Before your next trip to Europe, once the new ETIAS central unit policy kicks in, you need to be aware of the ETIAS screening rules. These are the rules and regulations backing the new policy that will affect millions of foreigners who will visit the European Union in the coming years. If you plan to visit any country in the Schengen Area, you want to make sure that you read this article until the end, so you leave nothing to chance.
So before we explain the rules, let’s throw more light on the new policy set to go into force in the coming months.
What Is Etias?
The European Travel Information and Authorization System is a security screening System designed by the European Commission for Schengen countries. Its sole purpose is to vet travelers coming to Europe to ensure that those with criminal backgrounds do not gain entry into any of them in the EU countries. ETIAS is primarily designed to secure EU borders in light of the massive rise in illegal migrants coming to the continent and the number of people who overstay their welcome.
Europe is currently the most visited continent in the world and the most developed, which may best explain why it attracts so many visitors. Furthermore, visitors are categorized into two groups; those from Schengen visa-free countries and those from non-visa-free countries.
Those coming from visa free travel countries are the visitors who will be eligible for Etias. Etias will be valid for three years, and holders can stay in one or more countries for a combined 90 days within a 180 days period. It is meant to be a short-term visa waiver for short trips.
ETIAS Screening Rules
Although the screening rules are yet to be finalized, and a few more may be added, here are some of the screening rules visitors should prepare for.
A Screening Board: The first thing to note is that a screening board will be established to draft and modify the screening rules and the regulations governing the entire application and screening processes for all eligible European visitors. There will be one representative from each unit and Europol. That is to say that each country will produce one representative, and the board will consult and evaluate all types of threats to EU security.
Visitors On The Watchlist May Not Get Approval
One rule to remember is that visitors on the watchlist for any kind of crime may likely not get ETIAS approval. If the crime they are suspected of is likely to cause mild or significant harm to residents, citizens, or infrastructure, their applications may be declined. This is why verified checks will be done after applicants submit their details.
The Use Of Risk Factors
The system will screen applications according to risk factors already predetermined. These risk factors are as follows.
EES& The Entry/Exit System data will be used to track visitors who overstay their welcome or are refused at any of the borders of member states. The rates of such occurrences will be used to make decisions on future applications.
Security Risks Get Higher Considerations: Visitors that pose security risks will get a higher rate of refusals than those who pose health risks or are illegal migrants.
Correlations: There will be a correlation between EES and ETIAS data; that means data from both systems will be used to screen applicant data.
Health Databases: The databases of the World Health Organization and the European Center For Disease Prevention & Control on disease outbreaks will be used to identify affected countries to decide on visitors coming from such countries.
Additional Risk Factors: Other risk factors that the system will consider includes the applicant’s age, sex, range, nationality, city and country of residence, level of education, place of birth, current occupation, or employer. All these factors will be considered, not only age and sex.
The applicant’s identity, like race, skin color, religious beliefs, disability, sexual orientation, etc., may also come into focus.
Similar To The US: The screening rules deployed by ETIAS will be similar to those of the US, Canada, and Australian screening systems. For instance, all applicants must provide biographical information such as their date of birth, name, study details, and current employment. They must also orifice their personal information and have a clean record, and if they have a criminal record sanction, it must not be up to 12 months or more.
Entry Guarantee
Although most Etias guarantees will be approved, there is no automatic guarantee that those who have it will be allowed to enter the country of their choice. The immigration and border control officials of the various states will have the final say about who enters their borders. Those caught have provided ETIAS will flag false or inaccurate information.
These are the ETIAS screening rules for visa-free visitors. You can visit VisaHQ to apply for ETIAS approval.