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Wait, do you need a visa to go to Europe now? The new ETIAS requirements, explained

Emily Olson

St. Mark's basilica in Venice is one place U.S. passport holders may not be able to get to without approval under the new ETIAS requirements Andrea Pattaro/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

St. Mark's basilica in Venice is one place U.S. passport holders may not be able to get to without approval under the new ETIAS requirements

Already thinking about next summer's vacation plans? If Europe is on your short list, there could be one extra step to take before boarding that plane.

Starting in 2024, American passport holders traveling to 30 European countries will need authorization via the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS).

Though it may sound complicated, the ETIAS and the reasoning behind it are quite similar to existing travel requirements and reflect increasing fear of terrorism in the U.S., Europe and around the world.

Here's what you need to know.

What is ETIAS? Is it a visa?

While some media outlets are taking a cue from the European Union's travel site and calling this a visa, in truth, ETIAS is more like a travel authorization form.

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"It's definitely not a visa," said Dan Hamilton, a senior non-resident fellow for foreign policy at the Brookings Institution. "It's an electronic entry-point, an authorization for countries that are currently visa-free."

Even the European Commission has said as much (and in bold letters) , writing this is "not a visa" but rather an "automated IT system" in a press release on the discussions around it back in 2018.

Whatever you want to call it, the ETIAS form is not what you'd seek if you're trying to work or live in Europe, but rather what you'll need for short-term trips — up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

Why is it being implemented?

These new requirements have been years in the making, stemming back to a rise in terrorism fears following 9/11. It's very similar to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization — or ESTA — program that the U.S. implemented in 2008 .

At the heart of ETIAS is an electronic database system to better track who's coming and going. According to the EU's latest report on terrorism data , EU law enforcement authorities arrested about 388 suspects for terror-related offenses in 2021, more than half of whom were accused of being associated with Jihadist groups based abroad.

The European Commission says ETIAS may have the added impact of cutting down on "irregular migration" (i.e. illegal immigration), but one thing the form is definitely not aimed to do is deter tourism in general.

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Crowded cities, inflated airfare and extreme heat disasters may all be making headlines this summer, but many of these European countries are still depending on tourism revenue to help them bounce back from pandemic slumps, Hamilton said.

And the pandemic is another one of the many reasons this new requirement has been delayed by decades — there was no need for ETIAS when countries closed their borders to all travel amid fears of spreading COVID-19.

"Another part of it is simply the pace of the way this parliament and European commission works," Hamilton explained in an interview with NPR. "They're ending their term and pushing through a lot of these directives because parliamentary elections happen next June."

"And getting 30 countries to agree on anything takes a long time," he added.

When does it take effect?

The European Union's website says the new authorization will start in 2024 but hasn't clarified a specific date. A press spokesperson for the union's travel arm did not respond to NPR's request for information.

And, similarly, a spokesperson for the State Department told NPR that the U.S. government website for international travel (travel.state.gov) would be updated "once the regulation goes into effect," but didn't specify when that would be.

"Frankly, I'd be surprised if this starts on time," Hamilton said. The rollout of ETIAS has already been delayed at least once.

But it couldn't hurt to plan ahead for any 2024 travel just to be safe.

Who needs to apply for ETIAS approval?

Basically, all passport holders from 60 countries who can currently travel to most European destinations without a visa — and that includes American passport holders — will now need to get ETIAS authorization for the same trip. That's about 1.4 billion people, by the European Union's estimation.

There are 30 European countries in total on the impacted destination list , including those in the "Schengen Area" — 27 European countries, many that are part of the European Union, that agreed to ease border restrictions to facilitate the movement of people within Europe.

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Those Schengen countries include top vacation spots like France, Italy and Spain.

The other three countries on the list are Romania, Bulgaria and Cyprus, which are all trying to become a part of the Schengen Area soon.

You can check the full list of both impacted passport holders and affected European destinations here.

How can you apply for ETIAS approval (and does it cost money)?

The application isn't open yet, but the European Union says that when it is, all necessary forms can be filled out via a web portal or mobile phone application.

You'll be asked to share personal information such as your date of birth, parents' names and details about your current occupation and previous criminal convictions. You'll also need to share a passport that is not set to expire in less than three months.

Oh, and you'll have to pay a fee of 7 euros (about $8).

When is the right time to apply?

If you want to play it safe, apply well in advance of your trip — no later than a month out.

ETIAS says most applications "are processed within minutes" and decisions are delivered within four days. But that wait could take up to 14 days if you are requested to supply additional information and up to 30 days if you're invited to interview.

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Those denied an application can appeal, but that process could be even lengthier.

The European Union says ETIAS approval will stay valid for three years or until the passport you used in your application expires.

Naturally, you'll also need to follow the ETIAS rules to stay in good standing.

Those with ETIAS approval can stay in the European countries on the list for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. So you can leave and come back, but you can't stay in the confines of the countries on the list for 91 days or more non-stop.

What happens if I don't apply for this and try to travel to Europe?

Your ETIAS approval will be linked to your passport. So without it, airport security (or cruise, bus or train line staff) won't let you board.

In other words, you can kiss that dream vacation goodbye.

• European Commission
• Europe travel
• European Union

• Travel Insurance

Heading To Europe In 2025? You’ll Need This New Travel Document

Updated: Jan 30, 2024, 5:12pm

The scheduled introduction of ETIAS, a special travel authorization covering most of Europe, has been postponed from 2024 until May 2025. So, if you have a summer vacation in Europe coming up, you’ll have one less task for your to-do list.

Once the program starts, ETIAS—which stands for European Travel Information and Authorization System—will require an estimated 1.4 billion people to have special authorization to enter 30 countries in the Schengen area of Europe. The document will cost about $7.50 and be valid for three consecutive years.

For now, most Americans will need only a passport to visit most of the Schengen countries. But when ETIAS finally kicks in, it will be a requirement: If you don’t have it, you won’t be allowed to get on that plane.

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What is etias.

ETIAS was approved in 2016 as part of an international effort to increase security. It was originally scheduled to begin in 2021, but its start was delayed by a series of obstacles, including the Covid-19 pandemic and a lack of infrastructure to support the program.

