Schengen area: what we know about ETIAS

As we announced in May 2022Europe is on the verge of releasing a common electronic travel authorization for the entire Schengen area. After a five-year period during which member states negotiated the creation of the platform, its development and implementation should begin in 2024, with full functionality to come in 2026. This was determined by the outcome of the member states' negotiations.

A gradual change

The Commission is proposing to phase out these national portals and replace them with a single EU-wide application platform. The Commission has chosen to allow member states to join as soon as the platform is operational, and no later than five years after its creation. This transition period will enable member states to phase out their national tools and join the EU visa application platform in a flexible way.

Simplified processes

The online application for European Schengen visas can be obtained via an online visa application platform instead of the traditional paper visa sticker. This change in visa processing security and integrity makes applying for a Schengen visa easier than ever. Alternatively, applicants can contact the EU visa platform via the application's chat box and Q&A section for further assistance.

All applicants can apply for a visa online. Simply fill in the application form, pay the visa fee and attach supporting documents. The Schengen visa will be digital, so it will no longer have a physical appearance that could be falsified. Applicants will be able to check the status of their applications via the platform, and will receive notifications regarding their status. Once the visa has been approved, applicants will be able to access it online. They can also extend their visa online if necessary.

Identical entry requirements

While the proposed digitization facilitates visa applications, it does not alter the conditions that must be met for applications to be submitted and subsequently examined. The platform will be built and maintained by eu-LISA, the European Union agency responsible for the operation and management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice. The committee will be responsible for ensuring that general visa information on the platform is up to date. The Schengen zone which is the main travel destination will be responsible for examining the application.

Special features requiring a paper application

Visa applicants can still submit a paper application to a consulate or visa application center if digital assistance via the EU visa application platform is not sufficient. Paper applications for family members of EU/EEA citizens with free movement rights may continue. Some applicants will need to go to a consulate or visa center for further identification if their biometric data is no longer valid. Appointments can then be made online. Specific rules on humanitarian reasons also apply.

For Schengen countries

The proposed decision does not apply to third-country nationals subject to visa requirementsThis means that third-country nationals wishing to stay in the Schengen area for a period of up to 90 days, but not more than 180 days, will need to apply for a conventional visa, and will not be eligible for the ETIAS.

Third-country nationals must apply for ETIAS visa-exempt but need to apply for a travel authorization before traveling. Once passed, the proposal will be implemented by 26 countries (including Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland), 22 of which fully apply the Schengen Agreement.

Ireland, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia and Cyprus do not fully apply the Schengen Agreement, and will not be affected by ETIAS. In other words, travelers wishing to visit any of these 5 countries will need to apply for a conventional visa to access their territories.

Non-exhaustive list of ETIAS-eligible countries

Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Macao, Northern 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, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela.

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