Episode Transcript
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ryan_2_02-16-2025_200258 (00:00):
and
welcome to All Things Travel.
Are you a traveler who likes tohave all the details planned
when you're going on a trip?
Are your I's always dotted andyour T's always crossed?
Well, today we're going to shareall the details you need to know
about passport renewals, realIDs, and European and Great
Britain entry requirements soyou can be ready to go like a
(00:22):
pro.
j_1_02-16-2025_200258 (00:23):
Listen in
with travel advisors and
destination experts Ryan andJulie.
He is your travel professorteaching you everything you need
to know to have a magicalvacation and I'm a Disney loving
Maryland mom of three and aspecialist in family travel.
Whether we're discussingincredible destinations, top
vacation tips, or sharingpersonal stories, it's always
(00:45):
all things travel.
ryan_2_02-16-2025_200258 (00:48):
All
right, Julie, so I feel like
we're doing an episode on eatingyour vegetables.
these are not the super sexytravel topics, but these are the
things you really have to knowto not have a major problem on
your trip, right?
j_1_02-16-2025_200258 (01:03):
I agree,
and a lot of this stuff has been
changing recently, newrequirements, new dates to
follow things by.
So I feel like that's why wewere like, we should probably do
an episode on this and kind ofupdate everyone at the same time
about what's going on.
ryan_2_02-16-2025_200258 (01:17):
Yes.
I'll say this several timesthroughout the episode.
This is coming out early Marchof 2025, and we are using the
information that we have rightnow.
the three topics we're going todiscuss, my guess is there will
be changes.
use this podcast as a guide, Iwill provide the websites that
we're going to reference in theshow notes and make sure that
(01:39):
you're up to date on everything.
But before we do that, are youthinking of planning a
honeymoon?
Well, if so, you need to checkout last week's episode where
Julie and I talk about bothinternational and domestic
locations for honeymoons.
All right, Julie.
So let's talk about passports,specifically the new online
(02:01):
renewal for passports, becausethis is a pretty slick option.
Which used to be kind of anarduous task of making sure that
your passports were renewed Iknow we have listeners from all
around the world But a lot ofthe information today is going
to be for our united stateslisteners the u.
s department of state launched anew online passport renewal
(02:22):
system, 2024 It's for eligibleU.
S.
citizens that can now renewtheir passports through a secure
online process so you don't haveto do a paper, application.
my girlfriend actually did this,last fall and it was awesome.
She filled it out online.
We went to, get her picturetaken.
(02:43):
She scanned that, uploaded it.
I think she got her new passportin less than like three weeks.
It was really smooth.
j_1_02-16-2025_200258 (02:51):
So she
didn't even have to mail in her
current passport?
ryan_2_02-16-2025_200 (02:56):
actually,
no, she didn't.
her old passport is invalid.
her new one is the validpassport.
So who is eligible if you are 25years of age or older, if you
have a passport issued between2009 and 2015, that it's over
nine years old, but less than 15years from the application date.
(03:17):
If you're not changing anypersonal information like your
name, your date of birth, yourplace of birth, if you're
currently living in the UnitedStates, And if you are
processing your most recentpassport and there is no damage
or a report of it being lost orstolen.
So basically if you're in goodstanding, with your passport,
(03:37):
you are all set.
for the online renewal process,you just have to create an
account, upload a digital photo,and then you can pay with a
credit card or debit card andit's just that easy.
j_1_02-16-2025_200258 (03:49):
That
sounds great.
ryan_2_02-16-2025_200258 (03:50):
The
online system is designed to
basically take out that longerprocessing time you can usually
get in about a month or soObviously you still want to make
sure that you apply for it ingood enough time so that you can
get it before your trip
j_1_02-16-2025_200258 (04:08):
so what
about real ID, Ryan?
Like, what is
ryan_2_02-16-2025_200258 (04:11):
Okay
j_1_02-16-2025_200258 (04:12):
is Real
ID and when do we need it by?
ryan_2_02-16-2025_200258 (04:14):
Okay,
so the real id well, it depends
because we've been talking aboutthe real id for a long time.