Under ETIAS, travelers will undergo security screenings before their arrival in the affected European countries, preventing those who pose a security threat from entering. That’s expected to reduce the likelihood of security incidents, according to ETIAS.com.

ETIAS covers travelers from 59 countries , including the U.S. and Canada, who plan to stay in a participating country for 90 days or less. Once your security check is completed and you’ve been approved, your authorization is good for up to three years. While most people will have to pay the fee, ETIAS is free to anyone under the age of 18 or over 70.

What’s the Purpose of an ETIAS Travel Authorization?

The new requirements are being established to help “identify security, irregular migration or high epidemic risks posed by visa-exempt visitors,” according to the European Commission website.

Which Countries Require ETIAS Authorizations?

There are 30 mostly European countries that will require travel authorizations once ETIAS is launched. You’ll have to show your passport, ETIAS documentation and any other entry requirements to border officers when entering these countries.

ETIAS Basics for U.S. Citizens

The ETIAS authorization is only good for short-term stays of 90 days or less; it is not a work visa. The ETIAS information is linked to your passport, so if you have to replace your passport for any reason, you’ll also need a new ETIAS travel authorization. Your travel insurance company should be able to assist with a lost passport.

People Who Need ETIAS Authorizations

You will need an ETIAS authorization if any of the following apply to you:

• You’re not a European Union national.
• You’re a citizen of any country, including the U.S., whose nationals don’t currently need a visa for a short-term stay in a European Union country.
• You don’t have a residence permit or card issued by any of the European countries that require ETIAS.

Some travelers may be exempted from the requirement for an ETIAS travel authorization, so check before you apply.

How To Apply for ETIAS

U.S. citizens traveling to Europe will be able to apply on the ETIAS website when its application section becomes operational. To keep an eye on that, you can sign up for email updates on the website.

Cost of an ETIAS Travel Authorization

As of January 2024, the expected ETIAS application fee is €7, roughly $7.50. It’s free for anyone under the age of 18 or over the age of 70.

How Long Is ETIAS Good For?

The ETIAS authorization is valid for three years. You can travel in a participating country for 90 days within any 180-day period. Whenever you travel to participating countries, your ETIAS authorization must be valid for the duration of the stay.

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• Passports, travel and living abroad
• Travel abroad

Travelling to the EU and Schengen area

You do not need a visa for short trips to the EU or countries in the Schengen area if both of the following apply:

• you’re staying for 90 days or less in a 180-day period
• you’re visiting as a tourist or for certain other reasons

Other reasons include:

• studying a short course
• getting medical treatment
• travelling for business for your UK employer, for example to attend a business meeting or conference
• journalism or other media activities

Check the entry requirements of the country you’re visiting to find out what you can and cannot do during your stay.

These rules do not apply to travelling and working in Ireland .

Travelling to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period

You can travel to more than one country in a 180-day period. How long you can stay in each country depends on whether or not it’s in the Schengen area.

The countries in the Schengen area are:

Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Your total stay in the Schengen area must be no more than 90 days in every 180 days. It does not matter how many countries you visit. The 180-day period keeps ‘rolling’.

To work out if your stay is within the 90 day limit, use the following steps.

Check the date you plan to leave the Schengen area on your next trip.

Count back 180 days from that date to get the start of the 180-day period.

Add up the number of days you have already spent in the Schengen area in that 180-day period (you can use the dates stamped in your passport showing when you entered and left a country).

Work out how many days you will spend in the Schengen area on your next trip. Add this number to the number of days you worked out in step 3.

Check that the total number of days is not more than 90.

Travelling to EU countries that are not in the Schengen area

Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania are not in the Schengen area. You can stay up to 90 days in a 180-day period in each of these countries without a visa.

Any time you spend in the Schengen area does not affect the number of days you can spend in these countries.

When you may need a visa

​​You may need a visa or permit if you want to either:

• stay for more than 90 days

If you’re travelling for work, check the rules for the country you’re visiting .

If you’re travelling for another reason or staying longer than 90 days, check the entry requirements for the country you’re visiting .

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ETIAS Canada

The european travel authorisation for canadian citizens.

Starting 2025, Canadians will need to register online before travelling to Europe. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is a new system for visa-exempt non-EU visitors. This includes Canadians.

The European travel authorisation is a new entry requirement for Canadians travelling for tourism, business, and short-term study. It’s quick and easy to apply for ETIAS online.

Get ready for the introduction of the ETIAS for Canadians with etias.ca.

Do Canadians need a visa for Europe?

Canadians do not need a visa to travel to Europe short term. With your Canadian passport, you can travel to Europe visa-free and stay for up to 90 days for tourism, business, or short-term study.

From 2025, Canadians will need to register with ETIAS to enter the Schengen Area , and Cyprus without a visa. Visa-free entry will only be permitted with a valid ETIAS.

European travel visa for long stays for Canadians

Canadians must apply for a visa for Europe to stay more than 3 months . A visa is also required to travel for purposes other than business, tourism, or transit.

To stay long-term, you need to apply for the relevant national visa for your European destination.

Do Canadian residents need a tourist visa for Europe?

European entry requirements for Canadians and other non-EU citizens depend on nationality. Whether a Canadian permanent resident needs a visa for Europe is determined by the country that issued their passport.

Citizens of more than 50 countries can travel to Europe without a visa and will be eligible for ETIAS.

What is ETIAS for Canadians?

ETIAS is a new travel permit for Europe. The ETIAS for Canadian citizens is not a visa . It’s an electronic travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors from outside the EU.

ETIAS secures EU borders by pre-screening travellers before they arrive in Europe. The system helps detect potential security or migration risks presented by visa-exempt visitors.

By registering Canadians and other non-EU passport holders entering European countries , ETIAS also improves European border management.

ETIAS is similar to the Canadian eTA that foreign visitors need to enter visa-free.

How ETIAS for Canadian citizens works

ETIAS for Canadian citizens works by cross-referencing applicants' information with various security databases.

When Canadian passport holders apply for ETIAS , your personal details, travel information, and answers to security questions are checked against databases like the Schengen Information System (SIS), Interpol databases, and Europol data , among others.

