For the dwellers of the Seychelles, who are used to waking up to stunning beach views, diving down to coral reefs, and swimming around with gigantic turtles along the African continent, it can be hard to find a better holiday destination. If you fancy a change, and a place to take you away from all of these offerings, diverting your interest into ancient historical architecture and significance, Belgium is the place for you to go next.
If you want to visit Belgium anytime soon, you must be prepared for the new travel regulation that the authorities of the Schengen zone have been developing. This includes the introduction of a digital screening process, termed as ETIAS, which is available in the form of a document - that must be pre-approved before you enter any of the Schengen countries, including Belgium. It will be mandatory from late 2022 to possess an ETIAS before entering any of these countries - be it for leisure, business, or even medical purposes.
The ETIAS system has been introduced to ensure that visitors entering the Schengen countries are not found to be a threat to the citizens of the country and fellow travelers. This will also reduce your worries of standing in long queues at immigration centers looking for your visas or other relevant travel documentation.
In this article, you can find the answers to the most popular FAQs that will help you understand all the necessary details about ETIAS, before your next trip to Belgium. So, keep reading!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT PURPOSE DOES AN ETIAS SERVE?
The ETIAS, also known as the European Travel Information and Authorization System is similar to the U.S. ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization). It has been developed with the aim of pre-screening travelers arriving in Schengen area countries using their background and lifestyle to ensure the security of the country’s citizens.
DOES THE ETIAS DOCUMENT ALLOW TRAVEL TO ANY EU NATION FOR THE CITIZENS OF SEYCHELLES?
The ETIAS authorization allows travelers entry to any of the 26 Schengen countries, including the citizens of Seychelles. The first point of entry to the Schengen zone has to be through Belgium itself if the traveler has applied for a Belgium ETIAS. One can even have multiple entry authorization during the validity of the ETIAS authorization.
CAN I VISIT MULTIPLE EU COUNTRIES WITH AN ETIAS AUTHORIZATION?
Yes, you can. Once you apply for an online ETIAS document and get the authorization approved by the concerned authorities, you can visit any EU country that is a member of the Schengen zone. Some countries might not be members of the European Union but they still fall under the Schengen Union. In that case, you will not be able to travel to those EU countries as you can only visit the Schengen nations.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS TO APPLY FOR A BELGIUM ETIAS FOR THE CITIZENS OF SEYCHELLES?
All applications for an ETIAS are managed online through an application form that is screened and approved by the Schengen authorities. You can choose to apply on the official website or hop on over to the iVisa.com platform to have it all performed in a much smoother and faster way. You will have your ETIAS in your hand in no time at all.
HOW LONG CAN CITIZENS OF SEYCHELLES STAY IN BELGIUM WITH AN APPROVED ETIAS?
Once you obtain an ETIAS document, it allows you to stay in any of the Schengen countries for a period of a maximum of 90 days within a timeframe of 6 months. If you wish to stay more than the allowed quota of 90 days in Belgium or any other Schengen state, you will need to check other visa options that are available for Belgium.
FOR HOW MANY YEARS DOES THE ETIAS REMAIN VALID?
The ETIAS authorization is linked to your passport document and stays valid for up to 3 years from the date it was approved. If your passport expires before the validity of the ETIAS ends, the ETIAS automatically loses its authorization, and you will need to apply for a new one.
HOW FAST CAN I GET MY ETIAS APPROVED?
By using the iVisa.com services you can get your Belgium ETIAS document approved in just a matter of hours. There are three processing options from which you can choose to get your ETIAS.
- Standard processing: The option with the longest waiting time among all the three to get your ETIAS, but comes with the lowest price.
- Rush processing: A faster alternative than the standard process coming at a higher cost with a quicker response time.
- Super Rush processing: The fastest among the three processing options that also costs the most. With this option, your Belgium ETIAS reaches your email inbox very quickly.
WHAT STEPS MUST I FOLLOW TO APPLY FOR AN ETIAS?
The process at iVisa.com consists of three simple steps, with which you get your ETIAS delivered to your mailbox while you sip a coffee. The steps are:
1.Filling out the online questionnaire with your personal and essential information, and consecutively, selecting the processing speed you want for your application.
2.Checking and reviewing all the data that you included in the form, and making the online fee payment for iVisa.com services. You can use either of your credit/debit cards or a PayPal account.
3.Answer any additional questions (if applicable) about the ETIAS application, and click “SUBMIT”.
Once you hit the submit button, your application is on the way to the authorizing department. You simply need to wait for the final results to glide into your email inbox.
IS IVISA.com SAFE TO USE AS A PLATFORM?
iVisa.com is an online platform that caters to the global audience assisting travelers with their travel-related documentation and authorizations. These documents being extremely essential for the proper handling and screening of travelers at different borders, iVisa.com takes extra care to organize everything that’s required in a systematic manner, along with safeguarding the personal information of all the travelers from online phishing activities.
I NEED MORE ANSWERS, WHO CAN I CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION?
If this FAQ section did not have the answer to your questions, feel free to reach us via our chat process. A dedicated team member will address your concern and make you comfortable about everything and beyond about Belgium ETIAS. You can also take a gander at the iVisa.com website to gather further information.