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ETIAS
THE EUROPEAN TRAVEL INFORMATION AND AUTHORISATION SYSTEM TO BE COMPULSORY FOR THIRD-COUNTRY CITIZENS TRAVELLING TO EUROPE
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s early as 2016, European Commission (EC) President, Jean-Claude Juncker, announced that the EC would be proposing “an automated system to determine who will be allowed to travel to Europe, (to) know who is travelling to Europe before they even get here.” The result was the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) – launched to strengthen the security of travel to the Schengen area under visa-free agreements. ETIAS aims to identify possible security concerns prior to a traveller’s entry, thus leading to improved management of the 158 / JANUARY 2022 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE
EU’s external borders. Around 1.4 billion passengers from 60 different countries are eligible for ETIAS. By the end of 2022, all visitors who do not currently need a visa to enter Europe will be expected to apply for an ETIAS travel authorisation. ETIAS, which applies to visa-exempt non-EU citizens, has a five-fold aim: Z To save travellers time and hassle Z To improve border management Z To prevent irregular migration Z To complement the EU’s visa liberalisation policy Z To reinforce the battle against crime and terrorism
ETIAS IN ACTION The system works easily. Visaexempt non-EU citizens will apply for ETIAS online, paying €7 if they are aged between 18 and 70. During the application process, specific data (such as one’s travel document, questions relating to criminal records, and the like) will be obtained. Once this information is checked, ETIAS staff will respond to applicants, providing them with either: Z A valid travel authorisation (which is valid for three years) or Z Justification for a refusal (applicants have a right to appeal this decision)