This process helps in identifying any potential security, irregular migration, or high epidemic risks.

Most applications are approved following automatic processing. If a potential risk is detected, the application is reviewed manually by the responsible ETIAS National Unit.

ETIAS improves the traveller experience

ETIAS improves the way Canadians travel to Europe . As a tourist, you can enjoy greater peace of mind knowing that other travellers have also undergone ETIAS security checks.

The European travel authorisation for Europe also makes border processes more efficient. Immigration procedures are expected to be faster— security checks are carried out in advance, rather than at the border .

Despite being an additional step Canadians need to take when visiting Europe , ETIAS registration improves the overall traveller experience.

The ETIAS structure

Here’s are some of the groups responsible for the functioning of ETIAS:

• ETIAS Central Unit: checks that the data stored in the application file and the personal data recorded in the ETIAS system is correct and up to date. It defines, evaluates, tests and reviews specific indicators of the ETIAS screening rules
• ETIAS National Units: responsible for assessing travel authorisation applications referred to them from the automatic process. They can issue an opinion if consulted by other member States’ ETIAS National Units
• Europol: will establish and manage the ETIAS watchlist. ETIAS National Units will be able for consultation
• EU-LISA: responsible for developing and operating the ETIAS information system
• ETIAS Screening Board: this is an advisory team that will be made up of representatives from ETIAS National Units and Europol. The board can be consulted for the definition, evaluation, and revision of risk indicators
• European Border and Coast Guard Agency: they ensure the creation and management of an ETIAS Central Unit

European ETIAS destinations for Canadians

As a Canadian citizen, you’ll soon require ETIAS to travel to the following countries:

Key information about the travel permit for Europe

Canadians can continue to enjoy visa-free entry to Europe with ETIAS. Here are the most important facts you need to know about the ETIAS permit to travel to Europe .

* Canadians need the EU ETIAS to transit if they leave the international transit area of the airport.

Travelling from Canada to Europe with ETIAS

Canadians must have an approved and valid ETIAS to travel to countries in the Schengen Area.

When your ETIAS is approved, it’s linked to the Canadian passport you used to apply. You do not need to carry additional documents with you when travelling to Europe — ETIAS is automatically verified during passport checks.

ETIAS does not guarantee entry to European countries . Border checks are carried out and, passengers who do not meet the entry conditions will be denied entry.

It’s important that you apply for ETIAS and travel to Europe using the same passport. If you replace your passport for any reason, you need to apply for a new ETIAS.

Canadians need ETIAS to travel to Europe by air, land, or sea .

Moving around the Schengen Area with ETIAS as a Canadian citizen

You need ETIAS to cross an external Schengen border, for example when travelling from Canada to France.

Once you’ve entered the Schengen zone, you will not face further border checks—there are no internal borders in the travel zone. You should, however, carry your passport with attached ETIAS with you as you travel around.

Visit Spain, Italy, Germany, and other top tourist destinations in Europe with one permit.

Understanding the 90/180 rule for Canadians in Europe

To avoid overstaying in Europe, you need to understand the 90/180 rule.

90-day allowance

You can stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. This doesn't have to be a continuous stay.

You can enter and leave the Schengen Area as often as you like, but the total number of days spent in the area must not exceed 90 days within any 180-day period.

Rolling 180-day window

The 180-day period is a rolling window. It’s always counted backwards from the current day.

For example, if you're planning to enter the Schengen Area on December 1st, you'll look back 180 days from December 1st to see how many days you've already been in the Schengen Area during that period.

Count your days

To stay compliant with the rule, keep track of your travel days. Every day you are in the Schengen Area counts towards the 90-day limit, including the day you arrive and the day you depart.

No reset by leaving

You can't reset the 90-day count by leaving the Schengen Area for a short period and then returning. The count of 90 days is cumulative within the 180-day window.

Related Posts

What is the ETIAS watchlist and how will it keep Europe safe?

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What is EES and how does it relate to ETIAS?

ETIAS, the electronic travel Authorisation for Europe

All the latest news, requirements, facts and information on the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). Everything you need to know about ETIAS.

This website does not belong to, nor is it affiliated with, the EU. The official website of the European Union is europa.eu.

Travellers planning a trip to Europe need to know about ETIAS.

At etiasvisa.com, we're experts in European travel . Our aim is to make this new entry requirement easy to understand. On this site, travellers can find out all about the ETIAS start date, application process, and more. Get ready for ETIAS with etiasvisa.com .

What is the ETIAS Visa Waiver?

ETIAS stands for European Travel Information and Authorisation System . The main goal of ETIAS for Europe is to identify possible threats or risks associated with visitors travelling to any of the Schengen Area countries. ETIAS protects and strengthens Europe’s borders.

The ETIAS travel authorisation will be needed to enter a Schengen member country by air, land or sea . From 2025, visitors that do not need a visa to enter Europe will be able to register with ETIAS. ETIAS will become a mandatory entry requirement.

Visa-exempt non-EU citizens need to apply for an ETIAS visa waiver when visiting the Schengen zone. There are no internal borders between Schengen member countries.

ETIAS is an electronic travel authorisation, not a visa

ETIAS is a travel authorisation for non-EU nationals who do not need a visa for the Schengen Area. ETIAS is not a European visa .

Nationals of more than 50 non-European countries are exempt from applying for a visa to visit the Schengen Area for up to 90 days .

The ETIAS visa waiver has been developed so that travellers from these countries can continue to enter visa-free , while at the same time improving border management and security across Europe.

Visa-exempt visitors will soon be required to register for the new electronic travel authorisation, also known as a visa waiver, to cross an external Schengen border.

Countries whose citizens require ETIAS for Europe

There are more than 50 eligible countries that will be required to submit an online ETIAS application . Citizens of these countries can travel to Europe without a visa. The ETIAS for Europe is a system that will pre-screen travellers before they board a plane. All information provided on the ETIAS application will be closely examined and checked against security databases.

The ETIAS visa waiver will be valid for short-term stays and for business or leisure purposes. It can also be used to study for up to 90 days.

