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ETIAS – European Travel Information and Authorization System

By May of 2023, visa-exempt citizens that travel to Europe for short stays will be required to apply for the ETIAS visa waiver. A travel authorization launched by the EU.

By May of 2023 the European Union will introduce ETIAS, a new Travel Information and Authorisation System. ETIAS will become a requirement to travel to most European countries. Once available, you will be able to find more information on this website. The European Union official website is https://europa.eu/, and a specific ETIAS website will soon be launched.

Information about the ETIAS Visa Waiver for Europe

ETIAS for Europe is a multiple entry travel authorization that allows holders to travel to Schengen countries for a total stay of 90 days per entry, for purposes of tourism, transit, business or medical treatment.

The European Commission is implementing the ETIAS visa waiver program for all nationalities who do not currently need a visa to travel to Europe. The aim behind the ETIAS travel permit is to strengthen and protect the borders of the Schengen passport-free zone.

The new system will prescreen visa-exempt travelers for any potential security or health risks before they even reach European borders. It is expected to come into effect by May of 2023.

It is important to note that ETIAS is not a visa, but a travel authorization or visa waiver. It is not necessary to visit an embassy in order to apply. The ETIAS application form will be available online.

ETIAS is not a substitute for a student or work visa. Any foreign nationals who wish to live, study, work, or stay in Europe longer than 90 days will be required to apply for another visa from a diplomatic mission of their country of destination.

ETIAS Countries

There are currently 26 European destinations for which ETIAS will be available from 2023. This includes 22 EU countries and 4 non-European Union members: Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland.

The Schengen zone also includes the 3 microstates: Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City, which maintain open or semi-open borders with other Schengen countries.

The ETIAS visa waiver will be required from 2023 for all nationalities who do not currently need a visa for Europe. Eligible foreigners willing to travel to and within the Schengen Area for short stays will need to apply.

There are several European Union countries, including Ireland and the UK, that have opted out of the Schengen zone and maintain their own entry requirements.

Other countries who have recently become European Union members, such as Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania, have yet to sign the Schengen agreement.

Citizens of all the European countries who have signed the Schengen agreement are permitted passport-free travel within Schengen zone borders.

All citizens of the EU are able to travel within the Schengen Area using either their national ID card or passport and are not subject to any other type of border control.

Below you can find the list and an interactive map that summarizes the ETIAS countries.

ETIAS Countries

(*) ETIAS visa waiver expected to become a requirement for these countries in 2023

Countries that Need ETIAS

Once the ETIAS system is implemented, all foreign citizens who are visa-exempt for Europe will be required to complete an ETIAS registration before traveling to the Schengen Area for short stays.

The full list of countries that need ETIAS can be found below but it includes nationals of the US, Canada, Australia, Japan, Brazil, South Korea, Israel, and Mexico.

ETIAS for Europe is a multiple-entry travel authorization and it is valid for 3 years from the moment it is issued.

What does multiple-entry mean? It means that the ETIAS visa waiver allows you to visit any Schengen zone country during its validity period without having to submit a new ETIAS application before every trip to Europe.

Countries eligible for ETIAS

  • Albania
  • Andorra
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina
  • Australia
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Brazil
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Canada
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Costa Rica
  • Dominica
  • El Salvador
  • Federated States of Micronesia
  • Georgia
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala
  • Honduras
  • Hong Kong
  • Israel
  • Japan
  • Kiribati
  • Macau
  • Macedonia
  • Malaysia
  • Marshall Islands
  • Mauritius
  • Mexico
  • Moldova
  • Montenegro
  • New Zealand
  • Nicaragua
  • Palau
  • Panama
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Samoa
  • Serbia
  • Seychelles
  • Singapore
  • Solomon Islands
  • South Korea
  • Taiwan
  • Timor Leste
  • Tonga
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Tuvalu
  • Ukraine
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United States
  • Uruguay
  • Vanuatu
  • Venezuela

How does ETIAS work?

Travelers to Europe required to apply for ETIAS will need to complete a simple online application with basic personal, passport, and travel information.

Applicants will also be required to answer a few questions related to health and security matters before they submit the online form. In total, it should not take more than 10 minutes to complete the application.

All of the answers provided on the application will then be checked against European security databases such as SIS, VIS, Europol, and Interpol, in order to pre-identify any potential health or security risks to Europe.

Once approved, the ETIAS travel permit will be electronically linked to the applicant’s passport.

When registering for ETIAS, the applicant should verify their passport is valid for at least 3 months from the intended date of arrival in the Schengen Zone.

Applicants with dual nationality should make sure they use the same passport to apply for their ETIAS visa waiver that they will later use to travel to Europe.

Again, an approved ETIAS will be valid for a total of 3 years from the date it is issued and it allows multiple entries to all of the 26 Schengen countries during that time. This means you do not need to submit an ETIAS application until the visa waiver, or the associated passport, expires, whichever comes first.

When will ETIAS be implemented?

The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) is expected to become obligatory for eligible travelers by May of 2023.

The ETIAS system was first proposed by the European Commission in April 2016 and approved in November of that year.

Eu-LISA, the European Union Agency which manages the operations of its large-scale information systems, is responsible for developing the new visa waiver system, as well as for managing the security databases which ETIAS applicants will be checked against.

