New EU Visa: Entry Requirements & Everything You Need to Know

Eric Nkom May 13, 2024

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New EU Visa: Entry Requirements & Everything You Need to Know

Despite Britain’s exit from the EU, nationals of the UK are still able to enter the bloc (for a maximum of 90 days in 180 days) without a visa. At the moment, border guards manually stamp our passports to enforce this.

It is soon to be automated by a new Entry/Exit System (EES), though, and we will also have to go through a new online verification process called the European Travel Information and Authorization Service (ETIAS) that needs to be finished ahead of time.

Everything you need to understand the changes is provided here.

When will EES be implemented?

We are unsure as of yet. Although there have been multiple delays, November 2024 is currently the best estimate.

Description of the Latest EES

The computerized system and e-gates that are part of the new Entry/Exit System will automatically check passports from the UK and many other nations at the borders of the Schengen Area.

It will take the place of the manual passport stamping system, which is presently the only way border officers can keep track of whether or not travelers, including those from the UK, stay within the 90-day visa-free travel window.

What is the Schengen Area?

The zone consists of 29 European nations that have done away with internal border restrictions, including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, and 25 other EU members. After joining on March 31, 2024, Bulgaria and Romania have opened their sea and air borders, but for the time being, land border controls are still in force. It is anticipated that Cyprus will eventually enter Schengen. UK nationals will still need to apply for an ETIAS pass to enter during this time.

Since the Republic of Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom’s Common Travel Area, British nationals visiting the country do not require an ETIAS permit.

How is it going to operate?

The identity, travel document, biometric information (facial photos and fingerprints), and the time and location of entry and departure will all be recorded by the e-gates. Your fingerprints and pictures, which will be saved as biometric data, must be registered.

Do we foresee any issues?

Regretfully, British travelers are probably going to have the most problems, particularly in the first few weeks of operation when almost every tourist will be utilizing the new gates for the first time and the system will have to start logging our data over. That will result in delays.

To that is added the extra time required during specific times of stress. According to records, Eurotunnel has predicted that the typical time to process an automobile at Folkestone will increase from under a minute to as much as seven minutes.

This is partially because travelers must exit through the gates to have their passports checked through an open window. It will be an even more tedious scenario for coach passengers disembarking.

Why is it being introduced?

to enhance and mechanize border protection.

What precisely is the ETIAS, and when will it be implemented?

The EU will be able to automatically verify the credentials of tourists who wish to enter the Schengen Area without a visa when the ETIAS is implemented in 2025, perhaps six months after the EES system. It will be utilized for travel for both business and pleasure, with stays up to ninety days.

Similarities exist with the Electronic System for Travel Authorization agreements made by visitors to the United States.

What is the cost of an ETIAS pass, and how can I apply for one?

You will need to apply online when it goes into effect in 2025, even if the official website and a substitute app are not yet available.

You will receive a pass that is valid for three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first, for a one-time charge of €7. Before you travel, you must present your ETIAS pass to your airline, train, or ferry operator. Without an ETIAS, trying to cross the border “could have serious consequences, including denial of entry into the Schengen member country,” according to the EU.

What details are required to be submitted to pass the ETIAS?

You will need an email address and a valid passport from one of the qualifying nations to submit the online ETIAS application. Additionally, you will need to fill out some personal information, such as your full name, birthdate, and nation of residence.

Additionally, there will be some security questions after the process (see below). The €7 application fee must then be paid with a debit or credit card. Most applications “will be processed within minutes,” according to the EU.

What will happen to the data you provide to the European Union?

All applications undergo an automated screening process that compares them to several security databases, including those maintained by Europol, Interpol, and a special watchlist that includes people on the UN list of war criminals, as well as those who have committed or are likely to commit serious crimes or acts of terrorism.

What security questions are asked on the ETIAS?

To be considered, applicants must disclose any past 10 years of criminal activity, including damage to property, terrorism, violence, drug or people trafficking, and sexual assault (20 years for terrorism).

Can someone with a criminal background apply for an ETIAS?

In most situations, giving information about a criminal past won’t violate the terms of an ETIAS visa waiver, according to the EU. Nonetheless, rejection can result from some severe offenses.

A traveler cannot apply for a visa to enter Europe for a brief visit if they are denied one. However, they have the option to challenge the ruling or request a travel authorization with a restricted geographic scope.