People who wish to stay long-term or work in Europe need to apply for a visa.

Once approved, an ETIAS can be used for 3 years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.

The EU decided to implement ETIAS to improve security in the Schengen Area . By obtaining a travel authorisation, visa-free travellers will still undergo a security check prior to their arrival in the EU.

• ETIAS eligible countries
• ETIAS countries
• Schengen eligible countries

ETIAS ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• El Salvador
• North Macedonia
• Marshall Islands
• New Zealand
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent
• Solomon Islands
• South Korea
• Timor Leste
• Trinidad and Tobago
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom
• United States of America

ETIAS COUNTRIES

• Czech Republic
• Liechtenstein
• Netherlands
• Switzerland

Countries in Europe that will require an ETIAS

ETIAS will be required to travel to the Schengen Area countries plus Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Romania which are in the process of joining the Schengen Area.

Citizens of the EU travelling in the Schengen Area can do it with either their national identity card or passport, and are not subject to any other type of border control at their mutual borders.

ETIAS: How does it work?

ETIAS works by screening passengers arriving in the Schengen Area from third countries.

To protect against potential threats and ensure the integrity of Schengen’s external borders, data will be collected and assessed before passengers travel to Europe.

Which security databases does ETIAS check?

Information submitted through an ETIAS visa waiver application is automatically cross-referenced against several criminal , travel and informational databases.

The following systems are consulted:

• Schengen Information System (SIS)
• Visa Information System (VIS)
• ETIAS Watchlist
• Entry/Exit System (EES)
• European Criminal Records Information System (ECRIS)

If there is an alert in any of the systems, the application is reviewed manually by the ETIAS National Unit responsible. An interview may be required in fewer than 0.1% of cases. The application is then approved or denied.

THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF THE ETIAS REGULATION

These are the key principles established by the European Union. ETIAS should be:

• Affordable : Applicants will have to pay a reasonable one-off fee using a credit or debit card to submit the online application.
• Fast and simple : Completing the application should not take more than 10 minutes and automatic approval will be given in over 95% of cases.
• Effective : All the information provided will be cross-checked against numerous EU data systems including Europol and Interpol.
• Clear and fair : When authorisation is refused, the applicant will need to be informed about the decision within 96 hours. Applicants will always have the right to appeal refusals.

WHEN DOES EU ETIAS BECOME OBLIGATORY?

ETIAS was first proposed in 2016 by the European Commission and formally established in September 2018 by the Regulation (EU) 2018/1240 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

ETIAS will be operational from 2025. The exact start date has not yet been announced. This site is updated regularly to reflect the latest updates from the EU.

Read the latest news about ETIAS

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About etias.

ETIAS, or the European Travel Information and Authorisation System is designed for the non-EU visitors wishing to travel to the European Union and the Schengen Area states. Although valid for all the countries of the Schengen Zone as well as for Bulgaria, Croatia, Norway, Switzerland, and Romania, the entry approval lies upon the first state to be visited.

The new European Travel Information and Authorisation System will affect the non-EU travellers who currently do not need a visa to enter the Schengen Zone. Those travellers will undergo an online security check to determine their threat status in terms of security, illegal migration, and threat to the public health to the EU countries. In order to get to the Schengen Zone border, as of 2022, travellers will be asked to present a valid travel document and an ETIAS permit.

The reason behind the new EU travel authorisation

The introduction of ETIAS comes after years of insufficient information provided among the European border authorities on the visa-free tourists allowed to visit the region. This new security pre-check will assemble the missing information and therefore strengthen the security of the EU and the Schengen Area.

Just like Canada’s eTA and USA’s ESTA, the EU’s ETIAS will act as both electronic visa and pre-travel security check.

When will the EU travel Authorization be available?

Passed by the European Parliament and approved by the European Council in 2018, the ETIAS Regulation came into force the same year and will become operational in 2022.

Until then, its framework will be subjected to ongoing completion by the EU responsible bodies.

Which citizens will be eligible for traveling with the new European online travel permit?

Citizens of nearly 60 countries that are now travelling to the Schengen Area without a visa will have the opportunity to visit the EU with the new ETIAS authorisation. Here is a list of the visa-exempt countries.

With little less than 1,900 border points, the EU has accepted around 565 million visitors in 2014 alone. In 2025, their number will reach 887 million. This will represent one-third of the border crossing being from citizens coming from a visa-exempt state.

As the EU is in constant talks with countries wishing to be part of the visa-exempt nations, the number of visitors applying for the ETIAS authorisation will increase.

Frequently asked questions

The EU Travel Permit Central Unit will be managed by FRONTEX. The new Unit will operate 24/7 and will be in charge of: – some applicants’ identity will be double-checked when a match appears on the databases used during the electronic application process; – setting up a system of defining and evaluating applicants’ risk indicators. ETIAS rules for screening the potential visitors will be tested and revised according to a set of risk indicators; – regular check of the application process and the ETIAS rules of screening the applicants with special attention on the fundamental rights, data protection, and privacy; – make sure that the data collected by the applicants are recent and stored correctly; – providing the public with up to date information about ETIAS and the application process; – establishment and management of the Carriers Assistance Center which will help travelers.

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System will operate under the management and the regulation of the ETIAS Central Unit, the National Units, and the ETIAS Information System. The ETIAS Central Unit together with a helpdesk for travelers and the Carriers Assistance Center will be under the management of FRONTEX – the EU Border and Coast Guard Agency. The IT support – software development and technical support will be conducted by EU-LISA – the EU Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security, and Justice. This technical support and management will include: – a centralized system for the ETIAS applications; – an interface with each Member State’s symbols (national uniform interfaces) and attributes connected to the national infrastructures as well as to the centralized system; – a secure and verified connection between the national uniform interfaces and the centralized system; – website and mobile application for both desktop and mobile devices; – email service; – an application form with all necessary tools like account setting, a verification tool for the provided information, as well as a tool to provide or withdraw consent for retention beyond the general period of the data; – carrier gateway to check the validity of the travelers’ ETIAS authorizations. Every Member State will prepare ETIAS National Units. These Units will be in charge of: – risk assessments for all the European Travel and Authorisation System applications sent by the ETIAS Central Unit. The risk assessment will be conducted upon matching information from the ETIAS application and all databases verified during the application process to meet the online screening; – final say on accepting or refusing the European travel permit; – providing appealing procedures information to the applicants; – close liaison with Europol to manage the ETIAS watch list.   The role of Europol – consulting the EU States on the European Travel and Authorisation System applications when needed; – close cooperation with the EU States on the ETIAS Watch List management. How is EU-LISA involved? The European Agency for Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Information Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice, also known as EU-LISA, will develop and operate the ETIAS Information System. The Agency will also develop the website and the mobile devices’ application where travelers will be able to apply for their ETIAS Authorisations or to check the validity of their electronic travel permits.

