Travelling to Europe without a Visa
From January 2020, non-EU visitors to Europe Schengen member countries will need an ETIAS or a Schengen visa, here’s what you need to know about ETIAS
Europe is one of the world’s most enrapturing travel destinations. For travellers outside Europe, travelling to the European Union Schengen Zone is a bucket-list experience; it’s a chance to savour extraordinary cultures and rich histories of many diverse yet connected countries. Less than two years from now, how you travel to Europe will change. From January 2020, you will need an ETIAS or a Schengen visa.
Are you ready to travel to Europe?
What is an ETIAS Visa Waiver?
The ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) visa waiver is a new travel authorisation program that will allow travellers from a visa waiver country to visit Europe – specifically EU Schengen member countries – for up to 90 days.
It targets visitors who currently don’t need a visa to visit Europe.
Here’s an example – at present, an American and a Singaporean can fly into London, take a train to Paris, drive to Germany and cycle to Poland, all without needing a visa. From January 2020, the same visitors will need to apply for ETIAS electronically before travelling if they want to visit France, Germany or Poland because these are EU member countries.
Think of ETIAS like the ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) that you need to enter the United States if you are from a country listed in the American Visa Waiver Program.
The objective of ETIAS is to improve Europe’s security. The process of obtaining your ETIAS travel authorisation to Europe is quick and easy. You can apply online and the process takes less than 15 minutes. The fee is only €7 for applicants above the age of 18. It’s completely free for applicants below the age of 18.
From January 2020, you can apply for your ETIAS online
Who ne to apply for ETIAS?
At present, citizens from 58 countries (see table below) can visit the 26 Schengen member countries without a visa. This will change in January 2020 – citizens from these 58 countries will need to apply for ETIAS before travelling to any Schengen member country. It is also possible that ETIAS may expand to include more European countries.
The 26 Schengen member countries are: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Apart from these 26 countries, there are 3 countries (Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City) who are not part of the Schengen Zone or European Union but have opened their borders to visitors with a Schengen visa, and ETIAS in the future.
From January 2020, nationals from the following countries will be required to apply for ETIAS before travelling.
What about the UK?
The United Kingdom has voted to leave the European Union. As of July 2018, we believe the UK will not participate in the European ETIAS program, and it’s possible that the UK will impose its own system much like the one used by the United States. We encourage you to bookmark this page and check back from time to time, as we will post the latest information here.
ETIAS validity and fees
Most online ETIAS applications will be approved in minutes
Because ETIAS is a multi-entry authorisation, you will be granted access to the Schengen member countries for a period of up to three years. Once your ETIAS visa waiver has expired, however, you will be required to apply for another ETIAS authorisation in order to travel to Europe again.
The ETIAS application is a simple and easy process and will take less than 15 minutes for the applicant to complete online. The fee is €7, but it is free to applicants below the age of 18.
What’s required to apply for ETIAS?
The objective of ETIAS is security, naturally you will be required to provide the following when you apply:
Full name Date of birth Place of birth Current address Email address Your biometric passport and other nationality details
Apart from basic personal info, you will also need to answer questions related to criminal history, past travel to Europe and security information.
The €7 fee is payable with debit or credit card.
Applicants below the age of 18 do not need to pay the fee.
Is ETIAS the same as a Schengen visa?
Is ETIAS the same as a Schengen visa?
No. ETIAS is an authorisation, not a visa. It is different from a Schengen visa.
ETIAS is for non-European visitors (like Americans, Australians, Brazilians, Japanese, Malaysians, Singaporeans, among others) who can currently enter many European countries without a visa. From January 2020, these visitors will need to apply for ETIAS before travelling.
A Schengen visa is for visitors from a country that requires a visa to visit Europe and the process is not affected by ETIAS. See the list of countries that require a Schengen visa below.
As of June 2018, citizens of the following countries need to apply for a Schengen visa:
Does ETIAS replace a Schengen visa?
No. The ETIAS does not replace a Schengen visa.
When can you start applying?
The ETIAS online application process isn’t available yet, but we will announce it here when it is ready. Please bookmark this page and check it in the future.
More information
This website ETIAS VISA (www.etiasvisa.com) has a wealth of information available.
