ETIAS has been in development since 2016 and will be fully implemented in 2023. Read on to find out what ETIAS is exactly and what impact it will have on travel to countries within the Schengen area.

ETIAS is an electronic system that is keeping track of visitors from countries outside of the EU who do not need a visa to enter the Schengen zone. At the moment, there are 63 countries in the world with a visa-free regime to travel to the Schengen area. Citizens of these countries may enter the Schengen zone for up to 90 days for business or travel purposes.

Development of ETIAS has started in 2016, and the system should be fully implemented and operational by May 2023. The main goal of this system is to have a better knowledge of who is entering the Schengen zone.

All travelers from a visa-free country will need to undergo a detailed security check, and ETIAS will determine whether such a person can be allowed into the Schengen zone. These travelers will not have to go through the long process of applying for a visa, but instead approval from ETIAS will be needed. The system will gather, keep track of, and update necessary information about every traveler coming to the Schengen zone. It is estimated that this new requirement will have an impact on 1.4 billion people.

How will the process work?

Applying for ETIAS authorization will be simple and quick – travelers will have to complete an online form with information regarding their identity, travel intention, background security check, and they will have to upload a copy of their passport and digital biometric photo. Travelers will have to pay a fee of EUR 7 online.

Once the request is approved, the ETIAS authorization will be valid for a period of three years or up until the applicant's passport expires, whichever would come first.

The confirmation will be sent to the traveler's e-mail, and this confirmation should be carried and presented to the border officers in digital or printed form.

A similar system is used by the US, which is using the so called ESTA (Electronic Travel and Authorization System). The UK has also started to work on a similar system called UK ETA.

Find out more about travel and immigration requirements for the EU and Schengen area

Now that you learned about ETIAS, read on for more information about living and working in the EU and Schengen area, such as how to bring your pet to Portugal or working in France as a Digital Nomad!

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