Some 1.4 billion people from over 60 visa-exempt countries – including the United States and the United Kingdom – will be required to have a travel authorisation via the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) to enter most European countries from next year.
While it may sound complicated (and Americans, in particular, have reacted furiously to the upcoming need for what they misinterpret as a visa requirement), the ETIAS is quite similar to already existing travel regulations, including the ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) requirement for the United States.
From 2024, an ETIAS travel authorisation will be linked to travellers' passports. It is valid for up to three years or until the passport expires – whichever comes first. People getting a new passport also need to get a new ETIAS.
These 30 European countries require visa-exempt travellers to have an ETIAS travel authorisation. Credit: EU
With this authorisation, travellers can enter the territory of 30 European countries – the 27 countries of the Schengen Area, as well as Romania, Bulgaria and Cyprus, which are all trying to become a part of it – as often as they want for short-term stays (up to 90 days in any 180-day period).
However, the ETIAS does not guarantee entry: there are still specific travel document requirements for nationals of certain visa-exempt countries. Upon arrival, a border guard will ask to see travellers' passports and other documents to verify that they meet the entry conditions.
Is an ETIAS the same as a visa?
Simply put – no. The ETIAS travel authorisation form is an electronic entry point, an authorisation for travellers coming from countries that are currently visa-free. In a press release dating back to 2018, the European Commission already described the system as "not a visa" but rather an "automated IT system" to "identify any security or irregular migratory risks" posed by visa-exempt visitors travelling to the Schengen area.
ETIAS should be a "simple, fast and visitor-friendly system," which will result in a positive answer within a few minutes for the great majority of travellers wanting to enter Europe.
Credit: Belga
Getting the authorisation does not reintroduce visa-like obligations: there is no need to go to a consulate to make an application, no biometric data is collected, and significantly less information is gathered than during a visa application procedure.
Whereas a Schengen visa procedure can take up to 15 days (and up to 30 or 60 days in some cases), the online ETIAS application only takes a few minutes. Additionally, it will remain valid for a period of three years, significantly longer than the validity of a Schengen visa.
Why is the ETIAS being introduced?
These new requirements have been years in the making, and stem back to a rise in fears of terrorism in recent decades. Both the system and the reasoning behind it are very similar to the ESTA programme that the US introduced in 2008.
In short, ETIAS is an electronic database system to better track who is coming and going. In 2021, about 388 suspects were arrested by EU law enforcement authorities for terror-related offences, the EU's latest report on terrorism stated. More than half of them were accused of being associated with Jihadist groups based abroad.
The EU's website states the new authorisation will start in 2024, but does not mention a specific date.
Who needs an ETIAS and how to apply
In short, all passport holders from 60 countries who can currently travel to most European destinations without a visa will need to get ETIAS authorisation for the same trip from next year. A list of all affected countries can be found here.
Following Brexit, the UK is now also one of the countries on that list, meaning Britons will be required to have a valid ETIAS travel authorisation. However, there are exemptions for those who are beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement; they may reside on the territory of their EU host country and travel to other European countries requiring ETIAS as long as they hold documents proving their status.
The application has yet to open but once it does, all necessary forms can be filled out via a web portal or mobile phone application. Applying costs €7, but some travellers (such as under-18s, over-70s and family members of EU citizens) are exempt from paying this fee.
Nationals of any of these visa-exempt countries need to apply for an ETIAS travel authorisation. Credit: EU
Travellers will be asked to provide personal information, travel document details, education levels and current occupation, and intended travel and stay details. Furthermore, any criminal convictions, information about travels to war or conflict zones, and whether they have recently been the subject of an expulsion will also need to be disclosed. Tourists will also need to present a passport that is not set to expire in less than three months.
Even though most applications are processed within minutes, the EU asks travellers to apply for authorisation well in advance of their planned journey in case they are requested to provide additional information or documentation.
After they applied, travellers will receive an email confirming the submission of their application which will include their unique ETIAS application number – this must be kept for future reference. Once the application has been processed, another email with the outcome will be sent.
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At the border, it is important to carry the same document that was used for the ETIAS application, as the travel authorisation is linked to that document. Without it, travellers will not be allowed to board their flight, bus or ship, or to enter any of the European countries requiring ETIAS.
Upon arrival in one of the 30 European countries on the list, travellers with ETIAS approval can stay for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. This means they can leave and come back, but they cannot stay in the confines of the countries on the list for 91 days or more non-stop.
More information about who needs to apply for the ETIAS travel authorisation and how to do it can be found on the EU's official website.