Haven't we in travel?
j_1_02-16-2025_200258 (04:21):
I feel
like years ago, I was like, you
need it by October 1st, and I
ryan_2_02-16-2025_200258 (04:24):
Yeah,
so
j_1_02-16-2025_200258 (04:25):
was.
ryan_2_02-16-2025_200258 (04:26):
the
Real ID enforcement has been
extended multiple times, butthey are saying now, May 7th,
2025, to travel, and when I saytravel, I'm talking about
flying, you need to have a RealID.
We think mostly about driver'slicense.
but your passport actuallyserves as a real ID.
(04:47):
it's either your driver'slicense.
Your U.
S.
passport, your DHS trustedadvisor cards.
like your global entry or nexuscard if you're used to traveling
across the borders, there aresome other TSA approved forms,
which I'm sure if you have oneof those for your job you know
what that is.
So real IDs can be obtained ifyou are thinking of the driver's
(05:10):
license at the motor, vehicledepartment, your DMV, just know
that you will need to have somemore documentation of your
identity, your residency, yourlegal status.
So making sure you check on thatbefore you go, it's a little
more involved than just goingand renewing your driver's
license.
j_1_02-16-2025_200258 (05:29):
Right, so
essentially, if you have not
gone in recently, in the pastcouple of years to renew your
license and get a Real ID, needto go make your way to renew
your license and bring theseextra documents.
ryan_2_02-16-2025_200258 (05:42):
Yes.
So check your state, secretaryof state, cause you know, it
will be different based on yourstate as far as what they will,
take, but the, the key here isif you are getting ready for
spring break travel, if you'regetting ready for summer travel,
The real ID is happening, so weneed to make sure that we have
it.
And just to remind people, youcan always fly with your
(06:05):
passport as your form of ID.
You do not have to use yourdriver's license.
All right, Julie, before we talkabout the United Kingdom and EU
requirements for entry, I wantto talk about where in the world
does all things travel?
So a new location that showed upthis week for us was
Gainesville, Florida.
(06:26):
obviously we know Gainesvillefrom the University of Florida,
but they have something therevery cool.
I think you would love to seeJulie.
j_1_02-16-2025_200258 (06:34):
What is
it?
ryan_2_02-16-2025_200258 (06:35):
the
University of Florida bat houses
are the world's largest occupiedbat houses with an estimated
population of half a million.
j_1_02-16-2025_200258 (06:44):
What
makes you think I would want to
go see a
ryan_2_02-16-2025_200258 (06:46):
Ha ha
ha.
j_1_02-16-2025_200258 (06:49):
You were
like,
ryan_2_02-16-2025_200258 (06:50):
So
the, so you can go and see the
bats normally emerge 10 to 15minutes after sunset before
total darkness, whentemperatures are 65 degrees
Fahrenheit or higher on warmwinter evenings, the bats may
come out for a drink of water atthe lake and exercise and also
(07:11):
eat bugs.
And don't worry, there's freeparking.
j_1_02-16-2025_200258 (07:15):
I am so
glad we don't record video.
ryan_2_02-16-2025_200258 (07:18):
So the
largest bat houses in the world
at the University of Florida andwho knows maybe our listener
works there I am excited thatwe're getting some listeners
from Gainesville, Florida Hey,if you have been to the world's
largest bat houses, Julie wantssome pictures, but seriously
reach out to us You can do thatvia email You can do that on our
website, all things, travelpodcast.
(07:40):
com.
And I would love to send alittle, thank you down to
Gainesville for being featuredon the show today.
All right, Julie.
So this is a new one that'scoming up and I have clients
that are traveling to both theUnited Kingdom and the European
union this summer.
So we are looking into thesenewer requirements, right?
So starting January 8th of thisyear in 2025, U.
(08:03):
S.
citizens will need an electronictravel authorization or an ETA
to enter or transit through theUnited Kingdom.
The ETA will cost about 10pounds or approximately 13 and
are valid for multiple entriesover a two year period or until
your passport expires, whichevercomes first.
