The European Union has launched it European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) postponed by another six months to November 2023.
The start of ETIAS has already been postponed several times. The EU's travel authorization system would be fully operational in May 2023. However, the European Commission has adjusted the start date to November 2023 without any explanation or official statement.
ETIAS travel authorization for 1,4 billion travelers
ETIAS will soon apply to more than 1,4 billion travelers from more than 60 countries in the world, including Americans, British, Australians, Canadians and more nationalities. Before leaving for the EU, they must first request permission online. Currently, travelers can go out visa-free countries travel to the EU without any prior check. Travelers with a visa-required nationality cannot travel freely to the EU, they must first have a Schengen visa request and are also required to have one medical travel insurance to close.
ETIAS was supposed to start in 2022, but that was then postponed until the end of this year. Later, the effective date was moved to May 1, 2023, and now it has been delayed by another six months.
British not happy with ETIAS
The British in particular are not happy with the introduction of ETIAS. They see the EU's travel authorization system as a covert visa requirement. The EU denies that because the application only consists of filling out a form online and uploading a scan of the passport. The costs for an ETIAS travel authorization are € 7 and can be paid online.
The United Kingdom will also set up a similar system itself, which will be called Electronic Travel Authorization. That system will have to process nearly 30 million applications every year. Other countries have already introduced similar systems in the past, including Canada and the US (Electronic System Travel Authorization, simply known as ESTA).
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