ETIAS REQUIREMENTS

This guide explains exactly what you need to apply for ETIAS. From passport validity to information you must provide, find out all the requirements in one place.

Entry Requirements for the Schengen Zone

ETIAS stands for Europe Travel Information and Authorisation System. The ETIAS programme has been created to improve security in the Schengen Area, both for locals and visitors.

This new border and migration policy will increase security and help protect Europe from any possible future threats. ETIAS also aims to increase mobility and migration of foreign visitors.

There will be more than 50 countries eligible to submit an online ETIAS visa waiver application.

The ETIAS visa waiver is a travel authorisation for business, tourism or short-term study. Third country nationals who wish to live, study longer-term, work, or remain in Europe longer than 90 days, will have to apply for a visa.

IS ETIAS REQUIRED FOR TRANSIT PASSENGERS?

Travellers transiting through the Schengen Area do not need ETIAS if they will remain in the international transit area of the airport.

However, the travel authorisation is required to leave the transit area and enter any of the ETIAS countries.

Passport Information

• Passport number
• Issuance and expiration date
• Additional passport data (if applicable)

Contact Details

• Current address
• Email address
• Phone number

Additional info to be offered by the applicant:

• Member state of intended first entry
• Education and current employment details
• Parents’ first name(s)

During the application process, the traveller will be asked a set of ETIAS background and security questions.

Family members of EU citizens or third country nationals benefiting from free movement without residence cards will be asked the following:

• Please provide the identity and details of the familial relationship between the applicant and the EU citizen or third country national.

If the traveller meets all the ETIAS requirements and is a citizen of an ETIAS eligible country, it will take an average of 20 minutes to complete an ETIAS online application. Apart from a valid passport, no further documentation will be required unless specifically requested by the member state for which the application is being made. ETIAS will accept applications made by third parties on behalf of an applicant.

Remember to go through our list of ETIAS requirements before you apply for the Europe visa waiver.

Rejection or annulment of ETIAS Travel Authorisation

The ETIAS program will reinforce EU internal security in 2 ways:

• Identifying anyone that poses a security risk before they arrive at the Schengen external border
• Making information available to national law enforcement authorities and Europol, in cases of prevention, detection, or investigation of a terrorist offence, or other serious criminal offences

An ETIAS travel authorisation will be cancelled when the conditions are no longer met. This is especially true if there is reason to believe that the ETIAS was obtained by providing misleading or fraudulent information.

Applications that are rejected during the automatic process will be transferred to an ETIAS Central Unit in the European Border and Coast Guard. They will quickly verify the application and confirm if the information provided is correct and truthful. Suspicious applications, or those that trigger an alert or hit, will be forwarded to the member state(s) responsible for giving the warning.

WHAT TO DO IF AN ETIAS APPLICATION IS DENIED

In the case of denial, the applicant may appeal to the member state that did not grant the ETIAS visa waiver. In such cases, the appeal will be under the jurisdiction of the member state. However, there will be a special procedure for exceptional circumstances such as humanitarian grounds, reasons of national interest, or international obligations. In these cases, ETIAS National Units may issue a travel authorisation with limited territorial and temporal validity.

The ETIAS National Unit may request more information and/or documentation from the applicant. This may occur if the information provided during the application process does not allow the responsible ETIAS National Unit to make a decision. The responsible entity will make the detailed request for more information via email.

The applicant will need to provide this information and/or documentation within 7 working days. It will then take the ETIAS National Unit up to 72 hours to process the ETIAS authorisation. In exceptional circumstances, the applicant may be required to undergo an interview at a consulate in their country of residence.