ETIAS Visa Waiver for Travelers from Paraguay

Paraguay will join South American Nations such as Argentina in the EU's new ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) visa waiver. This means that Paraguayans are considered safe to enter the EU without a full visa.

The changes are planned for 2023, requiring Paraguayans to successfully applying for an ETIAS visa waiver to travel to the countries under ETIAS program.

The ETIAS Visa waiver system has been in the making since 2016 when terrorism racked European Communities. The European Commission decided to copy the example of other nations such as the USA, who use Visa waiver systems as an alternative to requiring a full visa or no documentation at all.

Despite recently coming under fire from the UK, ETIAS should not pose barriers to tourists from ETIAS nations, and knowing everything about it will help Paraguayans to continue to enter the EU. Such knowledge can be obtained through this article.

With the assistance of modern technology, this Visa waiver system will be made substantially easier to implement. The EU hopes that leveraging the latest AI technology will prevent backlogs in applications.

Artificial intelligence technology has grown recently developing many new uses, such as the processing of large amounts of data. This usage has led to the EU implementing AI technology as of the 3rd of August to process more travellers data. Now, human administrative workers will only have to check applications if they are flagged up by the system. has developed massively in recent years with a vast array of uses.

All computer systems are already in place, but as with any new entrance policy, a substantial amount of labour is required to run it. The EU has found difficulties in hiring this new workforce but this is not indicating it is expecting delays.

The additional labour required is in two areas being the processing of applications and the processing of travellers at the border. The additional checks required could lead to longer waiting times at the destination airport which could be frustrating for Paraguayans.

The ETIAS visa gives Paraguayans the right and ability to go to all the Schengen nations which are listed below.

Simply knowing someone has come from Paraguay, is not enough for the EU to determine that a safe traveller. On the ETIAS application form, Paraguayans can expect to find an array of questions that will help the EU to determine if they can be let into the Schengen area. The most serious questions are:

Paraguayans must ensure all their answers are accurate when they apply for ETIAS. Answers to these questions will be supplemented by standard documentation like a passport, a credit card, proof of address, and the Paraguayan’s name. This documentation will help the EU to make the necessary cross-references with security databases.

Most visa waiver systems require travellers to carry the visa waiver in all circumstances. Travellers from Paraguay should remember that they can avoid the need for an ETIAS visa waiver by entering the Schengen area by train.

Paraguayan must also remember the limits of the ETIAS visa waiver. It is intended for short-term travel only and therefore if a Paraguayan wishes to remain in the Schengen area for more than 90 days, a visa is required.

Around 5% of Paraguayans will find their ETIAS application has been rejected. they must not give up if this is the case and they can take advantage of the application process. 96 hours is granted to rejected Paraguayans to supply any further documentation and answer any queries. Appealing Paraguayans should keep in mind the two most common grounds for rejection. Paraguayans who have been rejected on these grounds are unlikely to have a successful appeal.

The first of these concerns is about the risks posed by a Paraguayan’s criminal or terrorist background. The EU has confirmed that any ETIAS applicants with a recent terrorist or criminal conviction will struggle to successfully apply for ETIAS. They have defined recent as within 25 years for terrorist offences, and 15 years for criminal offences.

Secondly, the EU wishes to use ETIAS to block travellers with infectious diseases from entering the Schengen area. If a Paraguayan is found to pose a public health risk, they will be denied an ETIAS.