The Diplomat
Before the EU has even implemented the ETIAS system (European Travel Information and Authorisation System), former US President Donald Trump has already stirred up a new controversy because, as he said on his social media, “US citizens will have to pay for a visa to travel to Europe”.
Trump went so far as to state that, if elected, “I will, as president, not allow this to happen, It will end very quickly“. Criticism has also come from the British popular press, which claims that the new travel authorisation system will make it more expensive for Britons to holiday on the continent.
However, European sources point out that both complaints are unfounded, as it is not a visa – it is not necessary to apply for it at a consulate – and the cost of 7 euros to process it is derisory, compared to the 21 dollars it costs to apply for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) for those travellers who do not need a visa for short stays in the United States, including Europeans.
Precisely what the European Union intends with the implementation of ETIAS, which was approved in 2018 although its entry into force has been delayed, is to streamline the entry of travellers without renouncing effective border control and security. The system is a new entry requirement precisely for travellers who do not need a visa for stays of less than 90 days, as is ESTA in the United States, and is valid for multiple entries for three years.
Other countries, such as New Zealand, Canada and Australia, also apply similar systems. The UK will also begin to phase in its own Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system from November this year.
Once it comes into force, travellers from 60 visa-exempt countries will only need to apply for travel authorisation, before starting their journey, via the ETIAS website. This authorisation covers 30 countries – the 27 Schengen countries plus Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania – and does not change visa-free status.
Travellers will have to fill in the ETIAS form online, which will ask for details such as their name, address, passport details and current job. They will also be asked to provide information about previous trips to conflict zones, criminal records or whether they have family members in the EU. In addition, applicants will be asked to indicate their travel plans to Europe, but will not be asked to provide health-related information or biometric data such as fingerprints. Some of this information is required to apply for the US ESTA.
Once the application has been submitted, according to the EU website, it will be automatically cross-checked against data stored in the Schengen Information System (SIS), the Visa Information System (VIS) and the new Entry/Exit System (EES). The whole process will take no more than a few minutes and the applicant will receive the reply by e-mail.
Prior to ETIAS, the EU plans to launch the EES, which will register all visa exempt and non-visa exempt travellers going to Europe for a short stay. Travellers will not have to complete any formalities before starting their journey, as registration will take place at the foreign ministry of any of the 29 European countries using the system. These are the 27 Schengen countries, Bulgaria and Romania. Registration in the EES will take place every time travellers cross the foreign ministry’s external borders and will replace the manual stamping of passports.