The role of ETIAS is to compare applicants’ data with various databases. When needed, in case of raised concern over the ID data, the verification process will go deeper and will be conducted manually.   Databases the European Travel Information and Authorisation System will consult with: The EU information systems: – Europol; – VIS – Visa Information System; – SIS – Schengen Information System;   Systems in process of implementation: – EES – Entry/Exit System; – Eurodac;   Interpol: – SLTD – Interpol Stolen and Lost Travel Document database; – TDAWN – Interpol Travel Documents Associated with Notices database;   as well as the ETIAS watchlist and risk indicators.

The aim of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System is to provide a simple and easy way to apply for a travel permit. Therefore, the process of applying for the ETIAS Authorization should take around 10 minutes, and the approval of the application, most of the time should take no more than 24 hours unless additional verification is needed. In the case of manual verification, the time for approval will be prolonged to 96 hours. In this case, the data provided will be verified by the ETIAS Central Unit. After, it will be checked by the National Units. It is possible for the applicant to be contacted and asked to provide additional information, again within 96 hours.

When the traveller gets to one of the EU border crossing points, the border guards will scan the passport and check if a valid ETIAS document is available. Then, if all entry conditions are respected, the traveller will be permitted to pass. If, however, the traveller is not in possession of a valid ETIAS document, he or her will not be allowed to proceed and the entry refusal will be recorded on the Entry/Exit System.

FRONTEX is expected to hire some 250 new dedicated staff, while eu-LISA plans to employ 40 new staff members. In addition to this, each Member State Unit is free to hire as much as people is necessary to operate these National Units.

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System Authorisation will be valid for three years as of the date of its approval. One document allows travelers multiple visits to the EU Member States, including to the Schengen Area during the time of its validity. However, if at some point, the issuing conditions are not respected, this document will be canceled automatically.

The ETIAS National Units together with the EU Information System and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System Central Unit will self-finance from the application fees.

– Citizens that come from Schengen Zone visa-exempt countries will be eligible to apply for the new ETIAS Authorisation: EU citizens and those living in the Schengen Area, do not need to apply for an ETIAS. For example, although Norway is not a member of the EU, it is a member of the Schengen Zone. If a Norwegian citizen travels from Brazil through Portugal to his or her home country, he or she do not need to apply for an ETIAS. – Citizens of EU & Schengen Zone visa-exempt countries wishing to cross the Zone’s external borders: Australian citizens can travel visa-free to both the EU and the Schengen Area. They will however need an ETIAS authorization to enter Switzerland which is in the Schengen Zone but is not an EU Member State. If an Australian citizen wants to travel to Ireland, he or she can do so visa-free, and therefore no need to obtain a European travel permit as Ireland is in the EU but not in the Schengen Zone.

The information required to obtain an ETIAS authorisation is based on applicants’ ID, passport or other travel document, occupation and employment, and education. A series of additional questions on visits to conflict zones or applicants’ police records and convictions will also be present on the application form.

First to introduce an online travel permit was Australia with ETA – the Electronic Travel Authority. Later, the USA established the well-known ESTA – the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, and then Canada created eTA – the Electronic Travel Authorisation.

The transportation sector should pay attention to the following: – all carriers, airliners, cruisers, bus companies, etc. will have to make sure their passengers, coming from visa-exempt countries are holding a valid, up to date ETIAS document before they board; – carriers are liable for their passengers and if the border control refuses entry to one of them, the respective carrier will have to repatriate him or her on their cost and may even be charged with a fine; – as soon as ETIAS becomes available, all carriers will be held responsible for those passengers travelling without a valid travel permit.

When an ETIAS document is denied, it is up to the ETIAS National Unit to let the applicant know and provide him or her with all the options to follow among which – the authorities to be contacted and the steps to follow if the applicant wants to appeal against the refusal. What is important to know is that previous refusals do not necessarily lead to a new refusal when the applicant applies again.

All safeguards for the processing of applicants’ and travelers’ personal data is taken by the ETIAS Regulation. The data stored will be on the disposition of EUROPOL and the EU members’ law enforcement authorities under strict, limited conditions to detect and prevent a potential terrorist or other criminal threat. The data stored by the EU Travel Permit System will be guarded until the ETIAS document expires or up to five years in case of a refusal, revoke on cancellation of the ETIAS Authorization starting with the date of the annul. An independent advisory body – the EU Travel Permit Fundamental Rights Guidance Board will be set. This Board will monitor the impact of the screening process on fundamental rights. It will provide assistance and guidance to the ETIAS Screening Board. The ETIAS Fundamental Rights Guidance Board will be presented by members of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights, the European Data Protection Board, and the European Data Protection Supervisor, as well as of FRONTEX’ Consultative Forum on Fundamental Rights.

The databases the European Travel and Authorisation System will consult with each application are: – ETIAS Central System; – ETIAS Watchlist; – SIS (Schengen Information System); – SLTD (Europol data and Interpol Stolen and Lost Travel Documents Database); – EES (the Entry/Exit System); – TDAWN (the Travel Documents Associated with Notices; – VIS (Visa Information System); – EURODAC In case there is a match between the applicant’s data and one of the databases above, the screening will turn to manual. The aim is to remove all ambiguity within 12 hours. If the claims are false, the ETIAS Central Unit will go back to an automated screening of the application. But if such match is confirmed, the application will be forwarded to the respective EU Member State and it will be up to it to decide upon whether the applicant will be approved or not to travel under an ETIAS authorization.

