The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is a planned electronic authorisation system of the
European Union for visa-exempt visitors travelling to the
Schengen Area (including
EFTA countries), as well as
Cyprus.[1]
According to the
European Commission, it is implemented "for the identification of security,
irregular migration or high epidemic risks posed by visa-exempt visitors."[2] It is not a visa,[3] and it does not guarantee entry.[4] It is expected to become operational in Spring 2025.[5]
ETIAS was first proposed by the European Commission in 2016[6] and was formally established by Regulation (EU) 2018/1240 of the
European Parliament and of the
European Council of 12 September 2018.[7][8]
ETIAS would be needed to enter 30 European countries, including the 29 member states of the Schengen Area, as well as Cyprus.
Ireland, which is part of the
Common Travel Area, is the only
member state of the European Union that continues to have its own visa policy and does not plan to join the Schengen Area or to require ETIAS.[10]
Visitors who have
dual nationality of an EU or Schengen country and of a visa-exempt country (for example,
Italy and
Canada) will not need ETIAS travel authorisation if they hold a travel document from the EU or Schengen country.[11][12]
As of entering into use, ETIAS will be required from nationals of visa-exempt third countries (Annex II)[13] except the
European microstates of
Andorra,
Monaco,
San Marino and
Vatican City. It will also be required from family members of EU or Schengen nationals not holding a
residence card indicating that status. However, ETIAS will not be required from family members holding such a card; from holders of visas, residence permits, local border traffic permits or refugee or stateless travel documents issued by an EU or Schengen country; from crew members; from holders of diplomatic or official passports; or from airport transit passengers.[7]
As of 2023[update], holders of ordinary passports of the following countries and territories, without a travel document from an EU or Schengen country, would match the ETIAS criteria:
All prospective visitors will need to complete an online application and a €7 fee will be required from those between ages 18 and 70.[15] It is estimated that 1.4 billion people will need to apply.[4] The system is expected to process the vast majority of applications automatically by searching in electronic databases and providing an immediate response, but in some limited cases it may take up to 30 days.[16][1] If approved, the authorisation will be valid for three years or until the expiry date of the travel document, whichever is earlier.[1]
^Including the
Faroe Islands and
Greenland, which are outside the Schengen Area but maintain travel without border control with the Schengen Area and use the same list of visa-exempt nationalities.
^Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 November 2018 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement
OJ L 303, 28 November 2018, pp. 39–58Archived 26 December 2018 at the
Wayback Machine