ETIAS will have clear rules for refusal. The corresponding national authority will have to inform the applicant about the decision or seek additional documentation within 96 hours. After additional information has been provided, the national authority will be required to make a decision within 4 weeks of the initial application date. If a passenger is denied an ETIAS visa waiver, they will be provided a reason and will also be able to appeal the decision.
ETIAS, the European Travel and Information System set to roll out in January 2021, will help keep Europe’s Schengen Area a visa-free zone while tightening security, border control and filling information gaps. According to the European Commission, border authorities and law enforcement have little to no information on those who travel visa-free – a luxury tourists have enjoyed when visiting the Schengen countries. Beginning January 2021, eligible visitors can still travel visa-free, but only with an approved ETIAS waiver.
ETIAS is an online system that runs a comprehensive security check on applicants to make border crossings easier and travel safer. Just one small error – even a misspelling – can delay approval or even cause denial of your entry into a participating ETIAS country. You must apply for ETIAS in advance of your trip. The approval process can take up to four days, but most applications are approved immediately.
ETIAS, the European Travel Information System, provides qualifying visitors a visa waiver when traveling to the Schengen Area, a group of European countries that have agreed upon who can visit and how long they can stay. The Schengen Area was created by the European Union, or EU, in the spirit of harmonious and free travel between borders and has grown to 26 countries – most are in the EU but some are not. Given the influx of international travelers to the Schengen Area, more comprehensive security checks have had to be put in place. ETIAS, much like ESTA in the United States, will create centralized data on who is visiting and why, providing enhanced security for all.
The main reason for the approval of the ETIAS authorization is security. With the increased risk of travelers worldwide, the EU wants to ensure safe travels in its countries. The ETIAS will decrease security concerns substantially through its information and data gathering systems. What this means, is that the ETIAS will detect if a person is a threat in any way to the security of Schengen countries. This will lead to the person being denied entry and avoiding the threat from being present inside EU borders. It will basically deal with a problem before it is even there.
To apply for an ETIAS, you must be a citizen of one of 61 ETIAS eligible countries. The United States is on the eligible list. At the very latest, you should apply for ETIAS 5 days before your trip. The sooner, the better. Your approved ETIAS will last for three years, but it will expire when your passport does – whichever comes first. If you have less than 3 years before your passport expires when you apply for ETIAS, you will have to re-apply for ETIAS when you get a new passport. See more info on ETIAS Visa.