It would be nice to have the visa-free privileges currently enjoyed by citizens of countries in the European Union, as well as 62 other countries that aren’t affiliated with the EU. Under the terms of this border agreement, millions of people are not required to request a visa to enter the borders of Schengen Area member states. However, enjoying the visa-free benefit has some conditions.
First off, travelers from the 62 countries can only enjoy visa-free entry if they cite travel, business, medicine, or transit as their reason for entering the Schengen state. They are not allowed to study or to work or they will need a visa. They must also limit their stay to a total of 90 days, counting within a period of 180 days.
They may not need a visa when they arrive at the airport but the EU and the Schengen countries may instead request a Health Declaration Form as a requirement for entry. Travelers should, therefore, make sure that they have all the documents necessary for entry to save themselves some time and trouble.
Some of the potential issues that this visa-free arrangement could cause are illegal migration and an enhanced threat to the security of the Schengen citizens. This is the leaders of the European Union have been looking for the ideal way to handle the number of tourists and visitors passing through their borders every single day.
Illegal migration and incidents of terrorism have been rising over recent years. The kind of security threats that the Schengen member countries are facing have effectively forced them to respond with the creation of a system to combat these issues. The system will make an evaluation of the level of threat that each traveler presents, with the expected result being that travel to Schengen countries becomes safer and more fun for everybody.
The result of all this is the France ETIAS, with the hope that the system will be able to properly deal with the issues that the Schengen Area is facing regarding its borders and immigration moving forward. Read on as we discuss some of the information about ETIAS that is available now.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What do we know now about the ETIAS?
The [ETIAS] was designed to help reduce the risk that the Schengen area is encountering, especially security threats that may arise due to the volume of countries enjoying visa-free entry. The European Commission created the system to authorize applications from the visa-free 62 countries.
Once it becomes active, it will access information collected about these travelers, and it can use the data to find out if the applicant is a big enough threat to the security of Schengen countries or not. Incidentally, this parallels the features and functions that the Electronic System for Travel Authorization or the ESTA provides for the United States.
Using all the information that it can retrieve, ETIAS will perform a rigorous background check on the applicant. Access to a lot of databases can only help with collecting, analyzing, and verifying information that the applicant has keyed into the application form. We emphasize the point that the form has to be filled out with correct and accurate details since incorrect details could lead to ETIAS rejecting the application.
What’s more, the system can update the data on its database, making it much faster and easier to get a result for an application if the traveler has requested authorization before.
How important is the ETIAS?
As the article indicated earlier, one of the main priorities for the Schengen area is protecting its citizens and visitors, as well as making travel more pleasurable. The ETIAS was conceived in order to get rid of, or at least minimize, the illegal migrant issue. More importantly, the system was made so that threats to the security of the Schengen countries will be reduced by being able to access and cross-reference all available information about the traveler.
Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, said in a speech that the EU and Schengen Area have to be aware of the travelers entering their territory, and emphasized the need to evaluate them before they come.
The ETIAS became the result of all these needs. It was developed to find out how much of a risk a person poses to the Schengen area. The system can use all the information it has access to in order to make sure that the applicant is not a security threat. If the evaluation shows that he is a danger, his application will be denied and he will not be able to enter.
What do I need to put into the application?
Aside from security concerns, the ETIAS was also created to make applications much simpler and quicker. That’s why it would only require a few pieces of basic information such as the applicant’s complete name, citizenship, date of birth, and contact information.
It also focuses on security so the applicant would need to put in such details as medical conditions or criminal records. It would also ask the applicant if he has traveled to countries at war or if he has been deported in the past. The applicant needs to make the application as accurate as possible since the falsification of information could be grounds for the system to deny the application.
How much will the authorization cost?
The ETIAS will not be a financial burden for you. At the moment, the authorization is tentatively priced at €7 for every application. Plus, the fee for ETIAS will be required only for travelers 18 years old and older, so those younger than 18 will not have to pay for the authorization.
How long will the authorization last?
The ETIAS’ expiration will depend on the evaluation of the information about the applicant. It could go two ways. The ETIAS could last as long as 3 years or just as long as the document used in the application is valid.
Should I trust the iVisa.com platform?
Like all top websites, the iVisa.com site is protected only by the best anti-hacking and security software there is. That, in itself, is an assurance that the information you put in will not be accessible by someone who is not authorized.
How can I acquire more information regarding ETIAS?
Head over to the iVisa.com website as all the information can be found there. You can send an email to [email protected] if you have any questions.