There are many countries that are not in the European Union (EU) whose citizens can enter the EU Schengen Zone without needing a visa. Specifically, there are currently 59 countries that are not in the EU but are visa-free.
Citizens of these countries are allowed to go into countries in the Schengen Zone for business or travel purposes for up to 90 days. During these 90 days, these visitors cannot work or study but can engage in business and tourism activities.
Starting in May 2025, approximately 1.4 billion individuals from 59 countries/territories will be required to obtain an ETIAS authorization prior to travelling to the EU.
In addition, recent security concerns with terrorism and the migrant crisis have called for better management of who is entering EU borders. The EU has continuously declared its goal of making travelling within its borders a more secure experience.
To reduce procedures and wait times and address security concerns, the European Commission (EC) has come up with a solution – ETIAS.
This article will contain all your information regarding this new system.
What is ETIAS?
ETIAS stands for European Travel Information and Authorization System. It is a completely electronic system that allows and tracks visitors from countries who do not need a visa to enter the Schengen Zone. It resembles the U.S. Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which serves a similar purpose.
Also, there should be no confusion that there are countries in the EU that are not members of the Schengen Zone, which the ETIAS authorization doesn’t prevent you from entering.
The legal procedures to pass the ETIAS started in 2016, and the system is expected to be fully operational in May 2025.
The ETIAS will undergo a detailed security check of each applicant to determine whether they can enter any Schengen Zone country. While citizens of countries who do not need a visa for travel purposes of up to 90 days in the EU do not need to go through a long process of applying for the visa, the ETIAS will ensure that these people are not a security threat.
This travel authorization system will gather, keep track of, and update necessary information regarding visitors to determine whether it is safe for them to enter Schengen countries.
The ETIAS will be used for business and tourist purposes, and it will also allow people to visit the Schengen countries for medical and transit reasons. In addition, it will be mandatory for all Schengen visa-free countries.
Why Is the EU Launching a New Travel Authorisation System?
In his 2016 State of the Union Address, President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, said the following:
We need to know who is crossing our borders. This way we will know who is travelling to Europe before they even get here.
The main reason for the approval of the ETIAS authorization is security. With the increased risk of travellers worldwide, the EU wants to ensure safe travel in its countries. The ETIAS will substantially decrease security concerns through its information and data-gathering systems. This means that the ETIAS will detect if a person is a threat to the security of Schengen countries. This will lead to the person being denied entry and avoiding the threat of being present inside EU borders. It will deal with a problem before it is even there.
However, besides making travelling more secure, the ETIAS authorization will also assist the EU countries and all travellers in the following ways:
- Reduce procedures and application times
- Improve the management of EU country borders
- Assist in detecting and decreasing crime and terrorism
- Impede irregular migration
- Reinforce the visa liberalization policy of the EU
The ETIAS authorization will make travelling to the EU less of a hassle and a much safer experience.
THE TRAVEL AUTHORISATION SYSTEM WILL:
European Countries Requiring ETIAS
ETIAS will be required for entry into almost all Schengen/EU member countries, with the exception of Ireland.
Who Will Need ETIAS?
As mentioned, the ETIAS targets citizens of countries who can enter the EU zone visa-free. There will be 59 countries/territories that will need to get ETIAS authorization.
>> List of Countries/Territories Required to Apply for ETIAS
How Will the ETIAS System Work?
The ETIAS system will be simple to use and save time for applicants and processing as shown in the image below:
Those who want to get approval will have to follow these steps to apply for ETIAS:
- Fill out the ETIAS application form.
- Submit the application.
- Pay the ETIAS fee.
- Wait for the confirmation.
You will be approved if what you filled out on the application form is correct and you are eligible and not risky for the ETIAS. This whole procedure is expected to be completed in only a few minutes.
However, the application will be manually processed if there is a hit from the ETIAS. The manual processing is expected to take about 96 hours (4 days), or a maximum of 2 weeks.
How to Present ETIAS to Border Authorities?
