ETIAS Requirements
In this article
Citizens whose country of origin is listed as requiring an
ETIAS
for
travel to the Schengen Zone are eligible to apply for ETIAS, with
the following ETIAS requirements:
- Applicants must have a valid, biometric passport.
- Internet access is required to complete the digital ETIAS application form.
- The application fee must be paid by credit or debit card.
- Applicants must provide a valid email address for ETIAS correspondence.
- All required information must be provided in the ETIAS form.
When the
ETIAS application
is submitted, the applicant will be
cross-checked across security databases to check for any criminal
records and any health risks will also be reviewed. If there
are any issues flagged, the ETIAS is unlikely to get approved
and the applicant will either not be able to enter their
desired destination, or they may be able to obtain a visa instead.
Entry Visa Waiver Requirements to Visit Europe
To visit the Schengen area, if you are a national of the countries listed,
then you are required to apply for an ETIAS. The ETIAS is a visa waiver
programme that allows eligible travelers to visit Europe using an ETIAS
instead of applying for a visa. It is a quicker way to obtain travel
authorization than going through the visa application process.
Countries That Will Require ETIAS
Currently, there are 60 countries whose citizens will be visa-exempt
and will require an ETIAS for travel authorization to the Schengen Area.
ETIAS Countries
The 26 countries above are currently signed up to the
ETIAS visa waiver agreement.
This list could change in the future, as other countries may get added or removed.
As it currently stands, the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus,
Ireland and Romania are not included in the ETIAS countries.
Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania are in the process of joining
the Schengen countries list, while UK and Ireland have opted out of the Schengen area.
ETIAS Required Destinations
If you are traveling to any of the following destinations you will require an ETIAS:
Travel Authorization: Revocation or Annulment
When an ETIAS is approved, it will usually be valid for three years or
until the passport it is linked to expires, whichever date is sooner.
However, this does not mean that the traveler has guaranteed admission
into the countries on the ETIAS list for that period of time.
The border officers have the authority to prevent any traveler from entering
the Schengen area, if they see fit to. So, even if a traveler has a valid ETIAS,
it will not mean that they are automatically allowed to enter the Schengen area.
An ETIAS can be revoked or annulled by the authorities if there is reason to.
This could be due to some new information regarding the ETIAS holder such
as conditions under the ETIAS are no longer met. There could be a new criminal
conviction or health issue that means that the person no longer meets the terms for an ETIAS.
Schengen Zone
The Schengen Zone is made up of 26 countries, not all of which are members
of the EU. The Schengen Zone was formed to allow unrestricted movement of
people across the borders of the countries opted in.
These are the 26 countries in the Schengen Zone:
Austria, Belgium, 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.
FAQs about ETIAS
Can I use ETIAS to study in Europe?
The purpose of an ETIAS is to allow holders to travel to countries in the Schengen
area for leisure, tourism or business purposes, for a period of no longer than
90 consecutive days. Studying is not one of the permitted travel purposes under
an ETIAS, although the traveler may attend a short course.
ETIAS holders are able to attend conferences, summits, workshops and seminars
for example but cannot enrol on a college or university course in the Schengen Area.
People who are considering which university they want to apply for may use the ETIAS
to visit different universities in order to help them to make their decision.
When attending a university or college in Europe, students will need to apply
for a student visa for their time in their chosen place of study.
Can I attend a Conference in Europe with ETIAS?
Attending a conference, seminar or convention is possible with an ETIAS.
Anyone traveling to the Schengen Area after the launch of the ETIAS visa waiver
program will require an ETIAS if they originate from a
country that requires the ETIAS.
Events such as professional workshops and other meetings for scholars will be accepted under
the travel purposes for an ETIAS visa. Brief training sessions are also permissible
under the terms of the ETIAS.
Can I study a Degree in Europe with ETIAS?
No, the ETIAS is only for visits to the Schengen Area that are limited to 90 consecutive
days. Students who wish to study in Europe for a degree would be required to apply
for a student visa instead.
The ETIAS does allow students to visit their prospective universities prior to the start
of their study, to help decide which place to study to attend. The ETIAS allows
the holder to visit the different countries in the Schengen Area, so the ETIAS
holder could visit multiple universities in several different countries.
To apply for a student visa, the applicant will be required to make an
appointment with the embassy or consulate and must provide all of the required documents.
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