What is “ETIAS“? In short, it’s the European Union’s version of a “visa waiver” and “advance electronic travel and arrival authorization”, much comparable to those already in use in countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia (among others).
UPDATE: The original implementation for 2024 has now been postponed to at least mid-2025, with further delays being very possible.
Non-E.U. / Non-Schengen travelers will need to obtain an advance ETIAS authorization by registering online prior to travel. While specifics are not yet known, the E.U. has stated that over 90% of electronic applications will likely be approved quickly, often within minutes, while some may need to upload additional documentation or information.
An Approved registration will generally be valid for 36 months, allowing for multiple entries during that validity period. The cost for a single traveler’s application is said to be €7.- Euro. (applicants under 18 and over 70 are exempt from paying this fee!)
Although you might be traveling with spouse and/or child/-ren, EACH traveler needs to complete their own ETIAS registration.
Commercial carriers by air and sea will verify a traveler’s valid ETIAS registration prior to being allowed boarding the vessel.
With ETIAS, eligible travellers can visit the Schengen Area for up to 90 days per 180-day period for tourism, business, or short-term study. To stay for longer than 3 months, or for other purposes, a visa application must be submitted.
Applicants from the visa waiver countries will have to provide the following information when applying for an ETIAS:
- Full name
- Date and place of birth
- Gender
- Nationalities
- Contact details (home address, email address, phone number)
- Parent(s) first name(s)
- Education and occupation information
- Country of first entry (you can subsequently travel to others on a multi-country trip)
- Passport details
In addition to providing the basic information listed above, applicants must declare if any of their family members:
- Are citizens of a European country requiring ETIAS
- Have freedom of movement in the EU
- Information about the family member will be requested.
To help make Europe even safer for residents and visitors, visa-exempt visitors will need to provide security information. ETIAS applicants may be asked questions about:
- Criminal records
- Travel to conflict areas
- Previous trips to Europe
This information is cross-checked against Schengen security systems. Applicants with a minor criminal record for past offences may still be granted ETIAS, provided they are not considered a threat to European security.
Anyone considered a high epidemic or security risk will not be able to travel to Europe with ETIAS.
To meet the ETIAS application requirements, travellers must be:
- A national of a non-EU visa-exempt country
- Visiting Europe for no more than 90 days in a 180-day period
- Travelling for tourism, business, or other visa-exempt purposes
Travellers who meet these ETIAS requirements can complete the application form. They will need:
- Biometric passport from the eligible country
- Internet connection and an email address
- Debit or credit card to pay the ETIAS fees — €7.- Euro. (applicants under 18 and over 70 are exempt from paying this fee!)
The passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the intended date of departure from the Schengen Area.
NATIONALITIES WHO NEED TO APPLY FOR ETIAS:
Citizens of the following countries will need to apply for ETIAS in order to travel to Europe.
- 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 SAR
- Israel
- Japan
- Kiribati
- Kosovo
- Macao SAR
- Macedonia
- Malaysia
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- 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
- Timor Leste
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tuvalu
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
The ETIAS travel authorization will be valid for the following countries:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Croatia
- the Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- the Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
European microstates in the Schengen Area de facto:
- Monaco
- San Marino
- Vatican City
PLEASE NOTE: Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Romania are in the process of joining the Schengen Area and ETIAS will apply once operational.
Last Revision: 2024-10-4