The ETIAS will be required next spring and once approved will be valid for three years
Traveling will be a little more expensive as more fees are emerging in different destinations.
Now, European authorities have announced the implementation of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), a platform where most non-European visitors will have to register and pay a 7 euros fee (around $7.50) to enter any of the 26 European countries included in the program.
This new measure applies to US citizens and other 62 nationalities that usually don’t need visas for tourism but will need to supply an online application starting in May 2023.
It is now a new idea, it has been suggested since 2016, but now, due to the increasing amount of tourists in the region, local authorities have decided to implement it soon.
Other destinations like Venice, have also announced that the new registration system will be implemented soon and travelers will have to book and pay a fee in advance to visit the iconic Italian place.
The European Union has stated on ETIAS’s official website that the new system has been created to protect and strengthen borders: “The main goal of the ETIAS visa waiver for Europe is to identify possible threats or risks associated with visitors traveling to any of the Schengen Area countries.”
Now that many COVID-related travel restrictions have been eased, more travelers are interested in visiting Europe, but now they must stay up to date with ETIAS and any other new rules that they might have to consider on their next trip.
What You Must Know About ETIAS
ETIAS—now popularly known as “visitor tax”— is similar to the U.S. Electronic System for Travel Authorization entry approval system, non-European travelers will have to register online, fill out a form, and complete an electronic process in order to enter the European Schengen Zone and stay for up to 90 days.
The countries that will require ETIAS for certain travelers are Austria, Belgium, The Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Other countries, like Ireland,
At the moment, a list of over 60 countries —which includes the United States and Canada— are part of the visa-free agreement with the EU, and now all travelers from those nations will have to register prior to arrival. Those between 18 and 70 years old will have to pay the 7 euros fee unless they have applied for another type of visa.
In May 2023 ETIAS will be fully implemented. These are the main considerations regarding the process:
- ETIAS online application will only take about 10 minutes.
- Authorities will request personal information, travel documents information, destination details, and background questions.
- Travelers between 18 and 70 years old will have to pay the 7 euros fee.
- Once the application is submitted, an automated system will validate the information. 95% of applications will get a response within minutes.
- If approved, the travel authorization will be valid for 3 years or until the travel document—such as a passport— expires.
- If denied, the traveler will receive a justification and information in case someone wants to appeal.
- Carriers will request ETIAS’s travel authorization and once at the Schengen area border the guard will finally allow or deny the traveler’s entry.
According to the information shared by the European Commission, all revenues from the fees will go to the EU budget.
On ETIAS’s official site it has been announced that the launching of the ETIAS system will begin on January 01, 2023, but it will not be mandatory until May. This permit will not allow travelers to work or study in the European Schengen Zone, it’s only for tourism. Those who want more information can visit ETIAS’s site and stay tuned with the European Commission news.
