The rollout of it ETIASsystem in Europe has been postponed to 2024. This means that the system will only be introduced in 2024 instead of November 2023 as originally planned. Etias is an electronic travel authorization for visitors to Europe visa-free with the aim of better monitoring who enters and leaves Europe.
On 5 September 2018, the European Council adopted a regulation establishing a European travel information and authorization system (ETIAS). The ETIAS system will apply to approximately 1,4 billion people from more than 60 different countries, including Americans, British and Canadians.
The introduction of it European travel information and authorization system (ETIAS) has been postponed several times. The system was supposed to go into effect in November 2023, but the European Union has announced that it will not be operational this year. A reason for the delay has not been given. No official date has yet been announced for the new launch.
Introduction of ETIAS was planned for 2021
Although the original planned date for the implementation of ETIAS was in 2021, its implementation has been postponed due to various reasons.
One of the main reasons for the postponement was the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disrupted the travel industry worldwide. The EU has therefore postponed the introduction of ETIAS to give the travel industry time to recover from the pandemic and to give travelers the chance to prepare for the new rules.
Another reason for the postponement is the complex nature of the ETIAS system. The system requires a thorough integration of different national and EU databases to ensure the security of the Schengen zone and smooth access for travelers. This is a sizable task that requires time and resources to implement.
In addition, there have also been technical challenges in the development and implementation of the ETIAS system, including problems with the interoperability of the different national systems and databases.
European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS)
The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) is an automated system developed by the European Union (EU) to facilitate travel to the Schengen zone to ease. The Schengen zone consists of 27 countries in Europe, including The Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy and Spain, within which travelers can travel without border controls.
From 2023, travelers without one Schengen visa obligation from outside the EU who want to travel to the Schengen zone must first submit an application online via the ETIAS system. The aim of ETIAS is to improve security in the EU by screening visa-free travelers before they travel to the Schengen zone. ETIAS will check travelers' information using various databases, including Interpol and Europol, to check if they pose a threat to security.
Once a traveler's application is approved, he or she will receive an ETIAS clearance, which will allow them to enter the Schengen zone. The ETIAS approval is valid for a period of three years or until the expiry date of the traveller's passport if it is less than 3 years.
Travel authorization systems
The ETIAS system is comparable to travel authorization systems used by other countries, such as:
- United States: The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is a system that allows travelers from certain countries to travel to the United States without a visa.
- Canada: The Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is a similar system to ESTA.
- Australia: The Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) is a travel authorization system that allows certain travelers to travel to Australia without a visa.
- India: The Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) is a system that authorizes foreign travelers to travel to India without a visa for tourism and business purposes.
- Turkey: The Electronic Visa (e-Visa) is a system that allows foreign travelers to apply online for a visa to travel to Turkey.
In addition to these countries, other countries also have travel authorization systems that may vary in their requirements and procedures.
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