European Commission – Security Union (infographic) European Commission ETIAS introduction (infographic)

Canadians travelling to Europe will need a permit to enter some countries

2024 update: The EITAS program was delayed in October 2023. According to a news release, it is now expected to come into effect in 2025.

Canadians eyeing a trip to certain European countries next year will need to obtain a permit first.

Starting in 2024, Canadian travellers seeking a short-term visit to 30 countries including France, Switzerland, Spain and Greece must apply to the European Travel Information and Authorisation System.

The permit costs 7 euros, or about $10.25, and can be obtained on the ETIAS website or mobile app.

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It allows travellers to visit for up to 90 days within any 180-day period and is valid for three years, or until the passport used in the application expires.

In addition to Canada, the new rules will apply to nearly 60 countries including the United States, Mexico, United Kingdom, Australia and Japan.

Travellers younger than 18 and older than 70 years are exempt from payment, as are family members of EU citizens or of non-EU nationals who can move freely in the European Union.

The official website of the European Union urges would-be visitors to apply for authorization well in advance of a planned trip, and before booking a plane ticket or hotel.

Canadian travellers to most of Europe are currently exempt from needing a visa and only require a valid passport for short stays.

European countries requiring ETIAS also include Belgium, Croatia, Finland, Germany, Portugal, Romania and Slovenia.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 26, 2023.

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audio Canadians will need to apply for a travel permit to enter thirty countries in Europe

• 8 months ago
• Duration 4:48

Starting sometime in 2024, Canadians will need to apply for a travel permit to enter thirty countries in Europe. The application will be made to what's known as the "European Travel Information and Authorisation System." Travel specialist Barry Shectertalked to us about how the system will work, and whether other countries might follow suit.

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Romania and Bulgaria partially join Europe’s Schengen travel zone, but checks at land borders remain

Romania and Bulgaria partially joined Europe’s Schengen ID-check-free travel zone, marking a new step in the two countries’ integration with the European Union

SOFIA, Bulgaria -- Romania and Bulgaria partially joined Europe’s ID-check-free travel zone on Sunday, marking a new step in the two countries’ integration with the European Union.

After years of negotiations to join the Schengen area, there is now free access for travelers arriving by air or sea from both countries. However, land border checks will remain in place due to opposition primarily from Austria which has long blocked their bid over illegal migration concerns.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hailed the change as a “huge success for both countries” and a “historic moment” for what is the world’s largest free travel zone.

The Schengen Area was established in 1985. Before Bulgaria and Romania’s admission, it was comprised of 23 of the 27 EU member countries, along with Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Around 3.5 million people cross an internal border each day.

Austria vetoed Romania and Bulgaria’s admission into the Schengen zone at the end of 2022 but allowed Croatia full accession. Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU in 2007 and Croatia in 2013.

Siegfried Muresan, a Romanian Member of the European Parliament, told The Associated Press that it is “an important first step” that will benefit millions of travelers annually.

“Bulgaria and Romania have been fulfilling all criteria for joining the Schengen area for years — we are entitled to join with the terrestrial border as well,” he said, adding that it “will offer additional arguments to the last EU member state that has been vetoing the full accession.”

Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu called it a “well-deserved achievement” for Romania that he said will benefit citizens who can travel more easily and will bolster the economy.

“We have a clear and firmly assumed government plan for full accession to the Schengen Area by the end of the year,” he said.

The EU’s executive branch, the European Commission, has said for more than a decade that Romania and Bulgaria both meet the technical criteria for full accession, which requires unanimous support from their partners. Both countries have agreed to implement random security screening at airports and maritime borders to combat illegal migration and cross-border crime.

“Bulgaria’s full accession to Schengen will happen by the end of 2024,” Kalin Stoyanov, Bulgaria's interior minister, told reporters on Sunday. “We showed and continue to show to illegal migrants that they should not take the road to Europe through Bulgaria."

The lifting of border control is expected to facilitate operations at Bulgaria’s four international airports, which in 2023 saw nearly 11 million passengers, according to official data.

The airport in the capital, Sofia, serves as the biggest hub for Schengen flights which constitute 70% of all flights, airport representatives said.

While the eased regulations are expected to positively impact the tourism sector, members of the European Parliament have voiced concerns about long queues at the EU’s land borders and the impact it can have on trade in the bloc’s single market, as well as the health and safety of drivers.

Truck drivers are frequently stuck in kilometers-long queues at the borders of both Romania and Bulgaria. The Union of International Carriers in Bulgaria estimates delays cost the sector tens of millions of euros each year.

McGrath reported from Sighisoara, Romania.

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General information

• Entry/Exit system is currently not in operation.

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an automated IT system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay, each time they cross the external borders of European countries using the system (exemptions apply, see FAQ section ). This concerns travellers who require a short-stay visa and those who do not need a visa. Refusals of entry are also recorded in the system.

The main advantage of the EES is saving time. The EES replaces passport stamping and automates border control procedures, making travelling to European countries using the EES more efficient for the traveller.

The EES also makes it easier to identify travelers who have no right to enter or who have stayed in the European countries using the EES for too long. It makes it easier to detect travelers using fake identities or passports. Finally, the EES helps to prevent, detect and investigate terrorist offences or other serious criminal offences.

The EES applies to you if you are a non-EU national travelling to a European country using the EES for a short stay of up to 90 days within any 180 day period. It is important to remember that the period of 90 days in any 180 days is calculated as a single period for all European countries using the EES.

European countries using the EES

List of countries using EES

In Cyprus and Ireland, despite being countries of the European Union, passports are still stamped manually.

Why does the EES collect personal data?

The EES collects personal data provided by the traveller each time he or she reaches the borders of European countries using the EES and stores this information in the system together with the date and time of their entry or exit.

This makes border checks faster. It also makes it easier to identify travellers who have no right to enter, who have stayed in European countries using the EES for too long, or who are using fake identities or passports. The EES also collects and stores personal data to contribute to prevention, detection and investigation of terrorist offences and other serious crimes.

