Avramopoulos at the press conference for the proposal for ETIAS P032979000201-810035 large

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is a planned electronic authorisation system of the

European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...

for visa-exempt visitors travelling to the

Schengen Area The Schengen Area ( , ) encompasses European countries that have officially abolished border controls at their common borders. As an element within the wider area of freedom, security and justice (AFSJ) policy of the European Union (EU), it ...

(including

EFTA The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is a regional trade organization and free trade area consisting of four European states: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The organization operates in parallel with the European Union ...

countries), as well as

Cyprus Cyprus (), officially the Republic of Cyprus, is an island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Situated in West Asia, its cultural identity and geopolitical orientation are overwhelmingly Southeast European. Cyprus is the List of isl ...

. ETIAS is planned to cost €7 for applicants between ages 18 and 70, and to remain valid for three years or until the expiry date of the passport, whichever is sooner. ETIAS is planned to come into force in the last quarter of 2026, approximately a year after implementation of the

Entry/Exit System The Entry/Exit System (EES) is a planned system of the European Union for the automatic electronic monitoring and recording of border crossings of third-country nationals (non- EU/ EEA/Swiss citizens) at all border crossings of the Schengen Area. ...

. According to the

European Commission The European Commission (EC) is the primary Executive (government), executive arm of the European Union (EU). It operates as a cabinet government, with a number of European Commissioner, members of the Commission (directorial system, informall ...

, ETIAS is planned to be implemented "for the identification of security, irregular migration or high epidemic risks posed by visa-exempt visitors." It is not a visa, and it does not guarantee entry. ETIAS was first proposed by the European Commission in 2016 and was formally established by Regulation (EU) 2018/1240 of the

European Parliament The European Parliament (EP) is one of the two legislative bodies of the European Union and one of its seven institutions. Together with the Council of the European Union (known as the Council and informally as the Council of Ministers), it ...

and of the

European Council The European Council (informally EUCO) is a collegiate body (directorial system) and a symbolic collective head of state, that defines the overall political direction and general priorities of the European Union (EU). It is composed of the he ...

of 12 September 2018. Due to various reasons, including difficulties in integrating different member states' national systems into a central database, the implementation date has been repeatedly delayed from January 2021. ETIAS is similar to other electronic travel authorisation systems, such as the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

Electronic System for Travel Authorization The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is an automated electronic travel authorization system that determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). ESTA was mandated by th ...

(ESTA) and the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

Electronic Travel Authorisation An electronic visa (E-Visa) and an electronic travel authorization (ETA, also styled eTA) are online systems established by countries that affirm the eligibility of a foreign national to travel to their country under their immigration laws. They ...

(ETA).

Applicable nationalities

ETIAS is required for entry by land, air and sea to 30 European countries, including the 29 member states of the

, as well as

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

, which is part of the

Common Travel Area The Common Travel Area (CTA; , ) is an open borders area comprising the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. The British Overseas Territories are not included. Governed by non-binding agreements ...

, is the only

member state of the European Union The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of Lists of member states of the European Union, 27 member states that are party to the EU's Treaties of the European Union, founding treaties, and thereby subject to the privileges and ...

that continues to have its own visa policy and does not plan to join the Schengen Area or to require ETIAS. Visitors who have

dual nationality Multiple citizenship (or multiple nationality) is a person's legal status in which a person is at the same time recognized by more than one country under its nationality and citizenship law as a national or citizen of that country. There is no ...

of an EU or Schengen country and of a visa-exempt country (for example,

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

and

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

) will not need ETIAS travel authorisation if they hold a travel document from the EU or Schengen country. As of entering into use, ETIAS will be required from nationals of visa-exempt third countries (''Annex II'')Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 November 2018 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requiremen
OJ L 303, 28 November 2018, pp. 39–58
except the

European microstates A European microstate or European ministate is a very small sovereign state in Europe. In modern usage, it typically refers to the six smallest states in Europe by area: Andorra, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City. Andor ...

Andorra Andorra, officially the Principality of Andorra, is a Sovereignty, sovereign landlocked country on the Iberian Peninsula, in the eastern Pyrenees in Southwestern Europe, Andorra–France border, bordered by France to the north and Spain to A ...

Monaco Monaco, officially the Principality of Monaco, is a Sovereign state, sovereign city-state and European microstates, microstate on the French Riviera a few kilometres west of the Regions of Italy, Italian region of Liguria, in Western Europe, ...

San Marino San Marino, officially the Republic of San Marino, is a landlocked country in Southern Europe, completely surrounded by Italy. Located on the northeastern slopes of the Apennine Mountains, it is the larger of two European microstates, microsta ...

Liechtenstein Liechtenstein (, ; ; ), officially the Principality of Liechtenstein ( ), is a Landlocked country#Doubly landlocked, doubly landlocked Swiss Standard German, German-speaking microstate in the Central European Alps, between Austria in the east ...

and

Vatican City Vatican City, officially the Vatican City State (; ), is a Landlocked country, landlocked sovereign state and city-state; it is enclaved within Rome, the capital city of Italy and Bishop of Rome, seat of the Catholic Church. It became inde ...

. However, ETIAS will not be required from holders of visas, residence permits, local border traffic permits; family members of EU/Schengen nationals holding a

residence card A residence is a place (normally a building) used as a home or dwelling, where people reside. Residence or The Residence may also refer to: * Domicile (law), a legal term for residence * Habitual residence, a civil law term dealing with the s ...

; refugee or stateless travel documents issued by an EU or Schengen country. Crew members; holders of diplomatic or official passports and airport transit passengers are also exempt. , holders of ordinary passports of the following countries and territories would match the ETIAS criteria:

Application process

All prospective visitors will need to complete an online application, and those between ages 18 and 70 must pay a fee of €7. It is estimated that 1.4 billion people will need to apply. The system is expected to process the vast majority of applications automatically by searching in electronic databases and providing an immediate response, but in some limited cases it may take up to 30 days. If approved, the authorisation will be valid for three years or until the expiry date of the travel document, whichever is earlier.

Introduction timeline

After ETIAS comes into force, it will commence with a "transitional period" of at least six months, during which time applications will be accepted, but it will not be mandatory to hold an ETIAS in order to travel. Afterwards, there will be a "grace period" of at least six months, where an ETIAS will be required, but those entering the ETIAS zone for the first time since the start of the transitional period will be allowed to enter.

Limited validity ETIAS

Travellers who have been refused an ETIAS or expect their ETIAS may not be accepted may apply for a limited validity ETIAS if they have "humanitarian reasons or important obligations" for their travel. It will be valid only for specified countries and for up to 90 days.

Notes

References

External links

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Frequently asked questions about ETIAS
{{Visa Requirements Schengen Area Visa policies in Europe Visa policy by country Expedited border crossing schemes Electronic travel authorizations