The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is an electronic system, set up in 2016 by the European Union, mainly intended for the purpose of tracking visitors in and out of the European Schengen region. ETIAS requirements intend to pre-screen all potential visitors to Europe.
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From 2025, all eligible travellers to the Schengen area will be required to have ETIAS approval before entering the European Schengen area. The countries that qualify for ETIAS are those that have a visa-free arrangement with the EU, which includes the UK.
People who are considered ‘third country’ nationals and citizens of countries that currently possess visa-free access to Schengen member states will need ETIAS Germany to travel to Europe once it comes into force in 2025. This group of countries includes the UK, meaning it will soon become mandatory for British Citizens to gain ETIAS approval before travelling to Germany or any other Schengen country. ETIAS eligible individuals can apply quickly and easily online in just a few minutes. If their application is approved, it will remain valid for three years and will enable the ETIAS holder to enter anywhere within the Schengen area an unlimited number of times, as long as their passport remains valid within that time and they do not stay longer than 90 days in any 180-day time period.
At the moment, many countries possess a visa-free travel arrangement with the EU, including the UK. Citizens of these countries have, until now, needed only a valid passport to travel into the Schengen area, which posed a number of potential security issues for the EU border authorities. ETIAS is intended to mitigate the risk by bolstering border security while at the same time streamlining the travel process for both travellers and border officials. When ETIAS comes into force in 2025, it will be mandatory for all eligible travellers, including British citizens, to gain ETIAS approval before travelling to Germany or any other Schengen country. Luckily, the application is a very simple process that can be completed entirely online in just a few minutes. It only requires a valid biometric passport, which has been standard issue in the UK for over a decade (since 2010). After ETIAS approval is granted, it will remain valid and will cover all trips to the Schengen region for three years, unless the linked passport expires within that time, in which case another ETIAS application must be submitted.
In any 180-day period, a UK citizen travelling on an ETIAS visa waiver may stay in Germany no longer than 90 days. Anyone wishing to stay longer, or work or study in Germany, will need to apply for an appropriate visa in order to do so. Filling out an online ETIAS application Germany does not guarantee the entry into country, the border security officials will have a final say.
Every citizen of any eligible country will need ETIAS clearance before travelling to a Schengen zone country, regardless of their age. Under the application rule, ETIAS applies to all relevant citizens which also includes children and minors (under the ageof 18). Border officials and transport operators will seek proof of ETIAS approval before allowing anyone, including children, to enter any Schengen country. To apply, minors must go through the same online application process as other ETIAS applicants, however the application should be submitted by a parent or guardian on behalf of any child. Those under the age of 18 and over the age of 70 will not be charged an application fee. The reason minors are expected to submit ETIAS applications is for security purposes, but other reasoning also comes into play. Unfortunately, minors are used on occasion for nefarious reasons by ruthless people and can become the victims of human trafficking. ETIAS will help to prevent this by tracking and pre-screening the adult that is responsible for the child and applying on their behalf.
There are currently 59 countries with visa-free travel clearance from the European Union whose citizens will be required to submit ETIAS applications to continue this travel, starting in 2025. France will be one of the countries requiring ETIAS authorization for travel. Citizens of the following countries will need ETIAS to travel to Europe:
Albania
Antigua-et-Barbuda
Argentine
Australie
Bahamas
Barbade
Bosnie-Herzégovine
Brésil
Brunei
Canada
Chili
Colombie
Costa Rica
République dominicaine
Le Salvador
Géorgie
Grenade
Guatemala
Honduras
Hong Kong
Israël
Japon
Kiribati
Macao
Macédoine du Nord
Malaisie
Îles Marshall
Île Maurice
Mexique
Micronésie
Moldavie
Monténégro
Nouvelle-Zélande
Nicaragua
Palaos
Panama
Paraguay
Pérou
Saint Kitts & Nevis
Sainte-Lucie
Saint Vincent
St. Vincent
Serbia
Seychelles
Singapore
Solomon Islands
South Korea
Taiwan
Timor Leste
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tuvalu
Uruguay
Ukraine
UAE
Vanuatu
Venezuela
United Kingdom
United States
Because the ETIAS application is entirely electronic, it must be completed online. It is a simple and quick process that requires the applicant to input basic personal and background information such as passport information, name, date of birth, email address, citizenship information, employment and educational experience. For safety and security purposes, the applicant will also be asked their travel, medical and criminal history. The data is then analysed and cross-checked against different databases to ensure that it matches the information found through other sources, and does not create a cause for concern. Before starting the application process, there are a few things to think about. Check that the card you intend to use to pay the application fee has no blocks or holds on it and that there are adequate funds in the account, otherwise your application might not be processed. Furthermore, the precision with which biometric data is input, down to the slightest detail, is critical. The application may be denied if the information is entered incorrectly, even if it is done by mistake. If new information emerges after an applicant’s ETIAS is authorised and before they travel, for example if the ETIAS holder gets into legal trouble in the days approaching their departure, EU authorities may withdraw the authorisation. Furthermore, ETIAS does not guarantee entry to the destination country. Border officers will make the final decision on admissionat the time of entry, and this decision will be based on a number of considerations.
Only a valid biometric passport is necessary for the initial ETIAS application. Since biometric passports have been issued as normal in the UK for more than a decade, the vast majority of British citizens will have the necessary documentation to apply for ETIAS. Only in exceptional cases, such as if the application is deemed incomplete or questionable in some way, will extra documents be sought. The passport must include a printed photograph that is not glued or attached in any way, and it must also be machine readable. It should ideally feature an electronic passport chip, although this is not compulsory. Additional documentation may be requested before ETIAS clearance is given if the passport does not match these standards, or if it is deemed insufficient in some other way.