Once implemented, all visa-exempt travelers planning to visit Schengen countries for short stays will be required to pre-register for an ETIAS travel authorization before they can enter EU borders.

It is necessary to submit an ETIAS application for all minors under the age of 18. Nevertheless, parents and legal guardians are allowed to do this on the minor’s behalf.

Schengen Visa Information

All non-visa-exempt citizens who are not eligible to apply for ETIAS will need to obtain a visa to travel to the Schengen Area no matter the duration or purpose of their stay.

The map above provides visual information about ETIAS eligible countries and Schengen visa countries.

Unlike ETIAS, which permits travel to all of the 26 Schengen countries, a Schengen visa is only issued for one individual European country.

In order to submit a Schengen visa application, it is necessary to visit the nearest embassy or consulate of the country the traveler wishes to visit.

There are several types of Schengen visas, depending on the purpose and duration of the intended stay in Europe. A Schengen visa may be issued as a single, double, or multiple-entry visa. Unlike ETIAS, a Schengen visa may also be issued for purposes of work or study in a European country.

The Schengen visa application requirements state that the applicant must attend an embassy appointment with a range of supporting documentation. This includes a valid passport containing at least 2 blank pages, travel insurance covering a stay within Schengen member states, and proof of sufficient financial means to cover the trip.

ETIAS-eligible citizens who wish to spend more than 90 consecutive days, or study, work, or live in Schengen countries, will also be required to apply for a Schengen visa corresponding to the duration and purpose of their intended stay.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

ETIAS FAQ

  • What is the ETIAS visa waiver for Schengen countries?

    The European Travel Information and Authorization (ETIAS) for the Schengen Area is an electronic visa waiver due to be introduced by May of 2023. It will permit eligible citizens to visit any Schengen country for short stays.

  • What purposes are the ETIAS visa waiver suitable for?

    An approved ETIAS travel authorization allows travel to the Schengen Area for business, tourism, transit, or medical purposes.

  • Who needs to apply for the Schengen zone ETIAS waiver?

    All citizens of visa-exempt countries for Europe will have to apply for the ETIAS travel permit to visit the Schengen zone for short stays. Please refer to the ‘Countries that need ETIAS’ section above or the Visa Checker above the FAQ section, to check your eligibility.

  • What is the difference between ETIAS for the Schengen Area and a Schengen visa?

    An approved ETIAS visa waiver allows the holder to travel to any of the Schengen Area countries for multiple short stays during its validity. It is only available for citizens of countries who do not need a visa to enter Europe. It can be requested via an online application process.

    Unlike ETIAS for Europe, a Schengen visa is issued for one specific European country and it is not available through an electronic application. Eligible citizens must apply for a Schengen visa at an embassy or consulate of the specific Schengen country they wish to visit.

  • How long can I stay in Schengen countries with my ETIAS authorization?

    An approved ETIAS authorization permits holders to travel to Schengen countries for stays of up to 90 days per entry within every 180-day period.

  • How can I apply for the ETIAS visa waiver to the Schengen zone?

    Eligible citizens will be able to apply for ETIAS through a simple online application. They will obtain an approved Europe visa waiver electronically linked to their passport.

  • What documents do I need for the ETIAS visa waiver to travel to Europe?

    In order to submit an ETIAS application, it is necessary to have:

    • An eligible passport valid for at least 3 months from the intended date of entry to the Schengen Area.
    • A valid debit or credit card to pay the ETIAS fee.
    • A current email address at which to receive the ETIAS travel permit approval notice.

  • When can I apply for my ETIAS Europe visa waiver?

    It is expected that travelers will be able to submit their Europe visa waiver applications at least 72 hours before their intended entry date to the Schengen Area.

  • How long will it take to process my ETIAS Schengen visa waiver?

    The standard processing time for the ETIAS Schengen visa waiver has not yet been announced. It will be published on this site once made available. It seems it will be under 15 minutes.

  • Do I need an ETIAS for European countries for my children?

    Yes, it is necessary for all travelers from Europe visa-exempt countries to have an individually approved ETIAS. This includes all children under the age of 18 years old.

  • Will I need to apply for an Schengen ETIAS for every trip to Schengen countries?

    No, it is not necessary to apply for a European travel permit for every trip to a Schengen country. An approved ETIAS is valid for 3 years from the date of issue and it allows holders to travel to the Schengen zone multiple times during its validity.

  • Can I use my ETIAS for the Schengen Area to travel to other European Union countries?

    An approved ETIAS grants the holder permission to travel to all the Schengen countries.

    To travel to other European Union nations not included in the Schengen Area it is necessary to apply for a visa for the individual EU country you wish to visit.

  • If I have dual citizenship, which passport do I use to travel to the Schengen zone?

    Applicants with dual citizenship must use the same passport to complete their ETIAS application they will later use to travel to the Schengen zone.

    The approved visa waiver is electronically linked to the individual travel document. If your passport expires during the validity of the ETIAS, it is necessary to submit a new application.

  • Am I guaranteed admission to Schengen countries with my ETIAS Europe visa waiver?

    No, the ETIAS travel permit for Europe only grants permission to travel to and within the Schengen Area. The final entry decision is made by the individual immigration officer at the Schengen zone border control.

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