A new visa permit is set to come into force from 2024 which could see people barred from entering countries across Europe. In an effort to dispel the myths around the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) the EU has published a guide to try to help people understand the change which is coming in following Brexit.
The Schengen visa is a short-stay visa that allows a person to travel to any member of the Schengen Area, per stay up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes. People from the UK do not need that to enter the EU, however, and instead can use the ETIAS - but if people don’t have it or are refused then they can’t enter.
The ETIAS is a travel permit and will cost around €7 for people over 18 - it will come in later this year and be fully implemented in 2024. It is a completely electronic system that allows and keeps track of visitors from countries who do not need a visa to enter the Schengen Zone - which is most of the EU countries.
With an ETIAS, UK citizens can stay in Europe for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-period. The ETIAS is valid for three years, during which time you can travel to Europe multiple times.
The EU has said: “Recent security concerns with terrorism and the migrant crisis have called for better management of who is entering EU borders. The EU has continuously declared its goal of making travelling within its borders a more secure experience. To reduce procedures and wait times and address security concerns, the European Commission (EC) has come up with a solution – ETIAS.”
“The ETIAS will undergo a detailed security check of each applicant to determine whether they can be allowed to enter any Schengen Zone country. While citizens of countries who do not need a visa for travel purposes of up to 90 days in the EU do not need to go through a long process of applying for the visa, the ETIAS will make sure that these people are not a security threat.”
These are the European countries that will require a valid ETIAS upon arrival at their borders: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Reasons the ETIAS can be denied to UK citizens:
- You have a criminal background, pose a danger to society, or are on a travel watchlist about suspected terrorists
- You provide fraudulent information during the application.
- You are travelling from an area with an epidemic/pandemic outbreak and could be a danger to public health.
When people arrive in the Shengen zone from the UK they must provide the following:
- Your UK passport. It must not be older than ten years and it should be valid for at least three more months beyond the intended date of departure from the Schengen Area.
- ETIAS Authorization (starting from 2024).
- Evidence on the purpose of entry. Documents that show why you are travelling to the Schengen Area, such as a hotel reservation or invitation for a business meeting.
- Proof of sufficient financial means. Documents that prove that you have the financial means to support yourself during your whole stay in Europe.
For the financial aspect the EU says, there are several recognised ways to prove your financial sufficiency for a Schengen visa application:
- A personal bank statement indicating your financial movements
- Credit card
- Cash
- Traveller’s cheques
- Payslips
- Proof of employment
- Supporting document to attest sponsor’s readiness to cover your expenses during your stay
- Proof of prepaid accommodation
- Document about accommodation in private
- Proof of prepaid transport
The ETIAS application is expected to take about 10 minutes to fill out and it can be done online. As well as normal address and other personal information people will also be asked about education and work experience, medical conditions, about travel to war countries or places where they were deported or rejected, as well as criminal records. The EU says: “You will be approved if what you filled out on the application form is correct and you are eligible and not risky for the ETIAS.” For more information on the scheme click here.
