ETIAS – European Travel Information and Authorization System
Launched by the end of 2022 (expected), ETIAS, which stands for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, is an IT system designed to identify the unique threats posed by visa-free travellers to the Schengen area.
Once activated, ETIAS will seek to identify and reduce a number of security challenges posed by visa-exempt travellers, including security risks, biological threats (diseases) and irregular migration patterns.
ETIAS thus aims to reduce the security gaps posed to visa-free travellers to the Schengen area by conducting additional background checks on them.
In addition, ETIAS seeks to expedite travel by citizens from visa-free countries seeking access to Schengen by reducing the bureaucracy associated with the Schengen agreement as well as delays at Schengen entry points, and to help potential entrants understand their travel options.
ETIAS is based on the Schengen Agreement principle of free movement, its commitment to open borders and the security of its participants.
How is ETIAS different from a Schengen visa?
ETIAS is NOT a visa; it is a travel permit. Consequently, ETIAS differs from a Schengen visa in the following ways:
The ETIAS permit is not available through consulates or embassies.
ETIAS does not require biometric data such as fingerprints.
The fee for applying for ETIAS is much lower than the fee for applying for a Schengen visa (between €7 and €80 respectively). In addition, it is not necessary to provide any financial information in order to obtain ETIAS.
It takes a few minutes to fill in the ETIAS data forms. The processing time for a Schengen visa application is much longer, you will be required to complete several pages and provide several additional documents and materials.
Processing time for ETIAS permit is considerably shorter than for Schengen visa (on average 10 minutes vs. 15 days, respectively).
ETIAS permits are valid for unlimited entry for several years, compared to Schengen visas, which are valid for 90 days within a 180-day period.
- ETIAS will NOT affect citizens of Schengen Member States
- ETIAS will NOT affect citizens of non-Schengen member E.U. States.
- ETIAS will NOT affect citizens of third-party states who require a visa to travel to the Schengen area.
- ETIAS WILL affect citizens of non-EU states who are otherwise exempt from needing a visa to the Schengen area.
- Citizens from the following 59 Visa-free countries will be subject to the new ETIAS system:
1. Albania
31. Republic of Moldova
2. Antigua and Barbuda
32. Montenegro
3. Argentina
33. New Zealand
4. Australia
34. Nicaragua
5. Bahamas
35. Palau
6. Barbados
36. Panama
7. Bosnia and Herzegovina
37. Paraguay
8. Brazil
38. Peru
9. Brunei Darussalam
39. Saint Kitts and Nevis
10. Canada
40. Saint Lucia
11. Chile
41. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
12. Colombia
42. Samoa
13. Costa Rica
43. Serbia
14. Dominica
44. Seychelles
15. El Salvador
45. Singapore
16. Georgia
46. Solomon Islands
17. Grenada
47. South Korea
18. Guatemala
48. Taiwan
19. Honduras
49. Timor-Leste
20. Hong Kong
50. Tonga
21. Israel
51. Trinidad and Tobago
22. Japan
52. Tuvalu
23. Kiribati
53. Ukraine
24. Macau
54. United Arab Emirates
25. Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
55. United Kingdom
26. Malaysia
56. United States of America
27. Marshall Islands
57. Uruguay
28. Mauritius
58. Vanuatu
29. Mexico
59. Venezuela
30. Micronesia
As a result of BREXIT, UK citizens, as well as, British nationals (Overseas), British overseas territories citizens (BOTC), British overseas citizens (BOC), British protected persons (BPP) and British subjects (BS), will all be required to issue an ETIAS.
- If you are a citizen of a visa-exempt country seeking to travel to the Schengen area, you will be able to fill out an ETIAS online application form, either through the ETIAS official website or through an app on your phone.
- The information you provide will be run through the European Union’s data systems containing information related to borders and security.
- These databases include the SCHENGEN VIS (Visa Information System), EUROPOL DATA, and SLTD (Interpol).
- ETIAS will perform a background check against its collective database to see if you have any criminal history or negative immigration history.
- The system will likely ask you to provide the following data:
- Basic information (name, age, birthplace, etc.).
- Travel document (passport number, expiration date, etc.).
- Previous Schengen visa history (i.e. whether you have ever been refused entry to, or expelled from, the Schengen area).
- ETIAS criminal record questions (i.e. background questions that might be relevant to E.U. security).
- Note, if someone else is submitting the application on your behalf, he or she must present her basic information or that of the entity they represent.
- If you are over 18, you will pay an ETIAS application fee of 7 EUR.
- Once paid, ETIAS will begin processing your application. This process will take a maximum of 10 minutes, although in exceptional cases, it can take up to 30 days. If your application raises any flags, it will be manually checked by ETIAS Central Unit and ETIAS National Unit(s). The resulting decision will depend on three elements: your answers to the ETIAS application questions, your travel documents, and your background check against the E.U.’s security databases.
- The vast majority of people do not show up in the system and are therefore given their ETIAS travel authorization, commonly (but incorrectly) referred to as an ETIAS travel permit or ETIAS travel visa.
- This document is valid for 3 years or until your travel document expires. If your application is not accepted, you will be denied an ETIAS.
- ETIAS will provide justification for your refusal, which you have the right to appeal.
- If your ETIAS application is approved, you are free to travel to the Schengen area. Upon boarding a flight or a vessel to enter the Schengen area, your carrier will check to make sure that you have a valid travel authorization from ETIAS.
- A final check of your ETIAS validity is conducted by border agents at the Schengen border crossing point.
- If your ETIAS authorization is judged valid, you are free to enter the Schengen Member State and travel throughout the Schengen area.
- Because ETIAS is not yet operation, it is unclear how it will work in practice.
- The above structure, format, and steps of the system and the application process therefore may be subject to changes.
- If you are a non-E.U. citizen of a visa-exempt state seeking entry to the Schengen, you may wish to contact the consular authority of the Schengen state you are seeking entry to for updated information regarding ETIAS.