European Travel Information and Authorisation System

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), with the exception of the Republic of Ireland, which is a member of the Common Travel Area.

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 implementation2024
Applicable countries
30 countries
+4 countries and 1 territory indirectly

It will be similar to other electronic travel authorisations, such as ESTA in the United States,[1] as well as the systems implemented by Australia, Canada and New Zealand and planned by the United Kingdom.

ETIAS travel authorisation will be required for travel to the Schengen Area as well as Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Romania.[2] 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.[3]

The implementation of ETIAS has been postponed several times.[4] As of 2023, it is expected to become operational in 2024,[5] with a 6-month grace period to allow eligible travellers and staff to become familiar with the new system, and to catch possible technical problems.[6]

History

The idea of the an electronic travel authorisation system was first proposed by the European Commission in 2016.[7] ETIAS was formally established by Regulation (EU) 2018/1240 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 September 2018.[6]

Applicable nationalities
Main article: Visa policy of the Schengen Area

ETIAS will be required from nationals of visa-exempt third countries (Annex II)[8] 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.[6] 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 if they use a travel document from the EU or Schengen country.[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:

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 providing 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, whichever is earlier.[2]

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. "US citizens will need to register to visit parts of Europe starting in 2021". CNN. 9 March 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  2. "Security union: A European Travel Information and Authorisation System - Questions & answers". European Commission. 5 July 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  3. "Will you need a visa to visit Ireland in 2021?". IrishCentral. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  4. Security union: A European Travel Information and Authorisation System - Questions & answers, European Commission, 5 July 2018.
  5. "Frequently asked questions about ETIAS". European Union.
  6. "Official Journal of the European Union, L 236, Volume 61, English Edition", Portal of the Publications Office of the EU, 19 September 2018
  7. "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.
  8. 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
  9. 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.
  10. "ETIAS, what it means for travellers; what it means for Frontex". Frontex. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  11. "Brexit: No visa but Britons will pay €7 to travel to EU countries". BBC. 14 December 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
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