ETIAS Travel Authorization Explained
Europe is the most-visited region in the world, and especially popular for American travelers who don’t need a tourist visa to visit most countries. However, this is about to change. While you still won’t need a visa for Europe, you will have to register with the ETIAS or risk being turned away at the border for American citizens who want to travel to the 26 members of Europe’s Schengen Zone.
Initially, this rule was meant to come into effect on January 1, 2021, the European Travel Information and Authorization System won’t start until the beginning of 2024 now.
What’s the reason for this change?
With ongoing terrorism threats, the European Union decided to implement this new authorization program for travel to protect its borders. By requiring visitors to register, the EU will hopefully be able to identify any possible threats or risks associated with travelers coming into these countries before they arrive.
Does this mean I need a visa to visit Europe?
This isn’t a visa. According to a fact sheet the European Commission released in July 2018, “The ETIAS authorization is not a visa. Nationals of visa liberalization countries will continue to travel the EU without a visa but will simply be required to obtain a travel authorization via ETIAS prior to their travel. An ETIAS travel authorization does not reintroduce visa-like obligations,” it continues. “There is no need to go to a consulate to make an application, no biometric data is collected and significantly less information is gathered than during a visa application procedure.”
Which countries are included in this?
This new travel authorization applies to those entering any member country of Europe’s Schengen Zone. Currently, this includes 22 countries that are also members of the EU, four non-EU countries, and three European micro-states. The list includes:
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, 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 the registering.
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 they do.
However, there are still many European nations that aren’t part of the Schengen Zone, mostly in Eastern Europe. That means you’ll still be able to travel to Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine without an ETIAS.
How do I apply?
Once the ETIAS application is available online, it should only take about 10 minutes to fill out, according to schengenvisainfo.com. To apply, you need a valid passport, an email address, and a debit or credit card to pay the nonrefundable €7 application fee. Keep in mind there are no other fees associated with this program.
The online application will include questions about your personal information on your passport and a series of health and security-related questions. After you fill this out, it should be approved and sent to your email within a few hours - after it’s checked across Interpol and Europol.
Children under the age of 18 will have to go through this process, but will not have to pay the fee.
How long does the authorization last?
After you apply the first time, your ETIAS will be valid for three years, 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’ll 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 180-day period. Those who want to study or work in Europe will need to apply for a proper visa.