The European Commission announced in late 2022 that travelers from visa-exempt countries would soon require special authorizations before traveling to any European Union country in the Schengen area bit when will Etias be required? Since the announcement, has the policy become operational or is a timeframe set for it? This page contains all the information you need regarding the Electronic Travel Information and Authorization System, what it entails, as well as the deadline. Keep reading to learn more.
A Brief Background Of ETIAS
Many visitors who come to Europe for short visits every year do not require visas to enter the continent. Before the announcement of ETIAS authorization, all they needed was to show a valid passport at the point of entry, and they were allowed in. This remains the case, but the European Commission has announced a new set of travel guidelines for such travelers, one of which is ETIAS.
The electronic travel information and authorization system (ETIAS) is a security screening system that is designed to screen every visitor coming from visa-free countries into Europe.
The initiative was announced by the European Commission in 2016 and approved by the European Parliament in 2018. The system was introduced because of the security concerns caused by the migrant crisis and terrorism in recent times.
These realities called for a comprehensive continent-wide security screening process for every visitor coming into the Schengen Area from visa-free countries.
This information and authorisation system will be available to visitors coming for short visits such as tourism, business trips, family visits, or any other short-term engagement. The permit will allow the holder to enter the Schengen Area and stay for up to 90 days within a six months period. ETIAS will screen the applicants information across multiple security databases to establish that they don’t pose any security threat to the country they are coming to; secondly, it will regularly update the visitors information so the authorities will know their itinerary.
Who Is Eligible For ETIAS?
Only visitors from visa-free countries are eligible for ETIAS; so therefore, if you can currently travel to European countries without a visa because your country is on the Schengen visa-free list, you can apply for ETIAS approval. Those who are not eligible for visa-free entry into Europe cannot apply for ETIAS approval; they should apply for a Schengen visa instead.
What Information Will Be Required
Applicants are advised to submit only valid information because their data will be screened with security databases; providing false information may trigger a security alert, thereby leading to application rejections. The application form will require the following information
Personal information: Full name, gender, date of birth, place of birth, nationality
Passport information: Passport number, date of issue, expiry date, country of issue
Contact information: House address, phone number, and email address
Profession: Work Experienced and education qualifications
Travel history information: The Schengen countries traveled to and whether they have been deported from any of them.
The applicant will also be made to reveal whether they have been to a war-torn country and if they have any criminal record.
When Will ETIAS Be Required?
According to the European Commission, ETIAS will be required to start from May 2023, but a six months grace period will be allowed for testing and performance improvement. During these six months, eligible visitors will be allowed to travel to Europe with and without it. However, after the six months grace period elapses, it will become mandatory from November 2023. By then, travelers without an ETIAS permit will not be allowed into the Schengen Area.
How To Apply For ETIAS?
This authorization will be obtained online, so applicants don’t need to visit the embassy of the country they hope to travel to. Once they submit their applications, they will get feedback within minutes. VisaHQ will be available for applicants who can complete the process with just a few steps. They must do the following
Log onto VisaHQ
Select the Schengen country of choice as your destination
Select your citizenship
Complete the form
Pay the application fee
Submit for approval
If your application is successful, you will be updated via email, but if there are any security concerns, your application will be forwarded to an independent manual processing unit for further review, and this process may take up to two weeks. Rejected applicants may appeal the ruling of the independent review body. The EC has also stated that those who are unsuccessful with their applications are free to reapply again.
ETIAS Validity & Application Fee
ETIAS will be valid for three years, and the application fee is €7 for adults between 18-70 years, but there is no fee for visitors outside this age bracket.
When will ETIAS be required? It will be officially launched by May, but it will become mandatory for all nationals from visa-exempt countries by November 2023.