Conditions for collecting and storing personal data in the EES are set out in the Regulation (EU) 2017/2226 establishing the Entry/Exit System .

Information on the processing of your personal data in the Entry/Exit System

If you are a non-EU national travelling for a short stay (maximum 90 days in any 180-day period)   to a European country using the EES, you will be provided with clear information in writing about the EES and your related rights at the border-crossing point.

Your data is collected and processed for the purposes of border management, preventing irregular immigration and facilitating the management of migration flows. This is required in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/2226 , specifically Articles 14, 16 to 19 and 23 of Chapter II and Chapter III of the Regulation.

What data will the EES collect?

The EES collects and records:

• data listed in your travel document (e.g. full name, date of birth, etc.)
• date and place of entry into and exit from a European country using the EES
• facial image and fingerprints (called ‘biometric data’)
• refusal of entry, where relevant

Please note that the fingerprint data of non-EU nationals who do not need a visa to enter the territory of European countries using the EES and holders of Facilitated Transit Documents will be stored in the EES. If you need a visa to enter the Schengen area, your fingerprints will already be stored in the Visa Information System and will not be stored again in the EES.

The system also collects your personal information, depending on your particular situation, from:

• the Visa Information System (which contains additional personal information)
• the European Travel Information and Authorisation System , in particular the status of your travel authorisation and, if applicable, your family member status

All this is done in full compliance with data protection rules and rights.

What happens if you refuse to have your fingerprints scanned or a photo of your face taken?

As a non-EU national travelling for a short stay, if you refuse to provide your biometric data, you will be denied entry into the territory of European countries using EES.

Who can access your personal data?

• Authorities in European countries using the EES such as border, visa and immigration authorities for the purpose of verifying your identity and understanding whether you should be allowed to enter or stay on the territory.
• Europol may also access your data for law enforcement purposes.
• Under strict conditions, your data may be transferred to another state (EU country or non-EU country) or international organisation (listed in Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2017/2226 ) (UN organisation, the International Organisation for Migration, or the International Committee of the Red Cross) for return ( Article 41(1) and (2) , and Article 42 and/or law enforcement purposes Article 41(6) ).
• Carriers will only be able to verify whether short-stay visa holders have already used the number of entries authorised by their visa, and will not be able to access any further personal data.

How long does the EES keep your personal data?

Your data will be stored in the system for the following durations:

• Records of entries, exits, and refusals of entry : 3 years, starting on the date on which they were recorded.
• Individual files containing personal data : 3 years and one day, starting on the date of your last exit record (or of your refusal of entry, if you were not permitted to enter).
• If no exit has been recorded : 5 years, starting on the expiry date of your authorised stay.

After each time period expires, your data is automatically erased.

As the fingerprint scans of travellers requiring Schengen visas will already be in the Visa Information System, they will not be stored again in the EES.

In the case of non-EU nationals who are family members of EU, EEA, or Swiss nationals who are travelling to a state other than the state of their nationality, or who already reside there, and who are accompanying or joining these EU, EEA, or Swiss nationals, each entry, exit, or refusal of entry record will be stored for one year following the date of the exit record or of the refusal of entry record.

How can you find out how much longer you can stay in European countries using the EES and what happens if you overstay?

You have the right to receive information from passport control officers on the maximum remaining duration of your authorised stay.

Once EES is operational, you will be able to consult an online tool available on the EES website and/or consult the equipment installed at the border crossing points (if available).

If you stay for longer than permitted, you will be identified as an ‘overstayer’ and your data will automatically be added to a list. Competent national authorities (passport control officers, immigration officers, staff issuing visas, etc.) can access this list.

If you are added to the list of overstayers, other consequences can apply depending on national legislation in place in the respective European country using EES (e.g. you may be removed from the territory; you may be subject to administrative fines or detention; you may be prevented from re-entering the EU in the future.)

If, as an overstayer, you provide credible evidence to the competent authorities, such as border authorities or immigration authorities, that you exceeded the authorised duration due to unforeseeable or mitigating circumstances (e.g. hospitalisation due to a serious injury), your data can be amended in the system and you can be removed from the list.

The calculation of the duration of the authorised stay and the generation of alerts to European countries using the EES when the authorised stay has expired do not apply to non-EU nationals who are family members of EU, EEA or Swiss nationals who travel to a state other than the state of their nationality, or already reside there, and are accompanying or joining the EU, EEA or Swiss national.

What rights do you have with respect to your personal data?

You have the right to:

• Request from the controller access to data relating to you
• Request that inaccurate or incomplete data is corrected
• Request that unlawfully processed personal data that concern you is erased and/or that the processing thereof is restricted

To exercise any of the rights listed in points (1) to (3), you must contact a data controller (e.g. the entity responsible for processing your data) or data protection officer in any of the European countries using the EES, preferably the ones to which you travelled.

You can find the relevant contact details for the European countries using the EES on this site (will be made available at a later stage) .

Where should you submit personal data-related complaints?

You can lodge a complaint with:

• The supervisory authority of the European country using the EES in charge of processing your data (e.g. if you believe that the country has recorded your data incorrectly). (The contact details will be made available at a later stage.)
• Frontex : the European Border and Coast Guard Agency hosts the central unit operating the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) relevant for the visa-exempt non-EU nationals
• European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice -  eu-LISA : the European Union's Agency that through technology supports EU countries' efforts for a safer Europe
• Europol : the European Union's Law Enforcement Agency aims to achieve a safer Europe for the benefit of all the EU citizens

Lodging a complaint means that you can submit a formal request for a new assessment of your data protection rights, for instance, if your query to the data controller to access, delete or amend your data is refused.

Related links

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Simon Calder travel advice: When to renew your passport before visiting Europe

Since Brexit , the rules on passport validity for British visitors to the European Union have tightened.

Gone are the days when you could travel to the EU at any point before your travel document expired; the UK is now a “third country”, with rules to match.

Added confusion has come in the form of the UK’s own HM Passport Office, which has continued to give out incorrect information regarding child passport expiry dates .

These are the key questions and answers based on EU rules.

What’s changed?

