The European Commission announced in late 2022 that ETIAS for US citizens would be required for all US passport holders visiting the Schengen area starting from November 2023. This new initiative will change the way US nationals travel to Schengen countries.
In the past, all you needed as an American was to show a valid passport at the entry point, and you will be allowed into the country, but all this is set to change.
From November 2023, a valid passport will not be enough to enter Schengen Europe, even though it will still be mandatory. Instead, travelers from the US must first get ETIAS approval from the Schengen country they intend to visit before boarding a flight from the United States. The European Commission states that visitors without ETIAS approval will be sent back home and prevented from entering Schengen Europe.
What Is ETIAS?
ETIAS visa waiver is the Electronic Travel Authorization System. It screens an applicant’s details against several established databases to see if they pose any security threat to public peace. This system has been in rue works for years and was unveiled by the President of the EU, Jean Claude, as far back as 2016 to limit, if not eliminate, the potential risk of admitting dangerous elements into Europe.
ETIAS will allow nationals from more than 50 countries to enter Schengen Europe without a visa. However, they will still need to fill out the ETIAS form to gain authorization to enter.
ETIAS will be valid for three years and will allow the holder to stay for up to 90 days per visit within 180 days
Will Americans Require ETIAS?
Americans will require ETIAS to enter any Schengen country in Europe starting from November 2023. Before now, the US remains on the visa-exempt list of European countries, and the introduction of ETIAS is not going to change that. However, they will need to apply for ETIAS and gain approval before boarding a flight to the European country of their choice. This authorization is only designed for short term visits for tourism, Medical or business trips, or any short term engagement.
ETIAS will not change the visa free privileges of Americans, and they will still be able to enter Europe without a visa in addition to getting ETIAS approval. If a traveler plans to stay for much longer than the 90 days allowed, they must apply for a visa instead.
How Long Will ETIAS For US Citizens Take To Be Approved?
Once you submit your application, you will get approval within minutes. The system is designed to process information at high speed and is solely online.
ETIAS For US Citizens Requirements
When applying for ETIAS, all IS citizens must provide the following in compliance with general application requirements.
Passport: The applicant must have a valid passport issued by the US Department of State. The passport must have at least three months of validity by the time they will be leaving Europe, and passport information should be provided.
Card: A credit or debit card will be required to pay the application fee online
Email Address: An email address is needed to receive updates and information about the status of your application
Applicants are advised to fill out the application form as accurately as possible to avoid rejection or triggering the security system, which will prompt further manual checks of their application.
How to Apply For ETIAS?
US citizens will be able to apply for ETIAS online via VisaHQ in the following steps
Log onto VisaHQ
Select your destination in Europe
Select the US as your citizenship
Choose ETIAS
Fill out the application form
Pay the fee
Submit for approval
The system is designed to screen and provide feedback in minutes. If there is a security alert, your details will be passed onto the manual ETIAS unit in the country you hope to visit for further review, and this process may take a longer time or up to 2 weeks.
General Information
US citizens applying for ETIAS will be asked to provide the following information
Personal details like date of birth, full name, gender, and place of birth
Contact details like their phone number, home address, and email address
Passport information like the passport number, date of issue, and expiry date
Information about their travel plans and their first port of entry
Criminal record, if any
Whether they have been to a Schengen country before
These are the general ETIAS for US citizens information that will be required from all applicants.
Endeavor to provide only accurate information so your request will not be rejected. VisaHQ will be your go-to platform come November 2023 when it becomes operational.