What British travelers have come to learn over the past couple of years is that the landscape is changing – and fast.
With Brexit going fully into effect in 2020, one of the direct impacts for British citizens was travel to the Schengen Zone, a group of 29 countries in Europe that have abolished internal border checks.
Now, there is another change coming down the pike that British travelers need to be aware of… and that’s ETIAS.
ETIAS is a new pre-travel authorization system that operates similarly to the UK’s recently launched ETA.
Like ETA, ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is a fully online authorization system for travelers heading to the Schengen Area.
When will travelers need to begin using ETIAS?
Currently, ETIAS is in development with plans to be launched later this year. The EU has recently announced that ETIAS will launch six months after the implementation of EES (Entry/Exit System), another new security measure in the zone. EES has yet to go into effect, pushing the start of ETIAS to the latter part of 2025.
Who will need to obtain ETIAS?
In the UK, any traveler who is not going to the Schengen Area with a visa, and/or is not a dual EU/EEA/or Schengen country citizen, will be required to apply for ETIAS before traveling to any country in the Zone.
How will the ETIAS platform work?
ETIAS is a fully digital platform. Once operational and accepting applications, British travelers will be required to get approved to travel to the zone before heading abroad.
Step 1. Using the European Union’s official ETIAS website, travelers will need to add some personal information. Some of the questions that need to be answered are your highest level of education and your current profession, for example.
Step 2. In addition to answering personal questions, travelers will need to share details about their travel plans. The ETIAS platform will prompt you for the specific information that they need.
Step 3. ETIAS applicants can expect to pay an application fee of €7 per person, online with a debit card. This fee is waived for travelers under the age of 18 and over the age of 70. However, regardless of the outcome of your ETIAS, the fee is non-refundable.
Step 4. After answering the questions and paying the fee, ETIAS approval is expected to be granted within a couple of minutes. British travelers should keep an eye on their email inbox, as they will receive a notification of approval.
In some cases, approval can take up to 14 days, or even 30 in rare circumstances – but this won’t be typical according to the EU.
ETIAS will be mandatory and British travelers should plan to prepare ahead of time to ensure that they have the authorization required for a successful entry into the Schengen Area.
Will British travelers need to apply for ETIAS every time they enter the Schengen Zone?
No. Once you apply for ETIAS, it will be valid for three years, or until your passport expires – whichever is earlier.
Once the 3-year validity window is up, you will need to reapply for your travels to the Schengen Area. If you get a new passport for any reason (expiry, it is lost or damaged, etc.), you’ll be obligated to reapply.
What else should British travelers know about ETIAS?
It’s important to understand that ETIAS isn’t a visa, nor is it a substitute for one. As a direct result of Brexit, British travelers who intend to stay in the Schengen Area for more than 90 days are required to apply for the appropriate long-stay visa.
If you are traveling to the Schengen Area long-term (longer than 90 days) and obtain a long-stay visa, you will not be required to obtain ETIAS.