From the book Go Well: A Summer Field Guide for Graduates and College Students · Updated October 2026
What U.S. citizens need for Europe, Japan, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
Europe: EES now, ETIAS next
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is Europe’s new digital border record for non-EU visitors. It started on October 12, 2025 and became fully operational on April 10, 2026 (KAYAK). Here’s what it means for you:
- No application and no fee. Registration happens at the border. Any website selling an “EES permit” is a scam (KAYAK).
- On your first entry, expect to have your fingerprints scanned and a facial image taken. On later trips, they’ll usually just check a fingerprint or your face (KAYAK).
- Allow extra time at the airport, port, or train station, especially on your first trip.
- The 90/180 rule hasn’t changed. U.S. citizens can stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. EES now tracks it digitally, so count your days carefully if you’re planning a long summer (KAYAK).
ETIAS is a separate online travel authorization, similar to the ESTA that visitors to the U.S. use. As of this writing, the EU says ETIAS is not yet in operation and that it will announce the start date several months before launch (European Union, ETIAS). Once it starts (European Union, ETIAS FAQ):
- Cost: €20 (about $23), free for applicants under 18 or over 70.
- Validity: three years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. A new passport means a new ETIAS.
- Timing: most applications are processed in minutes, but some take up to 96 hours, and a few can take up to 30 days. Apply well before you book anything non-refundable.
- Where: only through the official ETIAS website or app.
Before your summer trip: check travel-europe.europa.eu/etias to see whether ETIAS has started. If it has, apply as soon as your dates are set.
Japan
- Visa-free for up to 90 days for tourism. Your passport must be valid for your whole stay, and you should carry proof of a return or onward ticket (U.S. State Department).
- Fingerprints and a photo are taken from all visitors on arrival (U.S. State Department).
- Visit Japan Web is the government’s official site for completing immigration and customs steps online before you land (Digital Agency of Japan). Japan Customs warns that fake sites copy it, and that it never charges a fee for electronic customs declarations (Japan Customs).
- You can’t work on a tourist entry (U.S. State Department).
- Medications are the big issue for Japan. Read Part Four before you pack.
Mexico
- A passport book is required to fly in. A passport card won’t get you on the plane (U.S. State Department).
- The paper tourist card is gone at most airports. Mexican authorities now issue a digital entry permit (the FMMD) at international airports (U.S. State Department). The officer stamps your passport with the number of days you’re allowed to stay. Look at that number before you leave the booth. The legal maximum is 180 days, but officers often grant a number that matches your stated plans (iReside).
- Advisories vary by state. Mexico’s overall U.S. advisory is Level 2, “exercise increased caution,” but individual states range from Level 1 to Level 4, “do not travel” (U.S. State Department). Chapter Nine and Chapter Eleven cover how to read them. Check the advisory for every state on your route.
The Caribbean
Every island has its own rules. Check the official site for each one.
| Destination | What U.S. citizens need |
|---|---|
| Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands | No passport; it’s domestic travel (USA.gov) |
| Dominican Republic | Passport, ideally valid 6 months beyond your stay; a return ticket; and the free electronic entry/exit form, the e-Ticket, at eticket.migracion.gob.do (Go Dominican Republic, U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo) |
| Jamaica | Passport valid for 6 months (Embassy of Jamaica) |
| Aruba | Passport, plus the mandatory online ED Card for every traveler. The $20 sustainability fee is paid through the ED Card system (Aruba Tourism Authority, Aruba.com) |
| Other islands | Check the island’s official tourism or immigration site, and the State Department’s country page |
Checklist: Entry, Insurance, and Health Ready
- ☐ I’ve checked the official entry rules for every country on my route.
- ☐ For Europe: I’ve checked whether ETIAS has started, and applied if it has.
- ☐ I’ve completed any required pre-arrival forms (Visit Japan Web, the Dominican e-Ticket, the Aruba ED Card) on official sites only.
- ☐ I’ve called my health insurer about coverage abroad.
- ☐ I’ve bought travel medical insurance with evacuation coverage.
- ☐ I’ve checked my policy’s hurricane and named-storm rules, if I’m going to Mexico or the Caribbean.
- ☐ I’ve saved my policy number and 24-hour help line.
- ☐ I’ve seen a doctor or travel clinic at least a month before departure.
- ☐ I’ve checked the CDC destination page for each country.
- ☐ My medications are in original containers, in my carry-on, with copies of prescriptions.
- ☐ If going to Japan: I’ve confirmed every medication is legal there, or gotten advance permission.
Prices and rules change. Everything on this page was checked in October 2026. Always confirm with the official source before you book.
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