Authorities haven’t officially announced the method for demonstrating a valid ETIAS at border crossings.
However, based on similar systems in other countries, the most likely scenario is that your ETIAS authorization will be electronically linked to your passport. Border authorities will be able to verify your status through their systems after scanning your passport at the border.
This means you won’t need to carry any separate documents, such as printed confirmations, or show anything on your phone.
FAQ About ETIAS
Below, you will find answers to commonly asked questions regarding ETIAS authorization.
How long is the ETIAS valid?
If approved, the ETIAS might be valid for three years or until the end of the validity of the travel document registered during the application, whichever comes first. Whether you will get the first period of validity or the second depends on the system’s evaluation of your information and risk.
How does ETIAS check my information?
ETIAS will be connected to many databases to verify your information within minutes. That is why all applicants need to give honest responses and not try to give false information. If you are caught giving fraudulent information to the ETIAS system, you will be denied authorization. In addition, if your ETIAS is approved, but you are later found with incorrect or false information, your ETIAS will be revoked.
How many times can I enter the EU with an ETIAS?
You can enter the Schengen member states as many times as you want, for as long as your ETIAS is valid and you have not stayed more than 90 days in a 180-day period.
Do I have to change the country of first entry everytime I want to enter Schengen?
No, you do not have to enter the first country selected for your visit every time you return to the Schengen Area after leaving. That’s because ETIAS is an authorization for multiple entries into the Schengen Area within its entire validity period, and you won’t need to make multiple ETIAS applications for each time you enter Schengen.
However, if your ETIAS expires, you will need to apply for a new one before your next visit to any Schengen country, regardless of the entry point.
Authorities recommend applying for a new ETIAS, especially if there is a significant gap between your previous visit and the upcoming one.
Are ESTA and ETIAS the same? What are their differences?
ESTA is the US equivalent of the EU ETIAS. While ETIAS stands for European Travel Information and Authorization, ESTA stands for Electronic System for Travel Authorization.
You will not be able to enter the US with an ETIAS, just the same as an ESTA holder is not permitted to enter the EU without having an ETIAS or Schengen Visa. US citizens, who are permitted to enter Europe visa-free starting from May 2025, will have to obtain an ETIAS prior to their trip to the Schengen Zone.
Is ETIAS a Visa?
No. The ETIAS authorisation is not a visa.
Below, we have listed and explained the top differences between the ETIAS and a visa, which can help our readers differentiate the two.
Nationals of visa liberalisation countries will continue to travel to the EU without a visa but will simply be required to obtain a travel authorisation via ETIAS prior to their travel.
ETIAS will be a simple, fast and visitor-friendly system, which will, in more than 95% of cases, result in a positive answer within a few minutes.
An ETIAS travel authorisation does not reintroduce visa-like obligations. There is no need to go to a consulate to make an application, no biometric data is collected, and significantly less information is gathered than during a visa application procedure. Whereas, as a general rule, a Schengen visa procedure can take up to 15 days and sometimes be extended up to 30 or 60 days, the online ETIAS application only takes a few minutes to fill in. The validity will be for a period of three years, significantly longer than the validity of a Schengen visa. An ETIAS authorisation will be valid for an unlimited number of entries.
Do I need an ETIAS visa if I already have a long-term visa from one of the Member States?
Since a long-term visa issued by one of the member states gives you the right to move throughout the whole Schengen, you will not need to obtain a travel authorization for as long as you have the visa.
Do infants and children need ETIAS?
Every traveller, even infants and elders, must present a travel authorization upon their arrival in Schengen to be permitted to enter. However, people under the age of 18 are exempt from paying the fee.
What is the ETIAS watchlist?
This list consists of data on people suspected of having committed or been involved in a criminal offence (such as terrorism). The ETIAS watchlist will be established based on information from the Member States and Europol.
When will ETIAS be implemented?
ETIAS is expected to be operational in May 2025.
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* Special administrative regions of the People’s Republic of China
** Entities and Territorial Authorities that are not recognised as states by at least one Member State
Infographics: © European Commission