ETIAS

THE EUROPEAN TRAVEL INFORMATION

AND AUTHORISATION SYSTEM TO BE COMPULSORY FOR THIRD-COUNTRY CITIZENS TRAVELLING TO EUROPE

As 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 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)

In addition to having their approved ETIAS permit, passengers should also ensure they are carrying the same biometric passport they used to apply for ETIAS.

ETIAS will be checked by carriers (air, land, and sea) and only those with a valid travel authorisation will be allowed to travel. Once at the Schengen area border crossing point, travellers will have to show their valid ETIAS authorisation and they will be also be checked in the Entry-Exit System database (EES). The latter registers the entry, exit, and refused entries of eligible third-country citizens entering Europe through the external Schengen borders. It can be considered a replacement for manual stamping, since it digitally records passengers’ entries to (and exits from) EU countries.

WHAT DOES ETIAS ENTITLE YOU TO?

Once passengers have entered the relevant country, they will be allowed to stay for up to 90 consecutive days within a 180-day period, moving around freely from one member state to another. They can leave the Schengen area via any member state – not necessarily their point of entry. Once authorisation is granted, ETIAS is considered valid for a three-year period.

ETIAS MAKES TRAVEL FASTER AND SMOOTHER

Passengers will benefit majorly from the new system. As stated Livia Vosman (a spokesperson for the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA)), “border crossing for third-country nationals will be smoother and faster” thanks to the implementation of EES and ETIAS. For instance, instead of having their passports stamped manually, passengers can use self-service kiosks at airports to register their entries and exits.

ENHANCED SAFETY

ETIAS will also make European destinations safer for everyone. Vosman explains, “ETIAS will significantly contribute to closing existing security information gaps. It will help member states' authorities to spot earlier any individuals who may pose risks to internal security, as well as to take action before the individuals reach Schengen's external borders.”

HEALTH CHECKS

Since the commencement of the COVID-19 crisis, the EC has proposed to strengthen European health laws in various ways – including reinforced video surveillance, improved EU data reporting, and the ability to declare EU emergency situations (among other key strategies). ETIAS will also play an important role in enhancing health. Although currently, health insurance for foreign visitors is not mandatory for third-country nationals of the Schengen area, it will soon be required for those wishing to complete an ETIAS application online before departure to check health. By confirming where people are travelling from, the EC can better identify people hailing from areas that are experiencing an outbreak of a specific disease.

By the end of 2022, all thirdcountry citizens of the Schengen area will need to be ETIASauthorised. Nationals of some 60 countries will need to apply for an ETIAS visa waiver when visiting the Schengen zone and the system is likely to be available to more countries soon.

g Further information, www.etiasvisa.com