As you plan to visit Europe in 2024 using the new document approved by the EU for visa free travelers, you will be curious to know how Etias will work. Since it is not a visa but a visa waiver that also serves as a security checking system, how will it work for individuals from abroad? We explain the new system'ssystem's functions and how it will better the lives of travelers and residents of European countries, so keep reading to learn more.
ETIAS Visa Waiver For Travel
Etias authorization is the new system unveiled by the European Commission to vet travelers coming to European countries to ensure that only those with clean records are allowed into the continent. The European Travel Information and Authorization System was a vision announced by the President of The EU Commission in 2017, and work began in earnest after it was implemented through legislation in 2018. The main purpose of ETIAS is to improve the security situation of EU states by strengthening border security and ensuring that only travelers without ties to crime or criminal gangs are allowed to visit an EU country.
These pre-screening documents issued to visitors from selected countries are not a visa, and such visitors don'tdon't require a visa to enter the Schengen zone. They will be allowed into any Schengen country by showing their ETIAS visa waiver at the airport. The EU hopes that ETIAS will mitigate migration-related risks and reduce, if not prevent, terrorist infiltration into Europe.
ETIAS will be tested for 6 months in 2023 starting from May and will last until the end of the year. Eligible visitors will still be allowed to visit with only their passports during the transition period but come 2024, holding Etias will become mandatory.
How Will Etias Work?
The system will work straightforwardly to improve border security. Once applicants submit their details to the ETIAS server over the internet, the system will start a vetting check via multiple security databases like Interpol, Eurocop, the Schengen Information System, and other security databases.
This check will only last a few minutes, so applicants are advised to wait. After the waiting period, the system will release a notification regarding the success or failure of the check, and this will be forwarded to the applicant's email. Successful applications that do not trigger security alerts will generate Etias, which must be printed out. Those that generate security alerts will be forwarded to the manual ETIAS unit of the primary country of destination for further vetting. The unit's officials will determine whether or not to issue Etias.
Etias Key Objectives
Travel Convenience: ETIAS was developed to ensure convenience for travelers. Since the system is online, visitors do not have to visit the embassy to submit physical documents or wait several weeks as it is done online.
Border Security: ETIAS is set to improve the border security of Europe, particularly those in the Schengen region. The system will pre-screen travelers and decide who is qualified to visit based on good conduct long before they show up at the border or airport.
Transparency: ETIAS will liberalize the travel policy of EU countries so visitors who don't need visas can still show a visa waiver document as proof. This will make the jobs of border security and immigration agents much easier.
Immigration: The system will be able to track the outflow and inflow of migrants from all over the world. This will also ensure that eligible visitors do not abuse the visa-free policy.
How To Apply For ETIAS?
You can apply for Etias online by visiting VisaHQ to complete the application form. Here are the steps to take.
Log onto VisaHQ
Select the first Schengen country you want to visit
Select your country
Choose ETIAS
Complete the application form
Attach the bio page of your passport and other documents
Pay the application fee with a card
Submit for approval
Your approved Etias will be forwarded to your email in a matter of minutes.
ETIAS Information
The application form contains sections for personal data like the applicant'sapplicant's name, context details, education history, and work experience. It also contains travel information such as the Passport number and other passport information, to mention a few.
These are the questions that must be answered truthfully with no section left unfilled.
ETIAS Conditions
ETIAS is valid for 3 years and allows you to visit Europe multiple times a year; however, you are not allowed to stay for more than 90 days per visit; otherwise, you will violate the immigration terms. This document is recognized across Europe, including in non Schengen countries like Croatia (which will become a Schengen state in 2024), Bulgaria, Romania, and Cyprus.
Now that you know how will ETIAS work, visit VisaHQ to submit your application.