So I see the media outlets have gone nuts over the announcement of ETIAS – “European Travel Information and Authorisation System” (which I covered from a UK perspective here).
But for the American Audience who is up in arms because they have to pay €7 fill in a form online , ETIAS is NOT A VISA.
Let me reiterate that for you in large and friendly letters
ETIAS IS NOT A VISA
Only the Washington Post and The Hill got this right. Everyone else – sin bin – Data Google News.
So what is it?
Let’s start with the name as that may help people understand. ETIAS – or “European Travel Information and Authorisation System” should give you a hint of what is.
Much like the US ESTA, the Canadian ETA, Australian eVisitor and so on, it is an initial security screening, that grants you the privilege of entering the Schegen Area.
Once you pass that screening, then much like the US ESTA, you will be cleared to travel.
The system will apply to visa-exempt third country nationals. They will need to obtain a travel authorisation before their trip, via an online application.
The travel authorisation will not provide an automatic right of entry or stay; it is the border guard who will take the final decision.
The full information is published at https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/09/05/european-travel-information-and-authorisation-system-etias-council-adopts-regulation/
But for those who need pretty graphics, here’s how it works:
Schengen entry/exit control with ETIAS activated – Image, Council of the European Union
Do I have to send my passport away/go to consular office to get an ETIAS issued?
If you’re eligible for ETIAS, no. You will complete a form online
So do I need to get an ETIAS application in yet?
No, no and thrice no. Any sites that are popping up right now are scams (akin to the ESTA scams that popped up). Wait until the formal announcement for registration begins.
When is it due to go into effect?
During 2021
How much is it going to set me back?
ETIAS will set you back €7 for 3 years (a bargain compared to US ESTA at $14 per two years).
Are UK Citizens liable too?
At the time of writing the, the United Kingdom is due to the leave the European Union on the 29th March 2019. As such, they will not be members of the European Union and will have to pay €7.
I’m not happy about paying €7 to get authorisation to travel
Nor am I, but if you want to travel to say the USA or Canada, you pony up before you go – or you’re going to be denied boarding because you have failed to comply with the entry requirement – like the USA, Australia and Canada.
But there’s a site and all!
To be blunt – it’ s a scam. For those who have forgotten basic Internet things, there’s a wonderful command called “WHOIS”. Using the ICANN WHOIS Look up tool at https://whois.icann.org/en/lookup?name=etiasvisa.com yields the following result.
And if the EU is registering domains in San Francisco, then… we have bigger problems in the EU than Brexit.
DO NOT VISIT IT, DO NOT USE IT, AND CERTAINLY DON’T PUT YOUR CREDIT CARD NUMBER IN IT!
Do what the rest of us have to do – wait for the official site to appear.
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The website URL even says visa
< site name redacted >
People who are very excited about distinguishing between ETIAS/ESTA/ETA and full fledged visas seem to be a little confused about what a visa is sometimes.
The folks who insist that “ESTA/ETIAS/ETA is not a visa” are correct inasmuch as these countries do use the word “visa” to describe a document which is somewhat arduous to get (requiring a form, sometimes an appointment at a consulate, and sometimes an expediter) and they’re correct that the electronic pre authorization process for visa waiver eligible people is much simpler than a visa application. But.
What is a visa? Try getting one and transiting with it and you’ll learn that a visa is a document granting permission to approach a border and ask for entry — even when someone needs a visa to enter a country and goes to a border with a valid visa, the country may still say no.
An ESTA or ETA or ETIAS is a process granting permission to approach a border and ask for entry. That behaves identically to a visa. You should feel free to insist that it’s not a duck but you gotta admit it quacks.
Some visas are so easy to get that it’s about as hard to get as an electronic pre-authorization for a visa waiver; the line is blurry. For example the Turkish visa for many visitors was for years a sticker you bought on arrival and is now an electronic receipt from a form which is about as hard to get as an ESTA. But it’s not an ESTA, it’s a full blown visa. Just the word they use.
I don’t mind the new ETIAS name and process as long as I can still book a trip and fly same-day, which I have very occasionally done ex-US.