(08:25):
if you're going to be travelingthrough or to several times,
this is good for that.
One word of warning.
Be careful.
I was working with a client thispast week that wanted to have
information about it.
I was looking through it.
I sent them a link, For gettingtheir ETA.
And then I looked at some otherinformation.
I said, stop, do not fill thatout.
(08:46):
It was a third party host thatwas charging people 85 pounds to
facilitate their ETA, so becareful.
The ETAs cost around 10 pounds,so just make sure you're going
through the actual UKgovernment, I'll put that link
on the show notes.
this is something that is verynew and could easily change, so
(09:10):
make sure you're looking at theup to date information.
j_1_02-16-2025_200258 (09:13):
when you
say transit through, does that
mean even if you have a layover?
ryan_2_02-16-2025_200258 (09:16):
If you
are going through a UK airport
and you are not leaving thecustoms area literally going
from one flight to another youdo not need the electronic
travel authorization
j_1_02-16-2025_200258 (09:33):
so what
about you have a long layover
and you want to go walk around?
ryan_2_02-16-2025_200258 (09:38):
Yes,
then you will yep But again,
it's 10 pounds.
It doesn't take long to get soIf you're doing that then it's
worth your time to get thatauthorization
j_1_02-16-2025_200258 (09:49):
can we
clarify what countries are
requiring this?
the UK, right?
ryan_2_02-16-2025_200258 (09:55):
yeah,
so it's any country within the
United Kingdom.
j_1_02-16-2025_200258 (09:58):
Which are
ryan_2_02-16-2025_200258 (09:59):
that
would be Great Britain, Northern
Ireland, Scotland, and thatwould be Wales.
So for travel to the EuropeanUnion, a new system called the
European travel information andauthorization system is going to
be implemented mid 2025.
So my folks who are travelingthis summer, I'm sorry I'm
staying on top of it, but we'rejust not sure u.
(10:20):
s.
Citizens and other visa exempttravelers will need to obtain An
etias authorization beforeentering any of the 30
participating european countriesThis authorization will be valid
for three years or until yourpassport expires, whichever is
first So, like I said, that'sthe moving target here, because
(10:45):
we're still not sure when that'sgoing to be, a requirement.
We just know mid 2025.
what are these systems for?
Well, they're for bordersecurity, just like we do here
in the United States.
We have different requirementsfor border security.
And it's also to streamline theentry process for short term
stays, which for the EU and theUK is up to 90 days in an 180
(11:10):
day period and up to six monthsin the UK.
basically think of it as a wayto show that you're going to be
in the country for a shortamount of time.
that includes most vacations.
You should apply for theseauthorizations well in advance
of your planned trips to avoidany issues.
But everything that I'm seeing,this seems like a very
(11:32):
straightforward, easy process.
I wouldn't add it to the stresslist.
I would just add it to the to dolist.
j_1_02-16-2025_200258 (11:39):
And,
we've seen things like that with
a lot of Caribbean travel,right?
When
ryan_2_02-16-2025_200258 (11:44):
Yes.
j_1_02-16-2025_200258 (11:45):
Republic,
you fill something out.
When
ryan_2_02-16-2025_200258 (11:47):
Yes.
j_1_02-16-2025_200258 (11:48):
you fill
something out.
it's just, this is the new waythe EU wants to do it.
ryan_2_02-16-2025_200258 (11:53):
Yeah,
absolutely.
And I'll just end with anotherreminder.
That this show is coming out atthe beginning of March in 2025.
So that's the information thatwe have.
And I will put the applicablewebsites to the, three different
issues that we're talking abouthere in the show notes, so you
can get the most up to dateinformation.
j_1_02-16-2025_200258 (12:13):
you want
to plan a trip to an amazing
destination, but don't know howto get started your travel
advisors.
We work with you to create acustomized itinerary for your
vacation and take the stress ofplanning away.
So you can focus on the fun andcreating memories.
You can reach out to us atallthingstravelpodcast.
com and click the contact ussection.
ryan_2_02-16-2025_200258 (12:34):
We
look forward to talking to you
next week on all things travel.