Travelers from 62 countries currently enjoy the freedom to enter Schengen Area or European Union countries even though they aren’t citizens and they don’t have a visa. Up until now, their citizens are not pressed for a visa when they want to visit Schengen countries. However, under the terms of a new program that will be implemented, these travelers will soon need a new travel document instead.
The conditions for visa-free entry are simple. If the reason for the visit is business or travel, then the traveler will be allowed to enter. This means they will not be allowed to study or work. Once inside, they should take care not to let their length of stay in the country exceed 90 days. If your intended trip does not meet these conditions, it might be better to apply for a visa now rather than later.
The European Union and its member countries have been aiming to improve their current system of managing the flow of visitors into and out of their borders, in line with the mandate given by EU leaders. This is due to the continued rise of incidents involving terrorism and illegal migrants. The EU leaders realized that improving their current system will reduce the risk that their citizens and visitors will face in the future, enabling them to feel safe within the borders of EU countries.
The France ETIAS was proposed by the European Commission as a method of handling security issues. The ETIAS is also supposed to cut down the time it takes for application and approval of documents. We are discussing ETIAS in this article so read on and learn more.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the ETIAS about?
The European Travel Information and Authorization System, or ETIAS, is a program being developed to manage and monitor visitors from the 62 countries entitled to visa-free access to the Schengen Area. It will gather data about the applicants and use a sophisticated system to analyze the information and determine if the applicant should be allowed to enter or not. The way that ETIAS is supposed to function is a close parallel of the US ESTA or Electronic System for Travel Authorization. There is still time to improve and develop the ETIAS, though, since it will not take effect until 2022.
Under the program, the applicant’s profiles will be subject to intense inspection prior to approval of the authorization. The inspection and the result will depend on the information about the applicant that was collected by the system, which will then decide if they are a big enough threat to the EU or not. Subsequently, the ETIAS will pick up the slack due to the applicants not needing visas to go into the Schengen countries.
ETIAS will rely heavily on advanced tools and methods used to collect, store, and update information about the applicant. It will also depend on the system to analyze and verify all the data, which will be used in making all the decisions whether the application will be approved or not. With constant updates, the system is expected to stay on top of things for years.
Travel to Schengen countries without a visa is allowed if a citizen of the 62 countries is going there for travel or business. They can also use medical reasons as their grounds for visiting and they will still not be required to hand over a visa. The courtesy also applies if the travelers are just using the host country for transit. However, the host may require them to provide a Health Declaration Form so they need to make sure that they are ready before going on their trip.
The benefits of the ETIAS
It was stated earlier that the foremost objective for implementing the ETIAS is to reduce the number of cases of terrorism and illegal immigration in the EU. These could turn into security issues if not resolved. With the number of terrorist incidents rising in the past two decades, the ETIAS could not have come at a better time than now. With its implementation, the EU expects all travelers to feel safe and have a better and more fun experience on their trip.
Reducing security threats, while simultaneously managing immigration, is not easy by any stretch of the imagination. The ETIAS will have its work cut out. However, it is expected to be able to determine if an applicant is a serious threat to the security of EU citizens and visitors. If it identifies an applicant as high-risk, then the application will be denied, and he will be refused entry to the country.
What are the 62 countries outside the EU which are allowed to enter without a visa?
62 countries that are not part of the EU have visa-free entry privileges. Here is a list of all these countries: Australia, Albania, Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Argentina, Brazil, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Chile, Canada, Colombia, El Salvador, Dominica, Grenada, Georgia, Honduras, Guatemala, Israel, Hong Kong S.A.R, Kiribati, Japan, Malaysia, Macao S.A.R., Mauritius, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mexico, Montenegro, Moldova, New Zealand, Nauru, Palau, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent, Timor Leste, Samoa, Peru, Serbia, Singapore, Saint Lucia, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Taiwan, Seychelles, United States of America, Ukraine, Tuvalu, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, Venezuela, and Uruguay.
What do you need to apply for an ETIAS authorization?
First, you will need to input all of the information being asked on the form, such as your complete name, date of birth, citizenship details, contact information, as well as other such basic information. And because the system is geared towards security, you will be required to put in personal information such as medical conditions and criminal records.
For how long can the authorization be used?
The ETIAS authorization is supposed to be valid for 3 years or until the travel document used for the application is expired. Which validity period is to be used for an applicant’s authorization depends on the information available and the risk factor.
Is it safe to apply with iVisa.com?
iVisa.com recognizes the importance of protecting personal data. We are aware that rapid advances in technology can leave loopholes for cyberattacks on the internet and subsequently and we are constantly working to ensure that only authorized personnel view your private information.
Where do I find more information?
You can go to the iVisa.com website to learn more about the ETIAS or send an email to [email protected].