If you are from a visa exempt country and wish to visit Europe in the coming months, you will need to apply for ETIAS, but what is the ETIAS processing time? How long would you have to wait before you are approved for travel? This is vital Information you know as it will have far-reaching consequences for your travel plans.
What Is The ETIAS Visa Waiver Processing Time?
The processing time for ETIAS varies depending on the situation of the applicant and whether or not their application triggers a security alert. The average Etias authorization application will be approved in a few hours or between 24-48 hours. In case of system overloads, the processing time may stretch until 72 hours, so travelers are advised to submit their application at least 96 hours before their trip to the Schengen zone.
Why ETIAS Approval May Be Delayed?
There are many reasons why Etias approval may be delayed and result in the applicant waiting a long time to get their clearance for travel. Despite being a new initiative, let us explain possible reasons why this may be the case.
Operational Bottlenecks: Etias is an electronic system that is about to enter the transitional phase. The EU announced that from May 2023, the system would go into the testing phase, and travelers from visa free countries will be encouraged to use it. By testing, it means the system will not be perfect, which means there may be technical difficulties, as is common with new systems. If you submit your application during the testing phases, expect slight delays, but these difficulties will be corrected before Etias goes fully operational in 2024.
Security Alert Triggers: Applications that trigger security alerts will not be approved as one of two things will occur. Either the application will be declined for one or more reasons, or the application will be forwarded to the manual processing unit of the primary country the visitor wishes to travel to. Once the manual unit receives the data, it may take some time to review, especially if a backlog of applications requires manual attention.
System Failures: Etias promises to be an advanced system, so the possibility of frequent system failures will be less likely; however, these things happen even to rye lost advanced system there is.
Why Your Application May Be Declined?
In the previous paragraph, we discussed possible reasons why delays might cause the processing time to stretch much longer than normal. We want to espouse possible reasons why it may be declined outright.
Wrong Information: If any of the Information you provide is wrong, the possibility of a declined application becomes very high. That is why applicants are advised to carefully fill out their forms and crosscheck for errors before submitting them. After submission, changes can no longer be made.
False Information: If the system picks up any false information in your application, your application will be declined. False Information may range from stolen identity to a false medical record or previous travel destination. Only valid Information should be entered into the online application form.
Ineligibility: Etias is only for visitors from visa free countries, not non visa exempt countries. If the applicant is not from a visa exempt country, they do not qualify for ETIAS; therefore, their application will be declined.
Watchlist: Persons on the crime watchlist will not be allowed into Europe, and their applications will be declined. These persons may be linked to terrorism, crime, online fraud, or any other crime for that matter.
Can I Be Denied Entry Into Europe Despite Having ETIAS?
Yes, you can apply for Etias, obtain it, and still be denied entry into Europe by border agents. Despite Having a comprehensive immigration policy, European countries have their border agencies and reserve the exclusive rights to decide who enters countries. For instance, if an applicant is suspected of having obtained Etias under a false pretext, the border agents may deny them entry.
ETIAS is solely for short visits of 90 days within a 180 days period. It is not a work or study visa and should not be used for such.
Apply For ETIAS Online
Did you know you can apply for Etias in 10 minutes on VisaHQ? Here is how you do it
Visit VisaHQ
Choose your destination
Choose your citizenship
Select Etias
Complete the application form
Attach the relevant documents
Pay the fee
Submit for approval
The application fee for ETIAS is €7, and it is only charged for visitors between 18-70 years of age, but those outside the age bracket may apply for free.
The standard Etias processing time is within 24 hours but may extend for two more days. Submit your application now through VisaHQ at least 96 hours before traveling.