ETIAS Visa Waiver for Travelers from Saint Vincent

The 110,000 residents of the stunning rainforest island nation of Saint Vincent will join the 60 countries that require ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) visa waivers to travel to the Schengen zone countries. Having been delayed by the COVID-19 crisis, from 2023 all short-term travel carried out by Vincentians to Europe must follow the rules of the new system.

With similar visa waiver systems in the USA, Canada, and others seeing an overwhelmingly high acceptance rate, ETIAS will act as a minor barrier to Vincentians who wish to travel to the Schengen area.

ETIAS was initially conceptualised in 2016 for the primary purpose of protecting the EU from terrorism. It had been a terrible year of 17 separate terror attacks in Europe, and there was no sign of tensions easing. The European Commission decided that generous travel laws were making it too easy for those who wished to cause harm to come to Europe.

The ETIAS visa waiver hit the ultimate speed bump at the end of 2019 when COVID-19 locked down the world. Like everything else in Europe, ETIAS was delayed as workers were forced to stay at home. The originally planned 2021 launch date was deemed impossible, and the EU gave itself a much easier target of 2023.

Despite this easier target, the EU still seems to have difficulties with acquiring the necessary staffing. While the technology systems are already in place, there is concern that the EU is not making new hires fast enough. The EU is still insisting ETIAS 2023 launch date is possible, and Vincentians might find lengthy queues on the border which may be understaffed.

Other nations are beginning to move towards visa waiver systems in a global travel law trend. For example, the UK has plans to implement visa waivers systems for travelers from the EU to Northern Island. It seems that soon most developed nations will require a visa waiver from travelers.

The ETIAS visa does not give Vincentians access to all the EU nations, but it does give them access to all Schengen nations which are listed below. This includes those Schengen nations that are part of the EU, the defacto microstates within them, and finally the EFTA nations who are not part of the EU but follow its trade and immigration laws. The full list of these ETIAS EU countriesis below.

Vincentians’ applications should not request anything unusual, requiring only the documentation and information that will show they are a safe traveler. This means that they are not a terrorist or criminal threat. In light of this, the ETIAS online application will ask Vincentians if…

This information will be cross-referenced against the Interpol database by AI systems, assisted by Vincentian’s information on their past travel to Europe. If the system flags a Vincentian as suspicious based on this information, the case will be handed to an administrative worker, and the application will likely be denied.

Beyond the Vincentian’s background, the ETIAS application has a second layer of defence. It will attempt to learn exactly what the Vincentian will be doing in Europe by asking for a detailed travel itinerary. Vincentians must follow this travel itinerary exactly while in the Schengen area and within EFTA member countries. Acting outside of it could lead to a Vincentian’s ETIAS visa waiver being voided.

Finally, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought a new purpose to the ETIAS visa waiver system. Namely, the prevention of the spread of infectious diseases. Therefore, it will require Vincentians to state they carry no infectious diseases, to protect the public health of EU citizens.

In some cases, further documentation and answers will be required based on the specific circumstances of the Vincentian. For example, if they are travelling with others, they may need to explain and prove their relationships with their party.

Compiling the ETIAS require documentation will be a simple process for all Vincentians. They need only gather a copy of their biometric passport, proof of address, and a credit or debit card. Vincentians should also give the EU their email so that they can be sent their electronic ETIAS visa waiver.

Around 5% of Vincentians will have their initial application rejected. Luckily, there is an appeals process built into the ETIAS system, whereby Vincentians get 96 hours to make a case. This usually involves providing documentation or information that can clear up discrepancies. Wait times of up to four weeks are expected for appealed applications.