This post needs to be put on every travel website in the world (at least the ones in English.)
I tried to read through the comments on the ETIAS story over on One Mile At A Time earlier today, and wow did I get a headache. I can understand (a bit) the “if it looks like a visa and quacks like a visa, it’s a visa” argument, but by that standard the ESTA (and its Canadian and Australian counterparts) are visas. Except they’re not. Visas are an entirely different level of paperwork (and expense) and have to be entered into your passport.
The graphic does nicely clear up the status of non-Schengen EU citizens, though – early (American) reports I read were a little confused on the status of Ireland. The graphic makes it clear that all EU citizens do not require an ETIAS, although non-Schengen EU citizens are run through databases more intensely on entry to the Schengen area, which is, of course, not a big deal.
The number of Americans making a big stink out of this being an intolerable burden and not realizing they’ve been doing it to others for years is ridiculous.
Side question: any prediction on the votes coming up this week? My prediction is that she’ll lose the agreement vote and then the “no deal is out of the question” question will pass, and Brexit won’t happen on the 29th. But…May will ask the EU for a very short extension and continue to drag the process out rather than call a second referendum or a general election…so more uncertainty for months, if not years. Just spiffing for business investment…and expats.
Thanks Craig. I’ve just tried to convey the facts as usual.
My take: May hasn’t got the votes to pull it through. All hell is about to break loose…
Yeah as an American while I obviously don’t love any new paperwork I do respect the reciprocal nature of many countries’ requirements. I didn’t super enjoy surrendering my passport for a 10yr Brazilian tourist visa but I realized the price and process were similar to what a Brazilian tourist gets at an American embassy and that dose of empathy was helpful.
It is a visa. Even the name says so.
It’s not a traditional visa that requires long time and many proofs (financial etc) like American government requires foreigners.
It’s similar to a visa-on-arrival, which usually quick, at the airport and usually granted (about 99%), except this one is online, and requires a little bit more information, before they approve you or deny you (even though they claim 95% approval).
What name would that be?
“European Travel Information and Authorisation System”?
Or something else?
At last, a blog post that gets it right.
I’ve already linked to this post from TripAdvisor where some people have fallen for the “visa” nonsense and are taking these scammer sites as gospel. And I expect to post many more links.
Excellent post that explains in easy words what the ETIAS really is.
Thank you, and thank you for sharing.
I did try to put the serious research into making this post what it was.
The program simply mirrors the US ESTA and Canada’s ETA. The ETIAS program is a way to keep world aviation security seamless and secure for all. In the US this is called “surveillance capitalism”. A huge revenue stream for countries, corporations and small business.
I think all of the travel articles need to add a statement at the beginning.
The US ETA has been in place for years and this is a similar process for entering the EU.
Seems so many people are getting upset and making stupid statements about demanding the US put in some punitive measure.
Excellent point, thank you. But, as opposed to your suggestion, we are not stupid enough to not understand just what this is.
I don’t think you can speak for everyone… there seem to be examples of the people who do not understand in this very comment thread.
Well, beyond that, even a visa-free travel doesn’t mean no paperwork. Look at what’s recently happened to Belarus. It’s a visa-free travel, but if you go through the entry requirements – you’d still need some ID, insurance and verification of somewhat funds (c) justarrived. by However small the world is now that we can fly around it and lend the same day the same spot – we still need security regulations, whether you call them visas or not. The sacrifice we make to the system so that the system defended us.
Visa: “an endorsement issued by an authorized representative of a country and marked in a passport, permitting the passport holder to enter, travel through, or reside in that country for a specified amount of time, for the purpose of tourism, education, employment, etc”
Sounds like an electronic visa to me. What’s the big deal though? I hate to see it, but the trend worldwide is for less freedom, more surveillance, and more bureaucracy. But we should at least be honest about it. I don’t understand the need to try and deny that such a thing is a visa when it meets every criteria above although it may or may not receive a special endorsement one’s passsport, as many records are handled electronically these days.
To me this is like arguing your paperless airline reservation is NOT a ticket. It’s a travel authorization lol. Ok sure guys.