What is the European Travel Information and Authorization System - ETIAS?

ETIAS is an information and authorization system for travel in Europe. Since the introduction of ETIAS, citizens of 63 third countries who plan to visit EU countries and do not need a visa will need to apply for a Schengen travel authorization in advance.

The ETIAS system is actively used at the borders of entry to EU and Schengen countries. ETIAS includes the following countries:

Also participating in ETIAS are some countries with special arrangements, including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway (excluding Svalbard), Switzerland, Bulgaria, Romania, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, the UK and Ireland.

• Preventing public security threats and reducing the risks of illegal immigration. Applications for travel authorization are carefully considered before visa-free third-country nationals arrive at external borders in accordance with the CES Regulation (transition points).
• Preservation of public health and the possibility of preventing diseases of high epidemic risk in accordance with Article 3, paragraph 1, point 8 of the ETIAS Regulation.
• Preventing, detecting and investigating terrorist or other serious crimes and correctly identifying persons prior to the arrival of visa-free third-country nationals, and not only when checked by border guards.
• Ensuring that the objectives of the Schengen Information System (SIS) under Article 4e of the ETIAS Regulation relating to the identification of wanted and banned persons are met.
• Ensuring comfortable entry and exit of citizens.

The ETIAS can be obtained by citizens who are authorized to enter the Schengen area without a visa, including:

• Third-country nationals who are visa exempt and planning a short-term stay in the Schengen area. Family members of EU citizens or third country nationals who are also visa exempt under Directive 2004/38/EC. This applies to families who are guaranteed the right to free movement in the same way as EU citizens, on the basis of an agreement between the EU and its Member States on the one hand and a third country on the other, provided that they do not hold a residence card (under Directive 2004/38/EC) or a residence permit (under Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002).
• Students who are nationals of third countries listed in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 and reside in one of the third countries listed in Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 or in Switzerland or Liechtenstein, if they are members of a group of students and are accompanied by a teacher from the relevant educational institution as part of the trip.
• Persons with refugee status and stateless persons, if the third country in which they reside and which issued their travel documents is listed in Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2018/1806.
• For members of armed forces for travel within NATO or the Partnership for Peace, and holders of certificates and task orders under the Agreement between the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Legal Status of their Armed Forces of June 19, 1951.
• For holders of a temporary residence permit, for example while an asylum application or an initial request for a residence permit under Article 2, point 16 of Regulation (EU) 2016/399 is being processed. - For holders of visas issued by Member States in accordance with the uniform format laid down in Regulation (EU) No 1683/95.
• These are visas provided for in Article 5 of that Regulation and constitute an authorization or decision issued by a Member State necessary for entry into its territory in the following cases: a planned stay in that State or several States with a total duration of up to 90 days; transit travel through the territory of that State.

• Third-country nationals who are family members of Union citizens or third-country nationals who are entitled to freedom of movement and who hold valid residence permits or residence cards in accordance with other legislation, whether accompanying or joining persons.
• Holders of valid residence permits.
• Holders of other documents issued by an EU Member State to a third-country national which allow them to stay in its territory, provided that these documents have been transferred and published in accordance with the relevant regulations.
• Persons who, when crossing the border, present a valid border crossing permit for small border movements in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1931/2006 and the relevant rules.
• Other categories of persons who are subject to special entry rules include heads of state, passengers in the border area, crew members of aircraft and ships, and passengers of cruise or pleasure liners.

• Basic personal data, including surname, first name, date of birth, maiden name (if any), other names, place of birth, gender, current citizenship, country of birth and names of the applicant's parents. For minors, information on legal representatives is also required.
• Information about the identity document and the country of issue.
• Contact information, including home address, e-mail address and, if applicable, telephone number.
• Information on education and current place of employment.
• The status of the applicant's relatives who are citizens of the European Union and have the right to free movement, as well as third-country nationals who have the same right to free movement. Information on the applicant's family ties shall also be indicated.

If the application is not submitted by a third country national, the following information is requested:

• Data of the persons or organizations that are submitting the application on behalf of the person concerned
• Information on criminal convictions, residence in war or conflict zones and expulsion/refoulement decisions
• Information on the submission and progress of the application, including the IP address from which the application form was entered, date and time of submission, application number and confirmation of the travel authorization fee paid, payment reference number, information on the processing status of the application in the ETIAS Central System.