Prior to the pandemic, Europe was the most-visited region in the world and has always been a very popular destination for US travelers. And, despite the impact of the health crisis, Europe remained the region with the highest number of inbound tourism entries worldwide in 2021, with around 301 million arrivals. As COVID restrictions have been lifted across the region and as Americans plan future journeys to the continent once again, we should be aware that the rules for entry into the European Schengen Zone will soon change. Initially meant to come into effect on January 1, 2021, and then delayed until early 2023, the new European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) is now slated to launch in November of this year. It applies to citizens of countries who can currently enter the EU zone visa-free, including those from the US. Starting in November, however, all US citizens who want to travel to the 26 members of Europe’s Schengen Zone will need to register with the ETIAS or soon risk being turned away at the border.
The European Union decided to implement this new travel authorization program to protect and strengthen its borders amid mounting terror threats in the region. By requiring visitors to register, the EU hopes to identify any possible threats or risks associated with travelers coming into these countries before they arrive. Implementation was postponed due to delays in the anticipated adoption of the ETIAS Regulation, plus the fact that ETIAS is being developed closely with the Entry/Exit System (EES), which is now scheduled to launch in May of this year, according to the European Commission. The Entry/Exit System is the electronic system that keeps track of visitors as they cross borders, and it's a precondition for ETIAS to enter into operation.
“At this stage we do not have a more specific release date to communicate,’ a spokesperson from the European Commission declared recently. “The exact date as of which applications for an ETIAS can be made will be determined at a later stage.” In any case, once the ETIAS is in operation in November 2023, a transitional period of six months will follow. During that time frame, the countries requiring the travel authorization will have to inform passengers of the new regulations. Passengers will still be permitted to cross borders during that six-month period without the ETIAS. The six-month transitional period will be followed by a grace period, the length of which has yet to be determined. During the grace period, the ETIAS requirement will apply unless it’s a passenger’s first time entering Europe since the close of the transitional period.
The new system applies to visitors from countries which are not currently part of the EU. Travelers who currently visit Europe visa-free are able to enter EU and Schengen Member countries cost-free and without any digital security screening prior to their arrival to Europe. These visitors have been granted visa-free access by virtue of their collective good track record on security issues and have therefore not been deemed a security threat. However, the EU wants to strengthen its border security as well as digitally screen and track travelers entering and leaving member countries. The new system will check the security credentials and charge a nominal fee to travelers visiting for business, tourism, medical or transit purposes. Bear in mind that ETIAS is not a visa, and is more accurately referred to as a visa-waiver. Like the US Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), the EU’s ETIAS is a travel authorization for those visitors who do not require a visa to visit Europe. Under the new program, these visitors will undergo additional security checks prior to being permitted to enter the EU. The ETIAS will be mandatory for citizens of such countries as the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Once approved, ETIAS registration is valid for 3 years. However, if your passport expires during that time, you’ll need to apply for a new ETIAS waiver.
The new travel authorization applies to those designated citizens entering any member country of Europe’s Schengen Zone. Currently, that includes 22 nations that are also members of the EU, four non-EU countries, plus three European micro-states. That means that you’ll need to register to enter Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. The micro-states of San Marino, Vatican City, and Monaco will also require registering for the waiver. While Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Cyprus aren’t currently Schengen countries, they are in the process of joining and will be subject to the same requirements once that becomes effective. That being said, there are still many European nations that aren’t part of the Schengen Zone, mostly in Eastern Europe. That means you’ll be able to travel to Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, and Turkey without an ETIAS. Ukraine is also on the list of non-Schengen nations, but obviously won’t be welcoming many visitors anytime soon.
Once the ETIAS application becomes available online, it should only take about 20 minutes to complete, according to information contained on their Web site. To apply, you’ll need a valid passport, an email address and a debit or credit card to pay the nonrefundable €7.00 application fee, which applies to those between the ages of 18 and 70. Those under the age of 18 or over the age of 70 still need to have an ETIAS, but will not be charged. There are no other fees associated with the program. The form requires basic personal information, as well as details regarding any world conflict zones visited and any criminal record. Applicants will also be required to furnish details regarding existing medical conditions, including infectious diseases, contagious parasitic diseases, and serious illness.The number of medical conditions on the list remains a work in progress but is expected to increase as the introduction date approaches.The first destination country in Europe must also be specified. After a thorough check through numerous databases of the details supplied, your ETIAS application will be processed immediately and you should receive an email within four days or less confirming that your application has been approved. The ETIAS Web site states, “A small percentage of applications may take up to four weeks to process if additional information is required from the applicant. If your ETIAS is not approved and you do not have any other travel authorization, you will not be able to enter a country within the European Union.”
After your initial application, your ETIAS will be valid for a three-year time period, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. Because the ETIAS is valid for short-term stays of up to 90 days for both leisure and business travelers, you will be able to re-enter Europe multiple times within that three-year period without renewing it, as long as your stay doesn't exceed 90 days within a six month period. Proper visas will still be required if you intend to study in an EU country or if you plan to work in the European Union. The new program isn’t limited to Americans. In fact, there are more than sixty countries whose citizens will be required to have an ETIAS when visiting nations in the Schengen Zone, including those from the United Kingdom now that they are no longer members of the EU. Here is a list of nations affected by the new rules.
The 60,000 travelers turned back at destination or transfer points by immigration authorities each year are subject to stressful and very frustrating encounters. They also cost the world’s airlines a substantial amount of money in fines and associated costs. Whether it’s rules implemented on short notice or papers presented in the wrong format or language, passengers and airlines often struggle to keep up with ever-changing requirements. That’s why it’s more important than ever to do your homework before your international journey; be well prepared for your trip and make sure you have all the travel documents necessary for seamless entry.
Until next time…safe travels.
ETIAS or EES ?.... errr - I will stick with the ESTA!