The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is a planned electronic authorisation system of the European Union for visa-exempt visitors travelling to the Schengen Area (including EFTA countries), as well as Cyprus. ETIAS is planned to cost €7 for applicants between ages 18 and 70, and to remain valid for three years or until the expiry date of the passport, whichever is sooner.[1] As of November 2024[update], ETIAS is planned to come into force six months after the EU Entry/Exit System,[2] a system for electronically registering travellers' border crossings, which was planned for May 2025.[3]
 Map of Europe
Schengen Area
Schengen Area (air and maritime borders only)
Countries with open borders but not part of the Schengen Area or the EU
Member of the EU committed by treaty to join the Schengen Area, but not yet a member | |
| Policy of |  European Union |
|---|---|
| Type | Electronic travel authorisation system area |
| Expected implementation | 2025 |
| Applicable countries | 30 countries +4 countries and 1 territory indirectly
|
According to the European Commission, ETIAS is planned to be implemented "for the identification of security, irregular migration or high epidemic risks posed by visa-exempt visitors."[4] It is not a visa,[5][6] and it does not guarantee entry.[7]
ETIAS was first proposed by the European Commission in 2016[8] and was formally established by Regulation (EU) 2018/1240 of the European Parliament and of the European Council of 12 September 2018.[9][10] Due to various reasons, including difficulties in integrating different member states' national systems into a central database, the implementation date has been repeatedly delayed from January 2021.[11][12]
ETIAS is similar to other electronic travel authorisation systems, such as the United States Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)[13] and the United Kingdom Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
Applicable nationalities
ETIAS is required for entry by land, air and sea to 30 European countries, including the 29 member states of the Schengen Area, as well as Cyprus. Ireland, which is part of the Common Travel Area, is the only member state of the European Union that continues to have its own visa policy and does not plan to join the Schengen Area or to require ETIAS.[14]
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 travel authorisation if they hold a travel document from the EU or Schengen country.[2][15]
As of entering into use, ETIAS will be required from nationals of visa-exempt third countries (Annex II)[16] except the European microstates of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City.
However, ETIAS will not be required from holders of visas, residence permits, local border traffic permits; family members of EU/Schengen nationals holding a residence card; refugee or stateless travel documents issued by an EU or Schengen country. Crew members; holders of diplomatic or official passports and airport transit passengers are also exempt.[9]
As of 2024[update], 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:
Albania
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Australia
Bahamas
Barbados
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brazil
Brunei
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Dominica
El Salvador
Georgia
Grenada
Guatemala
Honduras
Hong Kong
Israel
Japan
Kiribati
Kosovo
Macau
Malaysia
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Montenegro
New Zealand
Nicaragua
North Macedonia
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 Kingdom[l]
United States
Uruguay
Venezuela
Application process
All prospective visitors will need to complete an online application, and those between ages 18 and 70 must pay a fee of €7.[2] It is estimated that 1.4 billion people will need to apply.[7] 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.[17][1] If approved, the authorisation will be valid for three years or until the expiry date of the travel document, whichever is earlier.[1]
See also
Notes
- Excluding Northern Cyprus.
- 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.
- Including Åland.
- Excluding Overseas France.
- Excluding the Dutch Caribbean.
- Excluding Svalbard and dependencies.
- Including the Canary Islands, Ceuta, Melilla and plazas de soberanía.
- Including all classes of British nationality, and except those benefitting from the Brexit withdrawal agreement
References
External links
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