While the UK was in the European Union, British passports were valid up to and including their expiry date for travel within the EU. But since the end of the Brexit transition phase, British passport holders are treated as “third country nationals” with stipulations about passport issue and expiry dates – together with limits on the length of stay almost everywhere in Europe.

For the avoidance of doubt, these are not “new EU rules” – they were decided while the UK was in the European Union.

What is required for my passport to be valid?

The requirements for the Schengen Area – comprising most EU countries plus Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and a handful of micro-states – are crisply expressed on the Travel page of the European Union’s Your Europe site : “If you are a non-EU national wishing to visit or travel within the EU, you will need a passport:

• valid for at least three months after the date you intend to leave the EU country you are visiting,
• which was issued within the previous 10 years.”

(All children’s passports meet this latter condition – see below.)

For the avoidance of doubt, there is no problem travelling to Europe with a passport issued for over 10 years, so long as it is under 10 years old on the date of departure to the EU and will have three months remaining on the date of return.

Why the line about ‘issued within the previous 10 years’?

For many years, until September 2018, the UK had a generous policy of allowing credit for “unspent” time when renewing a passport, issuing documents valid for up to 10 years and nine months.

So a passport issued on 31 October 2012 could show an expiry date of 31 July 2023.

This was fine around Europe and the world for decade – until Brexit, whereupon a longstanding rule kicked in. For non-members of the EU hoping to enter the Schengen Area, a passport must have been issued in the past 10 years.

With a passport issued on 31 October 2012, regardless of the expiry date, you’re not allowed to enter the EU post-1 November 2022.

Until September 2018 the government appeared unaware of the problem. Once the issue was identified, the practice of giving up to nine months’ grace ended abruptly.

Are the “issued less than 10 years ago” and “valid for three months” rules combined?

No. There is no need to have a passport issued less than nine years, nine months ago. The two conditions are independent of one another.

The Migration and Home Affairs Department of the European Commission in Brussels told me: “Entry should be allowed to those travelling with passports issued within the previous 10 years at the moment of entry into the Schengen area.

“The condition that the passport must have been issued within the previous 10 years does not extend for the duration of the intended stay. It is enough if this condition is fulfilled at the moment of entry.

“To give a practical example, a non-EU traveller arriving on 1 December 2021 for a 20-days stay in the EU with a passport issued on 2 December 2011 and valid until 2 April 2022 will be allowed entry.”

If I get wrongly turned away, what are my rights?

For flights: you can claim denied boarding compensation (either £220 or £350, depending on the length of the flight) and associated costs – for example, booking another flight on a rival airline, or for wasted car rental and hotel expenses that cannot be reclaimed.

I’ve just read a report saying I need six months remaining for Europe?

Some news outlets, regrettably, continue to publish incorrect information. Ignore it.

Does that 10-year-plus rule apply anywhere else in the world?

No as far as I am aware. The concern around the date of issue is relevant only for travel to the European Union – not for the rest of the world.

For destinations outside EU, the only significant consideration is the expiry date. And for destinations such as Australia, the US and Canada, your passport is valid up to and including this date.

So with that passport expiring on 31 July 2023, you could be in New York until that very day (though you would need to get a daytime flight back to avoid your passport running out en route.

Read the Independent ’s guide to how many months you need left on your passport to travel worldwide

What about children?

Passports for under-16s are typically valid for five years (plus any extra credit). A child’s passport issued for five years and nine months is clearly within the 10-year limit, and there is no possibility of breaching that condition.

(During 2021, the Home Office’s defective passport checker stripped all extra credit, which was both wrong and unhelpful. The online checker has now been switched off.)

But beware of the three-months-remaining-on-exit rule, which children are more likely to fall foul of because of the shorter duration of their passports.

What about this 90/180 day rule?

For trips to the Schengen area (most EU nations plus Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and some small countries) British passport holders can stay a maximum of 90 days in any 180. That’s roughly three months in six.

it is tricky to explain, but I shall do my best. Imagine a calendar that stretches back almost six months from today. What happened more than 180 days ago is irrelevant. What counts is the number of days you were either inside (I) or outside (O) the Schengen Area in the past 180 days.

You can easily keep count on a calendar yourself, either printed or digital.

If “I” hits 90, you must leave that day and stay out for almost three months, to accumulate 90 “Os” in a row. Then you can go back in, for a maximum of 90 days.

During the course of a calendar year, it could work like this (assuming no travel to the EU in the previous six months).

• 1 January: enter the EU and stay for 90 days until the last day of March, when you must leave.
• 1 April: remain outside for 90 days, which takes you to 29 June.
• 30 June: enter the EU and stay for 90 days, until 27 September. Then leave.
• 28 September: remain outside the EU until 26 December.

For longer stays, some countries offer visas that allow British citizens to remain for months on end. If you get one of these, then the time spent in that country does not count towards the “90/180” rule – in other words, you can explore other EU countries with a fresh calendar.

What about non-Schengen EU members?

For British visitors to Ireland , there are no limits on passport validity. Indeed, a passport is not legally mandatory for British travellers to the republic, though some airlines insist on it.

Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania have identical rules to the Schengen Area: passport issued in the past 10 years, and with three months validity remaining on the day of leaving the country. But time spent in any of these nations does not contribute to the “90/180” day total.

Help! My passport is full of stamps and I have no space left. Will I be turned away?

No, even though Eurostar warns British passport holders : “Check that you have a clear page in your passport as it will need to be stamped with your travel date when you’re travelling to and from the EU.”

The EU’s Practical Handbook for Border Guards is explicit about a “document enabling a third-country national to cross the border [that] is no longer suitable for affixing a stamp, as there are no longer available pages”.

It says: “In such a case, the third-country national should be recommended to apply for a new passport, so that stamps can continue to be affixed there in the future.

“However, as an exception – and particularly in the case of regular cross-border commuters – a separate sheet can be used, to which further stamps can be affixed. The sheet must be given to the third-country national.

“In any case, the lack of empty pages in a passport is not, in itself, a valid and sufficient ground to refuse the entry of a person.”

The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking news brand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. We have grown a huge, global readership of independently minded individuals, who value our trusted voice and commitment to positive change. Our mission, making change happen, has never been as important as it is today.