ETIAS – Entry Requirements for Visa-Exempt Travellers to Europe
There are many countries that are not in the European Union (EU) whose citizens can enter the EU Schengen Zone without needing a visa. Specifically, there are currently 59 countries that are not in the EU but are visa-free.
Citizens of these countries are allowed to go into countries in the Schengen Zone for business or travel purposes for up to 90 days. During these 90 days, these visitors cannot work or study but can engage in business and tourism activities.
In addition, recent security concerns with terrorism and the migrant crisis have called for better management of who is entering EU borders. The EU has continuously declared its goal of making travelling within its borders a more secure experience.
To reduce procedures and wait times and address security concerns, the European Commission (EC) has come up with a solution – ETIAS.
This article compiles comprehensive information on the new European travel & entry requirements and their impact on travellers from countries that do not require a visa to enter Europe.
What is ETIAS?
ETIAS stands for European Travel Information and Authorization System. It is a completely electronic system that allows and keeps track of visitors from countries who do not need a visa to enter the Schengen Zone.
It resembles the U.S. Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which serves a similar purpose.
Why Is the EU Launching a New Travel Authorisation System?
In his 2016 State of the Union Address, President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, said the following:
We need to know who is crossing our borders. This way we will know who is travelling to Europe before they even get here.
The main reason for the approval of the ETIAS authorization is security. With the increased risk of travellers worldwide, the EU wants to ensure safe travel in its countries.
The ETIAS will substantially decrease security concerns through its information and data-gathering systems. This means that the ETIAS will detect if a person is a threat to the security of Schengen countries. This will lead to the person being denied entry and avoiding the threat of being present inside EU borders. It will deal with a problem before it is even there.
However, besides making travelling more secure, the ETIAS authorization will also assist the EU countries and all travellers in the following ways:
- Reduce procedures and application times
- Improve the management of EU country borders
- Assist in detecting and decreasing crime and terrorism
- Impede irregular migration
- Reinforce the visa liberalization policy of the EU
The ETIAS authorization will make travelling to the EU less of a hassle and a much safer experience.
THE TRAVEL AUTHORISATION SYSTEM WILL:
European Countries Requiring ETIAS
ETIAS will be required to enter almost all Schengen/EU member countries except for Ireland.
Who Will Need to Apply?
As mentioned, the ETIAS targets citizens of countries who can enter the EU zone visa-free. There will be 59 countries/territories that will need to get the entry authorization.
>> List of Countries/Territories Required to Apply for ETIAS
When Will ETIAS Be Implemented?
The legal procedures to pass the ETIAS started in 2016, and the system was scheduled to be implemented in 2024. However, the European Union announced a delay, and the new launch date for ETIAS is set for May 2025.
How Will the New System Work?
The ETIAS will undergo a detailed security check of each applicant to determine whether they can enter any Schengen Zone country.
While citizens of countries who do not need a visa for travel purposes of up to 90 days in the EU do not need to go through a long process of applying for the visa, the new system will ensure that these people are not a security threat.
This travel authorization system will gather, keep track of, and update necessary information regarding visitors to determine whether it is safe for them to enter Schengen countries.
The new travel and entry system will be simple to use and save time for applicants and processing, as shown in the image below:
Those who want to get approval will have to follow these steps to apply for ETIAS:
- Fill out the ETIAS application form.
- Submit the application.
- Pay the ETIAS fee.
- Wait for the confirmation.
Approval is contingent upon the accuracy of the information provided in the application form, along with meeting eligibility criteria and posing no risk upon entry into Europe. This whole procedure is expected to be completed in only a few minutes.
However, the application will be manually processed if there is a hit from the entry system. The manual processing is expected to take about 96 hours (4 days), or a maximum of 2 weeks.
FAQ
Below, you will find answers to commonly asked questions regarding the new European travel entry authorization.
How long is the ETIAS valid?
If approved, the ETIAS might be valid for three years or until the end of the validity of the travel document registered during the application, whichever comes first. Whether you will get the first period of validity or the second depends on the system’s evaluation of your information and risk.
>> Main Reasons Why ETIAS Applications May Be Rejected – and How to Appeal a Negative Decision
Can I enter any EU country with ETIAS authorization?
To use the ETIAS authorization correctly, you must first pass through the country you stated in your application. If you were planning to go through Germany, Belgium, and Austria, and you stated in your application that the first country you will visit is Germany, you must go through it before you visit Belgium and Austria. After you enter your first country, you can visit any other country in the Schengen Zone for 90 days.
However, just because you have the ETIAS does not necessarily guarantee entry into the EU countries. This is at the discretion of the border authorities.
There are countries in the EU, which are not in the Schengen Zone, and you cannot enter them with ETIAS authorization.
How does ETIAS check my information?
ETIAS will be connected to many databases to verify your information within minutes. That is why all applicants need to give honest responses and not try to give false information. If you are caught giving fraudulent information to the ETIAS system, you will be denied authorization. In addition, if your ETIAS is approved but later found with incorrect or false information, your ETIAS will be revoked.
How many times can I enter the EU with an ETIAS?
You can enter the Schengen member states as many times as you want, for as long as your ETIAS is valid and you have not stayed more than 90 days in a 180-day period.
Are ESTA and ETIAS the same? What are their differences?
ESTA is the US equivalent of the EU ETIAS. While ETIAS stands for European Travel Information and Authorization, ESTA stands for Electronic System for Travel Authorization.
You will not be able to enter the US with an ETIAS, just as an ESTA holder is not permitted to enter the EU without an ETIAS or Schengen Visa. US citizens, who are permitted to enter Europe visa-free starting from May 2025, will have to obtain an ETIAS before their trip to the Schengen Zone.
Is ETIAS the same as “Europe Visa”?
ETIAS is not a visa. It is an authorization system designed for visa-exempt travellers entering the European Union and Schengen Zone.
Below, we have explained the top differences between the ETIAS and a visa, which can help our readers differentiate the two.
Nationals of visa liberalisation countries will continue to travel to the EU without a visa but must obtain a travel authorisation before travelling to Europe.
ETIAS will be a simple, fast and visitor-friendly system, which will, in more than 95% of cases, result in a positive answer within a few minutes.
The new travel 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, as a general rule, a Schengen visa procedure can take up to 15 days and sometimes up to 0 days, the online ETIAS application only takes a few minutes to fill in.
The validity will be for three years, significantly longer than the validity of a Schengen visa. An ETIAS authorisation will be valid for an unlimited number of entries.
Do I need an ETIAS visa if I already have a long-term visa from one of the Member States?
Since a long-term visa issued by one of the member states gives you the right to move throughout the whole Schengen, you will not need to obtain a travel authorization for as long as you have the visa.
Do infants and children need ETIAS?
Every traveller, even infants and elders, must present a travel authorization upon their arrival in Schengen to be permitted to enter. However, people under the age of 18 are exempt from paying the fee.
Can a travel authorization be revoked?
Yes, a travel authorization can be revoked or annulled if the conditions for issuing the travel authorization no longer apply or if the travel authorization holder is found to have violated any of the ETIAS rules.
What is the ETIAS watchlist?
This list consists of data on people suspected of having committed or been part of a criminal offence (such as terrorism). The ETIAS watchlist will be established based on the Member States and Europol information