European Travel Information and Authorisation System

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is a planned electronic authorisation system of the European Union for visa-exempt visitors travelling to the European Union or the Schengen Area (including EFTA countries), as well as Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Romania[1] with the exception of Ireland, which is part of the Common Travel Area. It is expected to become operational in May 2025, although officials note the possibility of delays.[2]

ETIAS Area
The Schengen Area
Map of Europe
  Schengen Area
  Countries with open borders but not part of the Schengen Area or the EU
  Members of the EU legally obliged to join the Schengen Area, but not yet members
Policy of European Union
TypeElectronic travel authorisation system area
Expected implementationMay 2025
Applicable countries

According to the EC, it is implemented "for the identification of security, irregular migration or high epidemic risks posed by visa-exempt visitors."[3]

ETIAS was first proposed by the European Commission in 2016[4] and was formally established by Regulation (EU) 2018/1240 of the European Parliament and of the European Council of 12 September 2018.[5][6]

Similar systems

ETIAS will be similar to other electronic travel authorisation systems such as:

Applicable nationalities

ETIAS is a travel authorization to enter 30 European countries, including the 27-country Schengen Area, and Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus; it is not a visa,[8] and it does not guarantee entry.[9] Ireland is the only EU member state that continues to have its own visa policy and does not plan to join the Schengen Area or to require ETIAS.[10]

Visitors who have dual nationality of an EU or Schengen country and of a visa-exempt country (for example, Italy and Canada) will not need ETIAS travel authorisation if they hold a travel document from the EU or Schengen country.[11][12] Therefore, travelers who do not need an ETIAS travel authorisation are nationals of one of the 30 European countries, including the 27-country Schengen Area, and Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus requiring ETIAS.[12]

As of entering into use, ETIAS will be required from nationals of visa-exempt third countries (Annex II)[13] except the European microstates of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City. It will also be required from family members of EU or Schengen nationals not holding a residence card indicating that status. However, ETIAS will not be required from family members holding such a card; from holders of visas, residence permits, local border traffic permits or refugee or stateless travel documents issued by an EU or Schengen country; from crew members; from holders of diplomatic or official passports; or from airport transit passengers.[5]

As of 2023, holders of ordinary passports of the following countries and territories, without a travel document from an EU or Schengen country, would match the ETIAS criteria:

Application process

All prospective visitors will need to complete an online application and a €7 fee will be required from those between ages 18 and 70.[15] It is estimated that 1.4 billion people will need to apply.[9] The system is expected to process the vast majority of applications automatically by searching in electronic databases and providing an immediate response, but in some limited cases it may take up to 30 days.[16][1] If approved, the authorisation will be valid for three years or until the expiry date of the travel document, whichever is earlier.[1]

See also

Notes

  1. Excluding Northern Cyprus.
  2. Including the Faroe Islands and Greenland, which are outside the Schengen Area but maintain travel without border control with the Schengen Area and use the same list of visa-exempt nationalities.
  3. Including Åland.
  4. Excluding Overseas France.
  5. Excluding the Dutch Caribbean.
  6. Excluding Svalbard and dependencies.
  7. Including Azores and Madeira.
  8. Including the Canary Islands, Ceuta, Melilla and plazas de soberanía.
  9. Maintains open borders with Cyprus and applies the same visa requirements.
  10. Accessible only from the Schengen Area, with controlled borders.
  11. Accessible only from the Schengen Area, with open borders, or by sea with the same visa requirements.
  12. Accessible only from the Schengen area.
  13. Including all classes of British nationality.

References

  1. "Security union: A European Travel Information and Authorisation System – Questions & answers". European Commission. 5 July 2018. Archived from the original on 31 December 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  2. GOEL, ANUSHKA (22 September 2023). "ETIAS, Europe's Travel Document For Visa-Exempt Countries, Will Now Launch In 2025". Travel + Leisure. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  3. "Schengen, borders and visa". Europa. 23 November 2022. Archived from the original on 4 August 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  4. "Communication from the commission to the European Parliament and the Council, Stronger and Smarter Information Systems for Borders and Security". Europa. 6 April 2016. Archived from the original on 11 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  5. "Official Journal of the European Union, L 236, Volume 61, English Edition". Europa. 19 September 2018. Archived from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  6. "Security union: A European Travel Information and Authorisation System – Questions & answers". Europa. 5 July 2018. Archived from the original on 31 December 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  7. "US citizens will need to register to visit parts of Europe starting in 2021". CNN. 9 March 2019. Archived from the original on 9 March 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  8. "Precisiones acerca de ETIAS, el registro de viaje a Europa que aplicará a partir de 2023 | EEAS". Europa. Archived from the original on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  9. Chung, Christine (3 August 2023). "The E.U.'s New ETIAS Entry Requirement Is Coming. Someday". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 4 August 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  10. "Will you need a visa to visit Ireland in 2021?". IrishCentral. 8 March 2019. Archived from the original on 9 March 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  11. "Frequently asked questions about ETIAS". Europa. Archived from the original on 18 June 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  12. "Who should apply – Who does not need an ETIAS travel authorisation". Europa. Archived from the original on 28 June 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  13. Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 November 2018 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement OJ L 303, 28 November 2018, pp. 39–58 Archived 26 December 2018 at the Wayback Machine
  14. Regulation (EU) 2023/850 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 April 2023 amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement (Kosovo (This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.)), EUR-Lex, 25 April 2023.
  15. "ETIAS, what it means for travellers; what it means for Frontex". Frontex. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  16. "Brexit: No visa but Britons will pay €7 to travel to EU countries". BBC. 14 December 2018. Archived from the original on 14 December 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
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