IMPACT – MEDIUM

The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will be fully implemented by May 2023, the European Commission said.

Key Points:

  • Once implemented, non-EU nationals who do not need a visa to travel to Schengen Area countries will have to apply for travel authorization through ETIAS before traveling.
  • Applicants will have to apply for ETIAS online or through a mobile application and pay the €7 fee before traveling to the Schengen Area.
  • ETIAS is expected to be fully implemented by May 2023; the exact date will be posted on this website at  a later time.

Additional Information: The European Commission announced plans to introduce ETIAS in April of 2016 in order to facilitate border checks, streamline the entry process, ensure a coordinated risk assessment of third-country nationals and reduce the number of refusals of entry at border crossing points. The full implementation has been delayed a number of times, including because of the COVID-19 pandemic. More information regarding ETIAS is available here.

BAL Analysis: EU authorities made the decision to implement ETIAS to help participating Schengen Area states to manage their external borders more effectively and improve internal security. The change will add a step to U.S. nationals and other visa-waived nationals planning travel to Europe. BAL will provide updates as the implementation date gets closer.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

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