Traveling without a visa to the Netherlands and other Schengen countries will change in 2023.
In 2023, the necessary changes will be made for nationalities that do not require a visa who travel to the Netherlands or other countries Schengen countries want to travel. The reason for this is the introduction of ETIAS, the European travel authorization system.
ETIAS stands for European Travel Information and Authorization System and is an electronic system for issuing travel authorizations for traveling to Schengen countries. This travel authorization is a security check and will apply to visa-exempt third-country nationals traveling to the Schengen area. Before they can travel to the Schengen area, they must request permission to do so. ETIAS is none Schengen visa. Travelers from countries subject to visa liberalization will still be able to travel to the EU without a visa. They must first apply for a travel authorization via ETIAS.
ETIAS is not a visa requirement
It is therefore not the intention of the European government to impose another kind of visa obligation via the ETIAS travel authorisation. Visa not required travelers do not need to go to an embassy for their application, no biometric data is collected and much less information is collected than is the case with a procedure for applying for a Schengen visa. The procedure for applying for a Schengen visa can usually take up to 15 days, and in some cases can be extended to 30 or 60 days. The online ETIAS application, on the other hand, is completed in a few minutes. The ETIAS travel authorization remains valid for three years, much longer than a Schengen visa. An ETIAS travel authorization is also valid for an unlimited number of entries.
Insight into who travels to the EU
The purpose of ETIAS is to collect information in advance about travelers who enter the European Union without a visa so that any security risks can be identified. Anyone with a visa-free nationality who poses a threat to security, public health or aims to settle in Europe will not be allowed to travel to Schengen countries.
The following nationalities will have to apply for an ETIAS travel authorization online from 2023: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, El Salvador, Georgia , Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Macau, North Macedonia, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru , Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Samoa, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Taiwan, East Timor, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu and Venezuela.
Apply for a travel authorization online
Travelers from these countries will have to complete an application online on a dedicated website or mobile app. The applicant only needs a travel document (passport or equivalent) to complete the form. Completing the application will take no more than 10 minutes. Every applicant between the ages of 18 and 70 must pay an electronic fee of 7 euros.
