Key Takeaways
- Requirements include a passport valid at least 3 months beyond intended departure, a debit or credit card for the fee, an email address, personal details, and answers to background and security questions.
- Denied applicants may appeal to the member state that refused the waiver; if more information is requested, applicants have 7 business days to respond and the ETIAS National Unit then takes up to 72 hours to process.
- ETIAS does not cover long-term stays such as study, but attending a conference or seminar in a Schengen nation does require an ETIAS.
Travelers can expect it to take an average of 20 minutes to complete the application online. Apart from a valid passport, no additional documentation will be required, unless specifically requested. Applications made by third parties on behalf of an applicant will be accepted.
Visa waiver requirements
Applicants will be required to provide the following information and documents to qualify for an ETIAS visa waiver:
- Passport with a minimum validity of three months from the date of departure
- Payment for the application fee (debit or credit card)
- Email address for the ETIAS to be sent
In addition to:
- Full name (as it appears on passport)
- Date of birth
- Place of birth
- Gender
- Answering a set of background and security questions. (This is a standard screening in Schengen entry requirement)
Applicants may also be required to provide include travel plans (including member state of the intended first entry and education and/or current employment details. Family members of EU citizens, or third-country nationals, benefiting from free movement without residence cards, will be required to provide the identity and details of their familial relationship with the EU citizen/third-country national.
Rejection or annulment of ETIAS travel authorization
The program was designed to reinforce European Union security in two ways:
- Identifying anyone who poses a security risk before they arrive at the Schengen Area’s external border
- Giving national law enforcement authorities and Europol more information for the prevention, detection, or investigation of a terrorist offence or other serious criminal offences
Most applications will be approved automatically. If the checks flag a possible match, the ETIAS Central Unit verifies it. The ETIAS National Unit of the country responsible then reviews the application and decides whether to refuse it. Refusal grounds include using a passport reported as lost or stolen, being considered a risk, having an entry ban recorded in the Schengen Information System, or not responding to a request for more information or an interview. An ETIAS that has already been issued can be annulled if it should never have been granted, for example because of false information, or revoked if the conditions for holding it are no longer met.
What to do if an application is denied
If an application is refused, the applicant can appeal in the country that made the decision. Appeals are handled under that country's national law, and the ETIAS National Unit of that country will provide information on how to appeal. In exceptional circumstances, a country may issue an ETIAS travel authorization valid only for a limited territory and period. This can happen on humanitarian grounds, for reasons of national interest, or because of international obligations.
The ETIAS National Unit may ask the applicant for additional information or documentation before making a decision. The applicant will be notified of this within 96 hours of applying and will have 10 days to provide it. Applications that require extra information or an interview can take up to an additional 30 days to process. In exceptional circumstances, and only as a last resort, the applicant may be invited to an interview at the consulate nearest to their home in their country of residence. If that consulate is more than 500 km away, the applicant will be offered a video interview instead.
Frequently asked questions
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List of Eligible Countries
The list of eligible countries is subject to change, explore an up to date list of countries whose citizens will be eligible to apply for the ETIAS visa waiver when it is fully introduced.
Find Eligible Countries