- The European travel information and authorisation system ETIAS will be introduced in 2025.
- This digital security check is for visitors who can enter the Schengen area visa-free for up to 90 days. Currently, the citizens of 60 countries are exempt from visa requirements for the Schengen countries.
- The ETIAS application process is entirely digital, requiring travelers to submit their application before their planned entry. Once the system is operational, obtaining the new ETIAS travel authorisation will be mandatory for visa-exempt travelers.
- The authorisation is valid for 3 years for multiple entries. You must reapply after that time or when your passport expires.
- An ETIAS will only be issued for short trips of up to 90 days.
What is ETIAS?
ETIAS is a digital travel information and authorisation system for the Schengen area, expected to be launched in 2025. An ETIAS travel authorisation allows visa-exempt travelers to explore the Schengen area freely for up to 90 days.
The Schengen states have already defined the details of the ETIAS process.
With ETIAS, the European Union and the Schengen states are introducing a travel authorisation system that has been standard in other countries – such as the USA (ESTA), Australia (ETA), or Canada (eTA) – for some time.
European countries requiring ETIAS are all EU countries except Ireland and Cyprus, as well as Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland, which are not EU members. Travelers from visa-exempt third countries without a residence permit in one of these countries thus require a European travel authorisation for all Schengen states.
Objectives of the ETIAS introduction
The EU decided to create a digital travel information and authorisation system as early as 2016, mainly due to the globally increasing threat of terrorism.
ETIAS is intended to strengthen security within the EU and the Schengen area, address illegal immigration, reduce security challenges, including high epidemic risks posed by international travel.n, and limit the security risks associated with global mobility, including threats to public health.
The data from an ETIAS application will be checked against various European security systems and the Europol and Interpol databases. Europol has set up an ETIAS watch list, listing individuals with a history of serious crimes or a high probability of committing them.
ETIAS – only for visa-free travelers and for a maximum of 90 days
An ETIAS travel authorisation can only be obtained by visa-free travelers who want to visit an EU country or another Schengen state.
Visa-free travel to the Schengen area is currently possible for citizens of 60 countries, including the USA and Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Australia. Once the system is in place, travelers from these countries will be subject to ETIAS. Visitors from all other countries will need a Schengen visa to enter the country.
An ETIAS travel authorisation can only be issued for trips of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. However, as long as the 90-180-day rule is observed, any number of trips to European countries are possible during the validity period of the authorisation.
For longer stays in the Schengen Area – for example, for work, study, or family reunification – you do not need an ETIAS travel authorisation but a national visa (Schengen visa type D) for the country in which you will be spending most of your time. However, special national regulations of European countries may apply for a D visa. For example, Germany allows citizens of currently 14 third countries to enter the country without a visa, even if they are planning a long-term stay.
ETIAS application process
You can apply for an ETIAS travel authorisation quickly and easily online. As soon as the system comes into force, there will be an official ETIAS website and an ETIAS mobile application.
Requirements of ETIAS application
To receive an ETIAS travel authorisation, you submit per digital application form the following information:
- Personal data (name, date of birth, address, marital status)
- Passport number and other passport details
- Email address and telephone number
- Country of entry into the EU/Schengen area
- Questions about education and professional experience
- Questions about your state of health
- Questions about previous trips to war and conflict zones, previous expulsions and deportations, and entries in your criminal record
Your legal guardian must apply for the ETIAS travel authorisation if you are a minor.
Processing the application
Your ETIAS travel authorisation will be processed within 96 hours. Please consider this deadline when you plan your trip since entry without an ETIAS travel authorisation is impossible.
If the information submitted for ETIAS and passport details correspond with data stored in European security systems and travelers thus do not meet the entry conditions, the application will be rejected. The reasons for this will be communicated by email. Those affected have the right to appeal, which will be dealt with by national law. The email will also provide information on which countries you can appeal to and how the objection process works.
Cost and validity of an ETIAS travel authorisation
A fee of €7 is charged for issuing the travel authorisation, which you can pay online by credit or debit card.
The document is valid for 3 years. You can travel to all EU and Schengen states without reapplying for authorisation.
The authorisation is only valid with the passport for which it was issued. You will also need a new ETIAS travel document if you get a new passport.
Entering the Schengen Area
Travelers with an ETIAS travel authorisation can enter via any Schengen country. However, entry should preferably be via the country indicated in the application as the first country of travel. Before entry, border guards check for the presence of a European travel Authorisation.
Conclusion
ETIAS is an important step towards making travel to the Schengen Area safer and more efficient. Although it is an additional formality, the system also offers significant advantages for travelers, as the visa waiver for trips of up to 90 days remains in place, and applying for a European Travel Authorisation is very straightforward compared to a visa application.
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ
No. Citizens of the European Union and non-EU Schengen countries (Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland) do not need an ETIAS travel authorisation to enter the EU or the entire Schengen area.
Travelers from the UK will require an ETIAS authorisation to enter the Schengen area. After Brexit, the United Kingdom became a third state. Furthermore, the UK has not signed the Schengen agreement, so it also falls under the ETIAS regulations.
You apply for an ETIAS travel authorisation centrally on a digital EU platform. It is issued digitally. The application only takes a few minutes, and no documents are required. By contrast, travelers must apply for a Schengen visa at the embassy of a Schengen state abroad. Proof of financing and numerous other documents are needed for a Schengen visa to be issued.
No. Unlike a Schengen visa, travel health insurance is not required for an ETIAS authorisation. Nevertheless, taking out such a policy is recommended so that you are fully covered while traveling in European countries.