ETIAS Confirmed for 2022

The European Union Commission has confirmed that the rules that make the future ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) interoperable with the relevant EU information systems were brought into effect on August 3.

This announcement is an important milestone in the work that has been completed so far to ensure that the ETIAS is introduced by the end of 2022. The EU Commission released a press release regarding the announcement, which included the following statement:

There were some concerns that the COVID-19 pandemic would have delayed the launch of the ETIAS system, so news that it is still on target to be introduced by the end of 2022 has been welcomed.

The ETIAS system is being introduced to improve security in the EU to provide better monitoring of travelers entering the EU. Citizens from countries who currently do not require a visa will now require an ETIAS before they are permitted to enter the Schengen zone.

To apply for an ETIAS, the traveler will need to complete an online application form, where they are required to provide information such as their personal details, as well as answer questions about their health and also any criminal convictions.

Read more: ETIAS Requirements

Once the application has been submitted and an application fee is paid, the application will be screened across numerous EU databases to check for any issues such as previous crimes or health conditions that would be deemed as a risk to the EU.

If the application is approved, their ETIAS is linked to their biometric passport and border agents in the EU will be able to check that all travelers have the ETIAS on their passport. Travelers from countries who required a visa will still require a visa, but the ETIAS will allow the improved monitoring of travelers from the 60 visa-exempt countries listed as ETIAS countries.

In some cases, the ETIAS application will be declined, for example if the applicant has a historical serious crime on their file or if they have a medical condition that could put people in the EU at risk. The ETIAS screening process involves checking against all the relevant EU databases that hold key information that will be used to identify whether the applicant is a high-risk traveler.

The ETIAS is intended to improve EU security, while still making it straightforward for low-risk people to visit Europe for tourism or business purposes. While a Schengen visa is issued for the specific EU country that the traveler is applying for, the ETIAS permits travel around the EU and it can be used multiple times, as long as it is still valid and the holder’s passport is also still valid.