Who will need ETIAS for Europe?
More than 18% of the world’s population will need ETIAS to travel to Europe without a visa. Visiting Europe using this system is available to citizens of more than 60 countries, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Japan. You can view the full list on the requirements page on our website.
The Visa waiver system will start working in 2025, and travelers should apply to ETIAS if they plan a short-term visit to the Schengen area for various purposes. The new system will change border crossing procedures, making the process faster and more flexible for both parties. The reason why ETIAS is so swiftly becoming popular is for its simplicity and ingenuity. For instance, if you apply for ETIAS once, you can be sure you can visit all of the Schengen countries in Europe multiple times during a 90-day period, without having to apply for it again.
Currently, European border guards are checking on visitors arriving at the border. Before departure, the border control will screen passengers through ETIAS to improve safety and border crossing flexibility. ETIAS system is an electronic form of border management that will help restore international mobility during a pandemic. In addition, that will observe the highest safety standards.
How many agencies work to develop the ETIAS system?
Thirty-four institutional actors including:
- Frontex — setting up the ETIAS Central Unit.
- EU-Lisa — developing the IT systems.
- Europol — providing data for security screening.
ETIAS screening process
To apply for ETIAS, travelers must fill out personal information, passport details, and certain security information.
The ETIAS system will check the applicant’s data against data stored in European databases.
- Schengen Information System (SIS)
- Visa Information System (VIS)
- Eurodac
- Entry / Exit System (EES)
When will ETIAS system be approved?
Approximately the embassy will approve 97% of applications within 96 hours. ETIAS Central Office will process The application, and then ETIAS National Office will do the final review.
How many travelers visit Schengen countries each year?
Europe is a significant destination for international travelers. In 2019, 700 million people came to Europe for tourism; France, Spain, and Italy are the most popular tourist destinations.
Numerous tourists come for business or medical purposes. All of these types of travelers by 2025 will need ETIAS.
From which countries do tourists predominate in Europe?
Every year, people worldwide travel to Europe from Brazil, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand, many without visas. Those tourists visiting for tourism or business will need to register with ETIAS. US citizens also will need ETIAS, who have flown 36 million visitors to Europe.