What is the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS)?
In November 2016, the European Commission presented a proposal for a European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). That should strengthen security checks for people who visa-free to travel to the EU. Currently, there are 62 nationalities.
With ETIAS comes one automated IT system which should detect risks, from an immigration and security point of view, in people who can travel to the Schengen area without a visa. At the same time, this should make it easier for the vast majority of travelers who do not pose a risk to cross borders. All non-EU citizens who enter the country visa-free Schengen area able to travel will need to apply for a travel authorization through the ETIAS system before departure. The information collected by ETIAS allows pre-checking for potential irregular immigration and security risks. All of this is done in full respect of fundamental rights and data protection principles.
After completing the application form online, the system carries out checks against EU information systems for borders and security. In the vast majority of cases, permission to travel is obtained within a few minutes. The ETIAS travel authorization will be mandatory to enter the Schengen area. Border guards will check these authorisations, along with travel documents, when travelers cross EU borders. This pre-check of visa-exempt citizens from outside the EU facilitates border checks, avoids bureaucracy and delays for travelers arriving at the border, coordinates and harmonizes the risk assessment of third-country nationals, and significantly reduces entry refusals at border crossing points.
What is the difference between a Schengen visa and an ETIAS travel authorization?
An ETIAS authorization is no visa. Nationals of countries subject to visa liberalization will still be able to travel to the EU without a visa. They simply have to apply for a travel authorization via ETIAS before they travel. ETIAS will be a simple, fast and user-friendly system: in more than 95% of cases, a positive answer will be given within a few minutes.
It is not the intention to impose another type of visa obligation via the ETIAS travel authorisation. People do not have to go to a consulate to apply, no biometrics are collected and much less information is collected than a visa application process. 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 already 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 valid for an unlimited number of entries.
The ETIAS travel authorization is a necessary and small procedural step for all those who travel visa-free. This way, these travelers avoid bureaucracy and delays when they arrive at the border. ETIAS does not affect this visa exemption, makes it easier to cross the Schengen external border, and offers people who are allowed to travel visa-free, the opportunity to take maximum advantage of the visa exemption.
What is the impact of ETIAS on the common visa policy?
Visa liberalization is an important tool to develop partnerships with third countries and to make the EU more attractive for business and tourism. ETIAS will introduce mandatory pre-checks and assessments of potential risks from an irregular immigration and security perspective for people who can travel visa-free. ETIAS does not affect the visa exemption of these travellers, but helps to ensure the success of the EU's visa liberalization policy secure and supplement. This additional layer of information and risk assessment will allow travelers to take full advantage of the visa waiver and make the Schengen area both safer and more secure. Travelers will also know quickly in advance if they can enter the Schengen area, so they can better plan their visit.
Dialogue with third countries on visa liberalization continues, but ETIAS enhances the EU's ability to assess and manage potential immigration and security risks, while at the same time making it easier to cross the external borders of the Schengen area.
How does ETIAS work in practice?
Travelers must an application online on a website or mobile app specially set up for this purpose. The applicant only needs a travel document (passport or equivalent) to complete the form. Completing the application should not take more than 10 minutes. Those who are unable to complete the application themselves (due to age, level of literacy, lack of access to IT or insufficient IT skills) can have the application completed by someone else.
Every applicant between the ages of 18 and 70 must submit electronically a fee of 7 euros pay. The choice of payment methods will take into account technological developments in countries for which there is no visa requirement. This prevents third-country nationals who do not have access to certain digital payment methods from encountering difficulties.
De automated review will commence once payment of the fee has been confirmed. The vast majority of applicants (expected to be over 95% of all cases) will automatically receive a positive response within minutes of their payment. If there is a hit with one or more consulted databases or if the automated process does not produce a clear result, the application is processed manually by a central unit within the European Border and Coast Guard Agency or by a national team. In that case, the response time for visa-exempt third-country nationals can be up to 96 hours. In very exceptional circumstances, applicants may be asked for further information and further procedural steps may be required. In any case, a final decision must be made within four weeks of submitting the application.
It is expected that of the roughly 5% of the applications that receive a hit, 3-4% will receive a positive decision after the data has been checked by the ETIAS Central Unit. The remaining 1-2% will be transferred to ETIAS National Units for manual handling. When there is a decision, the applicants get an answer by e-mail with a valid travel authorisation, or a justification for the refusal.
What happens when someone sees their travel authorization refused in ETIAS?
If the travel authorization is refused, the applicant can (still) lodge an appeal. He can appeal in the Member State that took the decision on the application. The national legislation of that Member State applies. The applicant will be informed of which national authority was competent to process the application and decide on it, as well as information on the procedure to follow if they wish to lodge an appeal. If the traveler believes that he has been treated unfairly, he can also seek redress or request access to the information through the national authority.
How long is an ETIAS travel authorization valid?
The travel authorization is valid for three years (or until the expiry date of the travel document).
What are the obligations for the carriers?
Both air and sea carriers and carriers transporting groups by bus over land must, before passengers board, check the status of the travel document required to enter the Schengen area. So also whether the travelers are in possession of a valid ETIAS travel authorisation. A transitional period is provided for carriers transporting groups by bus over land. During that period, they do not yet have to check whether travelers are in possession of a valid travel authorisation.
What happens at the border crossing point?
Upon arrival at a border crossing point of the Schengen area, the border guard will electronically read the data from the travel document. With this he generates a search in various databases, including a search in ETIAS for people who travel visa-free. If there is no valid ETIAS travel authorisation, border guards will refuse entry and register the traveler and the refusal of entry in the entry/exit system.
If there is a valid travel authorisation, the border control procedure will be carried out and the traveler will be allowed to enter the Schengen area if all entry conditions are met, or denied entry on the basis of the Schengen Borders Code.
Can a travel authorization be revoked?
Travel authorizations remain valid for three years, but may be revoked or voided if the conditions for issuing the travel authorization are no longer valid.
Where does ETIAS apply?
The ETIAS legislation will apply to Member States that are part of the Schengen area, but also to Member States that do not yet fully apply the Schengen acquis (such as Cyprus, Bulgaria and Romania).
When will ETIAS be ready?
ETIAS is expected to be operational by mid-2024.
