European Travel Information and Authorisation System
 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 |
|---|---|
| Type | Open borders area |
| Established | 1995 |
| Members | 26 states
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| Area | 4,312,099 km2 (1,664,911 sq mi) |
| Population | 419,392,429 |
European Travel Information and Authorisation System or ETIAS is an electronic authorisation system of the European Union for visa-exempt visitors travelling to the European Union or the Schengen Area (including EFTA countries), with the exception of Republic of Ireland, which is a member of the Common Travel Area.
It is similar to other electronic travel authorisations, such as ESTA of the United States[1] as well as the systems implemented by Australia, Canada, New Zealand and planned by the United Kingdom.
The ETIAS travel authorisation will be required for travel to the Schengen Area as well as Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania.[2] The EU member Ireland will not initially participate in ETIAS, but might join it in the future.[3] It is expected the ETIAS visa waiver to enter into operation at the end of 2022, but ETIAS travel authorization will not be mandatory until 2023.[4][2][5][6] A 6-month grace period is planned to allow eligible travellers to become familiar with the new system.[7]
History[]
The idea of the an electronic travel authorisation system was first proposed by the European Commission in 2016.[8] ETIAS was formally established by the Regulation (EU) 2018/1240 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 September 2018.[7]
Applicability[]
ETIAS will be required from nationals of visa-exempt third countries (Annex II)[9] except the European microstates of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City.[7] 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, refugee or stateless travel documents issued by an EU or Schengen country, or from crew members or holders of diplomatic or official passports.[7]
As of 2022, nationals of the following countries and territories, with ordinary passports without a visa or permit from an EU or Schengen country, would match the ETIAS criteria:
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Applying for ETIAS[]
Prospective visitors will need to complete an online application and a €7 fee will be required from those between ages 18 and 70.[10] The system is expected to process the vast majority of applications automatically by searching in electronic databases and provide an immediate response, but in some limited cases it may take up to 30 days.[11][2] If approved, the authorisation will be valid for three years or until the expiry date of the travel document if earlier.[2]
See also[]
- Visa policy of the Schengen Area
- Entry/Exit System
- Electronic System for Travel Authorization (United States)
- Electronic Travel Authority (Australia)
- Electronic Travel Authorization (Canada)
- New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority
- UK electronic travel authorisation
Notes[]
- ^ Including all classes of British nationality.
References[]
- ^ "US citizens will need to register to visit parts of Europe starting in 2021". CNN. 9 March 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Security union: A European Travel Information and Authorisation System - Questions & answers". European Commission. 5 July 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
- ^ "Will you need a visa to visit Ireland in 2021?". IrishCentral. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
- ^ "Smart Borders". European Commission. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
- ^ EU information systems, European Commission, February 2019.
- ^ Security union: A European Travel Information and Authorisation System - Questions & answers, European Commission, 5 July 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Official Journal of the European Union, L 236, Volume 61, English Edition", Portal of the Publications Office of the EU, 19 September 2018
- ^ "Communication from the commission to the European Parliament and the Council, Stronger and Smarter Information Systems for Borders and Security" (PDF). European Commission. 6 April 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
- ^ 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
- ^ "ETIAS, what it means for travellers; what it means for Frontex". Frontex. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
- ^ "Brexit: No visa but Britons will pay €7 to travel to EU countries". BBC. 14 December 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
External links[]
- European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) on the European Commission web site
Visa policies and requirements in the European Union | ||||||
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1 - Includes EFTA states and Gibraltar. | ||||||
- Visa policy by country
- Visa policies in Europe
- Schengen Area
- Expedited border crossing schemes