ETIAS Visa Waiver for Travelers from the United Arab Emirates

The EU has added the gulf state United Arab Emirates to its 62 ETIAS nations, which can enter the Schengen zone with just a visa waiver. Popularised by the USA, visa waivers allow citizens of trusted nations to visit for short-term travel without a standard visa.

Emiratis can learn everything about the new European Travel Information and Authorisation System in this article and should keep up with ETIAS.org to learn all the latest news surrounding the ETIAS visa.

ETIAS visa waivers are required in broad circumstances but are specifically valid only to these circumstances. The main cause for an ETIAS visa waiver to be required is that the Emirati is travelling for a short-term period. Short-term refers to travel of fewer than 90 days. If the Emirati wishes to travel to the Schengen area for longer, they must make the proper visa arrangements.

Luckily for Emiratis travelling to the EU in 2022, the ETIAS visa waiver system will only come into effect in the new year of 2023. Until then, Emiratis will be free to travel to the Schengen area without any visa waiver. This is because the United Arab Emirates is exempt from the Schengen visa requirements.

The most restrictive characteristic of ETIAS is that it only applies for travel to Schengen states: both official and defacto. A full list of the ETIAS countries grants access to is below.

Most visa waiver systems require all traveller from certain nations to have them for entry. However, ETIAS has the unique characteristic that means travellers by train do not need an ETIAS visa waiver. Therefore, if an Emirati is staying in a nation that neighbours the Schengen Zone, they may decide to use this leniency to take a short trip into the Schengen zone. If the Emirati does this, they must ensure they stay in the Schengen zone for less than 90 days. A longer stay would leave the Emirati in breach of EU immigration laws.

Along with the application fee, Emiratis must prove they fit the ETIAS requirements by rigorously completing their ETIAS applications. The key requirements covered by the ETIAS application form are the medical and legal safety of allowing the Emirati into the Schengen area.

The application form asks if the Emirati has affiliations with terrorist organisations, or convictions for terrorist activities in the previous 25 years. The ETIAS application’s checks on criminality are just as strict. It asks if the Emirati has been convicted of any crimes in the last 15 years. Furthermore, the EU plans to use ETIAS as a means to tackle illegal immigration, so Emiratis must use the application to show that they have not been involved in human trafficking operations. If an Emirati answers “yes” to any of these questions, they must provide additional details and are unlikely to see success in their application. When answering these questions, Emiratis must remember that the EU will use next-generation artificial intelligence technology to cross-reference their answers.

Due to the global pandemic, the EU also plans to use its ETIAS system to preserve the health of its citizens. Checks on infectious diseases that ETIAS applicants have is hoped to reduce the number of deadly illnesses that find their way into the EU.

The remaining ETIAS requirement is that the Emirati has the right to travel outside of the United Arab Emirates is fulfilled with twofold documentation.

A copy of their passport and a proof of address will prove that the Emirati is stably naturalised in the United Arab Emirates, with a right to travel globally. Proof of address means three months of documentation showing the Emirati’s address, such as bank statements.

Around 5% of Emirati ETIAS applicants will face rejection when they apply for ETIAS, and many more will need to clarify minor concerns with their application in order to be awarded an ETIAS visa waiver. When applications are not outright rejected, the applicant gets ten days to supply any information or documents required to clarify minor discrepancies.

Swift success is less likely if there are problems found in an Emirati’s application that warrant outright rejection. Some Emiratis may choose to take advantage of the appeals process, supplying documentation and answering any questions as rapidly as possible.

In some circumstances, the Emirati will be asked to attend a video interview, where they will be interrogated on any concerns raised by their application.

After attending all requested interviews, and supplying documentation, the Emirati can expect an answer to their application in four weeks.