The European travel information and authorisation system (ETIAS)

KEY POINTS

• The European travel information and authorisation system (ETIAS) is an automated IT system created to identify any security, irregular migratory or epidemic risks posed by visa-exempt visitors travelling to the Schengen area or Cyprus while ensuring their fundamental rights and data protection.
• It has been developed by the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA).

Application process

• Non-EU nationals who do not need a visa to travel to the Schengen area are required to apply for a travel authorisation prior to their trip.
• To apply for an ETIAS travel authorisation, travellers need to have a valid travel document, which should not expire in less than 3 months after the intended date of departure from the territory of the EU Member States and must not be older than 10 years.
• The ETIAS travel authorisation costs €20 and is valid for multiple entries over a period of 3 years or until the travel document used in the application expires.
• Applications can be made via the official ETIAS website or the ETIAS mobile application.
• Applicants must provide the following details:
  • name, date and place of birth, sex, nationality, address, email and phone number;
  • parents’ first names;
  • travel document details;
  • details about their level of education and current occupation;
  • the first intended country of destination;
  • past criminal convictions, visits to conflict zones and whether they have been the subject of a return decision.
• A traveller may nominate a third party to apply on their behalf if both sign a declaration of representation. The traveller’s email details must be provided to allow ETIAS authorities to communicate with them in relation to their application.
• The vast majority of applications will be processed within minutes, or within 96 hours at the latest. However, in exceptional cases, applicants may need to provide additional information or documentation or attend an interview – a process taking up to 30 days.
• After the application is completed, the system will conduct checks against various EU databases, such as the Schengen information system, the visa information system, the entry/exit system and European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) data. Amending Regulations (EU) 2021/1134 and 2021/1152 ensure the databases’ interoperability with ETIAS.

Exceptions

The following categories of individuals do not need an ETIAS travel authorisation:

• nationals of European countries requiring ETIAS, or of Andorra, the Holy See, Ireland, Monaco or San Marino;
• refugees, stateless persons or persons not holding the nationality of any country, if they reside in and hold a travel document issued by any of the European countries requiring ETIAS;
• United Kingdom nationals and their family members who are beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement and reside in their EU host Member State and travel to other European countries requiring ETIAS, if they hold documents proving their status;
• holders of residence permits or residence cards issued by any European country requiring ETIAS;
• holders of uniform visas or national long-stay visas;
• intra-corporate transferees, students or researchers exercising their right to mobility in line with Directives 2014/66/EU and (EU) 2016/801;
• holders of local border traffic permits;
• holders of diplomatic, service or special passports.

Revocation and refusal

• The travel authorisation can be revoked, should the conditions for issuing it no longer be met, or annulled, if the conditions were not met at the time of issuance.
• If the travel authorisation is refused, the applicant retains the right to appeal. Appeals are to be launched in the European country requiring ETIAS that took the decision on the application, in accordance with its national law.
• When refused a travel authorisation, travellers can also apply for an ETIAS travel authorisation with limited territorial validity, provided that they need to travel for humanitarian reasons or to fulfil important obligations. An ETIAS travel authorisation with limited territorial validity is valid for a maximum of 90 days and only for those European countries explicitly defined in the travel authorisation.

Transitional and grace period

• A transitional period of at least 6 months is planned after ETIAS starts operations. Travellers should apply for their travel authorisation in this period, but those without one will not be denied entry if they fulfil the remaining entry conditions.
• There is a grace period of at least 6 months envisaged after the end of the transitional period. During this time, travellers entering the territory of the European countries requiring ETIAS for the first time since the end of the transitional period will exceptionally be allowed in, provided they meet the remaining entry conditions.

Amending legislation

• Amending Regulation (EU) 2024/1356 adapts Regulation (EU) 2018/1240 to the introduction of the screening of non-EU nationals at the EU’s external borders and sets out the conditions for screening authorities to consult ETIAS data.