90 days, but changes are on the horizon.

The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), an electronic screening system for travelers to the European Union, will be implemented “starting in the first half of 2025,” according to the ETIAS official website.

According to the European Commission’s website, “Applicants will be able to apply via an official website and/or app for mobile devices prior to the start of operation of ETIAS and will have to pay a fee of €7 ($7.74 as of October 2024).”

“Hopefully it will also get you through immigration,” Clark says of the ETIAS.

3. REAL ID

The requirement for Real ID, the federally accepted driver’s license or identification card, will also take effect in the first half of 2025.

“It means that you’ve provided supporting documentation to your state that verifies that you are who you say you are and that you really have a legal right to have a license in the United States,” Clark says.

If you plan to use your driver’s license to board a commercial flight, it must be Real ID compliant by May 7, 2025. If it is not (and you don’t have another TSA-approved form of ID on you), be prepared to miss your flight.

How Do I Know if I Have a Real ID License?

A compliant REAL ID generally has a star in the top right corner (see picture below). “It’s typically a star and paired with another symbol of that state,” Clark says. 

Here’s what a REAL ID license looks like:

Photo credit: Department of Homeland Security

Got more questions? Read our guide on how to know if you’re REAL ID-compliant.

4. Electronic Licenses

Another big thing that is taking travel high-tech: electronic licenses.

“More and more states now have electronic driver’s licenses and I have one,” Clark says. “I have my actual driver’s license and I have my electronic one. I’ve had the option for months to be able to use my electronic one.”

While he hasn’t visited an airport that allowed him to use his electronic license yet as a valid form of ID, “it’s going to become common,” Clark says.

“You won’t have to fish out your driver’s license anymore and you’ll see that that steadily becomes an easier thing with TSA around the country,” Clark says. “You’ll be able to tap your driver’s license and –BAM! – you’re good to go.”

5. Online Passport Renewal

Online passport renewal is live now across the United States, significantly speeding up a process that took weeks via snail mail.

“I am so excited about this. A few months ago I told you that there was an experiment going on and each day there were a certain number of spaces that were open for a pilot program where a lot of travelers that needed passport renewal would no longer have to fill out paperwork,” Clark says. “You could go online and do a streamlined application and send it in. Just pay your fees on there and you’re done.”

In announcing the program, the State Department said, “Instead of printing a paper application and mailing it with a check, Americans can now renew their passports through a secure process that will save time and effort.”

How Much Does Online Passport Renewal Cost?

The cost of online passport renewal is unchanged — $130 — from the previous process. That’s good news for your wallet!

On the State Department’s website, it shows you the steps on how to renew your passport online.

Final Thoughts

While it’s true that those who struggle with technology may find the changes difficult at first, overall the developments will make travel much easier, Clark says.

Want more travel tips on getting in and out of the country fast? Read our guide on Global Entry.

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