The new travel rules within the EU may sound complicated but they are not really! Let us take a look at how they will affect you when travelling within the Schengen Area.
ESTIAS: What you need to know.
What are EES and ETIAS?
In a nutshell, the EES or entry/exit system means that everyone travelling without an EU passport will have their fingerprints and photographs taken when they arrive in Europe. This is basically the first of the two new systems being adopted by the authorities in Brussels.
The ETIAS or European Travel Information and Authorisation System follows on from EES. This is in principle an electronic authorisation for travel for anyone who is visa exempt and a non-EU citizen who wants to travel in the EU.
The whole idea of this new system is in order to make the EU borders more secure and thus make it more difficult for terrorists or criminals to use fake passports for example. It is a similar system to the ESTA visa waiver scheme adopted by the USA and others in Canada and Australia.
What countries does the ETIAS apply to?
It will apply to travellers from over 60 non-EU countries of which of course the UK is one.
How will it work?
The visa waiver will be valid for three years (or until the date of expiration of your passport, whichever comes first). You will be able to apply online or through a mobile application and will need to include details such as passport information, your employment history and travel plans. The good news is that the process is said to be very quick and should be approved automatically in almost all cases, much like the ESTA.
What will it cost?
The fee will be €7 and will be applicable to everyone aged from 18 to 70. Anyone younger or older than this will be exempt. Note also that the ETIAS will not be required for visiting Ireland or Cyprus since these countries are both outside the Schengen Area.
When will the EES and ETIAS systems begin?
The EES system was due to begin on November 10th this year, but keeps being delayed and currently does not have a start date. We are told the ETIAS will begin in May 2025 but that has yet to be officially confirmed.
The point of the EES is to replace the process of stamping passports to a digital system. Therefore, the biometric data will be logged in order to manage travellers’ entry and exit into the Schengen area.
The official EU website Welcome page – European Union (europa.eu) explains:
“It is linked to a traveller’s passport and is valid for up to three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. If you get a new passport, you need to get a new ETIAS travel authorisation. With a valid ETIAS travel authorisation, you can enter the territory of these European countries as often as you want for short-term stays – normally for up to 90 days in any 180 days.”
Do I have to specify which country I will be visiting?
Although one needs to put down the country of destination when one applies, once the ETIAS has been approved and processed, it does mean you are entitled to travel to any of the 30 European countries who are in the scheme.
Note that you can apply for your ETIAS well before travelling and even before you have made any plans to buy tickets since the ETIAS will last three years (although as above, do check your passport validity dates).
Is Brexit the reason for these new rules?
Brexit may certainly have triggered these new rules, but it has to be said that the United Kingdom is not the only country who will need to abide by these rules as there are over 60 visa exempt countries who will also be affected.
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