Do Singaporeans need Etias, and when will it become mandatory if they do? If you are a Singaporean national and you visit Europe, often we are sure that a lot will be running through your mind due to the recent announcement by the European Union that visitors from selected countries will require European Travel Information Authorization System approval before they can enter the continent for business or pleasure.
For travelers who are used to visa free travels to Europe and only require their passports at that point of entry, this policy may seem cumbersome, but it is not. From 2024, all visitors from visa exempt countries, including Singapore, must apply for ETIAS approval and provide evidence of the same at border crossings and airports in Schengen Europe.
Do Singaporeans Need ETIAS?
Singaporeans will need Etias to enter Schengen countries starting next year because it is a visa exempt country. Singaporeans are currently allowed to visit the Schengen Area visa free, and that is set to continue, but they must secure ETIAS approval first. This document is not a visa but a visa waiver issued to visitors the authorities term as eligible for entry.
How Does it work?
ETIAS does not work in isolation but in tandem with other security databases. It simply checks an applicant's information using security databases like Eurocop, Interpol, and SIS. These databases contain comprehensive lists of security information on terrorists, traffickers, and high risk individuals. The essential motive of ETIAS is to ensure that such individuals do not gain entry into Europe. Applications that do not trigger security alerts will be approved, and their owners will issue the pass, but those that trigger alerts will be referred to the manual ETIAS unit of the country they apply for.
Do Singaporeans Need Different ETIAS Permits To Enter Different Schengen Countries?
They do not require different documents to access different EU countries. ETIAS is universal and is recognized by all countries in the Schengen region. This means that with a single Etias approval, you can visit all 27 Schengen nations, including Bulgaria, Romania, and Cyprus, which are not Schengen countries, and Croatia, which is set to be one by 2024. Holders can also visit Microstates like The Vatican, Andorra, and Monaco. The only countries they cannot visit with Etias are the UK which is no longer an EU state, and the Republic of Ireland, which has a different immigration policy.
What Can I Use ETIAS For?
You can use ETIAS for short trips to Europe for tourism, family and friends visits, and business trips. ETIAS can also be used for transit to connect flights heading to a different country.
Apply For ETIAS Online
Etias is an electronic travel authorization permit, so it is obtainable online. You don't need to visit the embassy of the Schengen country in Singapore to get your approval as it can do it using a tested and trusted platform like VisaHQ with the following steps
Visit VisaHQ
Choose Singapore as your destination
Choose the first Schengen country you wish to visit as your primary destination
Select ETIAS
Complete the application form
Attach your documents
Pay the fee
Submit for approval
Singaporeans are advised to get their ETIAS sorted out at least 96 hours before they fly into Europe and must show the ETIAS document printed from their email at the airport.
ETIAS For Singaporean Requirements
Here are the requirements for the ETIAS application.
Passport: They need a valid Singaporean passport with a minimum of six months' validity. The general rule is that the passport must remain valid when they plan to stay in Europe. The passport they use in applying for approval must be the same one they show at the airport.
Personal Information: They must provide their full names as it appears in their passport, gender, date of birth, nationality, etc.
Passport Information: This is a separate section for passport information, such as the date of issue, expiry date, and passport number.
Travel Information: The travel information such as the countries they have visited, if they have visited a war torn country or a country with a recent pandemic outbreak, etc.
A brief medical information is also required, among other details, and only accurate information should be provided.
Card: The application fee is €7 for 18-70 year old applicants, paid with a credit or debit card. This fee is non refundable and does not guarantee that their ETIAS application will be approved.
Email: The registered email address will be used to receive notification status and also receive approval. Travelers must print ETIAS and bring it along with them to Europe.
Do Singaporeans need Etias? Yes, they do, and the Form is available on VisaHQ. When filling out the Form, they must clearly state their primary destination, including the other countries they may likely visit.