It's no secret that in recent years the number of foreigners on the territory of the European Union countries has increased significantly and this trend will continue. According to the Eurostat statistical service, the number of third-country nationals who have crossed the border with the EU has exceeded the 5 million mark.
Some immigrants may pose a threat to citizens of European countries, so the EU authorities had to develop a new system of entry and exit control for foreigners. For the last few years, the ETIAS system, which should start working next year, has been actively discussed. However, not all foreigners are aware of the innovation and how it will affect short-term travel to EU countries.
The ETIAS system – what is it?
The term «ETIAS» was first mentioned in the European Parliament a long time ago – the official ETIAS regulation was published on September 19, 2018. At that time, it was only proposed to introduce a new system that would control all entries and exits of all foreigners who are not EU citizens and have a visa-free regime. ETIAS is an acronym that stands for, European Travel Information and Authorization System.
It is the newest electronic system that will issue/reject applications of foreigners for short-term entry into the territory of the European Union countries. It is being implemented to make the border crossing procedure even easier and increase security. You can see below which EU countries require ETIAS authorization.
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Another topical question that many foreigners are interested in is when the ETIAS electronic control system will start working at the borders. Actually, the start date of this system has already been postponed several times. As of today, it is known that ETIAS will start working in the spring of 2025. You will have to obtain ETIAS authorization if you are a citizen of one of the countries below.
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ETIAS and EES: what is the difference?
Some people often confuse the concepts of ETIAS and EES, as both of these systems will be operational as early as next year. Moreover, they will work in tandem, interacting with each other. However, they are two different systems and here's how they differ.
EES. It applies to all third-country nationals, including those with visas. This system automates the process of recording border crossing data by recording the dates, time and place of entry and exit.
ETIAS. This system is designed for citizens of visa-free countries who wish to visit Schengen countries. It is a pre-authorization that must be obtained online prior to travel.
Together, these innovative IT systems will make the process of crossing the EU border much easier and faster.
What is the operating principle of the ETIAS system?
As we have already said, the system should start working only next year. However, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with how ETIAS works and learn all the possible nuances beforehand. We are here to share all this information with you.
This document will be required for foreigners from visa-free countries. Today there are about 60 countries that meet this criterion.
ETIAS authorization must be obtained before crossing the border.
Its cost is 7 euros for people from 18 to 75 years old. Children are issued this authorization absolutely free of charge.
The document is valid for three years.
To get ETIAS authorization, you will have to fill out a small application form on the official website. You will need to fill in such fields as full name, date of birth, citizenship, address, education and list the countries you plan to visit. We advise you to check your passport in advance and make sure that it does not expire before 3 months.
Do Ukrainian refugees need to register with ETIAS?
Today there are several million Ukrainian citizens living in the territory of the European Union. It is no secret that most of them have a special temporary protection status. Thanks to this, it will not be mandatory for Ukrainians with this status to undergo ETIAS authorization to cross the border. However, some rules may change as the system will start operating next year.
If you need help with obtaining ETIAS authorization or other documents for legalization in the EU, you can always count on aksis. Experienced migration agents will provide advice and help with many questions. For more information on what we can help with, see our Services page.
