ETIAS is the equivalent of ESTA in Europe

Scheduled for 2024, ETIAS is a travel authorization system similar to its American model ESTA USA. There are some differences, but the principle is the same: to control the access of travelers to the Schengen Area countries, in order to guarantee more security within the EU. As in the U.S., the program covers countries that are currently visa-exempt.

ETIAS EU control system based on the ESTA model

ETIAS stands for European Travel Information and Authorization System. This Travel Information and Authorization System for the European Union is very similar to the American ESTA. The objective is the same: to ensure greater security within a territory by controlling travelers who wish to stay there temporarily. The European ETIAS procedure will allow certain foreigners to move freely within the Schengen Area once the authorization has been granted.

As with the ESTA questionnaire, the ETIAS application will include the completion of numerous pieces of information about each applicant:

• Passport data (name, date of birth, gender…) ;
• Health status, criminal history;
• Country of entry;
• Contact (email address, phone number…).

The form will be processed automatically and eventually studied by the authorities in order to issue or not the permission to stay in the Schengen Area, in 72 hours maximum.

Please note: there are criteria that must be met in order to apply for an ETIAS, as with the ESTA form:

• Travel up to 90 days within the Schengen Area within a 180-day period;
• Purpose of stay: tourism, business or transit.

Unlike its American cousin, the European system grants a 3-year authorization and not 2 as in the USA. Moreover, it will cost less: 5 € for adults, free for minors, 21$ for ESTA. Another notable difference is that you will receive an email with the reason for rejection if you are not accepted. In this case, you will not be able to reach Europe by plane, boat, train, bus or any other means.

The ETIAS will not be the only key to enter the border, you will also need a valid passport.

Countries concerned by the ETIAS authorization

The soon to be operational approach will apply to foreign nationals already exempt from visa requirements in the Schengen area, who wish to travel to the zone. The countries where they will be able to move freely are the following:

Germany	Austria	Belgium	Denmark
Spain	Estonia	Finland	France
Greece	Hungary	Iceland	Italy
Latvia	Liechtenstein	Lithuania	Luxemburg
Malta	Norway	Netherlands	Poland
Portugal	Slovakia	Slovenia	Sweden
Swiss	Czech Republic

All travelers from the following countries will be required to obtain an ETIAS prior to their next tourist, business or transit stay not exceeding 90 days:

Albania	Andorra	Antigua and Barbuda	Argentina	Australia
Bahamian	Barbados	Bosnia and Herzegovina	Brazil	Brunei
Canada	Chile	Colombia	Costa Rica	Dominique
Salvador	Grenada	Guatemala	Honduras	hong kong
Israel	Japan	Kiribati	South Korea	Macau
Macedonia	Malaysia	Marshall Islands	Maurice	Mexico
Micronesia	Moldova	Montenegro	New Zealand	Nicaragua
Palau	Panama	Paraguay	Peru	Saint-Christophe-et-Niévès
Saint Lucia	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Samoa	Serbia	Seychelles
Singapore	Solomon Islands	Taiwan	East Timor	Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago	Tuvalu	England	Uruguay	Vanuatu
Venezuela

For other countries, the visa will remain mandatory.