The European Union has introduced a new travel authorization system called ETIAs (https://www.etia.com). ETIAS stands for European Travel Information and Authorization System. It is a new visa-waiver system of Europe that the continent is launching in order to ensure the safety of their Schengen Border and also to handle the immigration issues hassle-free. ETIAS will be compulsory for the citizens of the countries who did not need a visa to enter any of the European Nations.
There are a total of 60 countries in the world that do not require any visa to visit Europe but now they will need this new visa-waiver program by Europe to step a foot into the continent and the 26 countries falling into the Schengen Border.
Countries like the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand were allowed to travel through Europe without having to carry their visa. But after 1st January 2021, all these citizens will have to go through a new system of Travel Authorization by European Union called the ETIAS.
ETIAS are also mandatory for visiting any of the 26 countries that falls under the Schengen Border. These countries include Italy, Germany, Sweden, Austria, Hungary, Denmark, Iceland, Finland etc. Visitors will be asked to show their ETIAS once they reach the boarding gate of destination country, you will also be asked for your other essential travel documents and you will only be permitted to enter the country on the basis of your approved ETIAS.
The citizens who needed a visa to visit Europe will remain unaffected with the launch of this new system. The travel authorization system will remain the same for them. And the citizens who did not need a visa, will have to apply for this new visa-waiver system prior of visiting the European nations.
To apply for your ETIAS you must visit the official site. There you will get an online application form that will ask for your basic details. Upon filling out the basic details like your name, last name, nationality, gender, date of birth, place of birth, you will receive a decision within minutes. But make sure that you have a valid passport before applying for ETIAS. Having a valid visa is compulsory.
The validity of your ETIAS will last three years counting from the day of issue. They will permit you to stay in the European Nations for 3 months at once. But please do not that although the validity of ETIAS will last 3 years but in case your passport expires before the ETIAS then it will already be considered invalid.
The ETIAS are necessary for everyone regardless of age. That means minors (children below the age of 18) and elderly (people above the age of 70) will also be needing them to visit Europe, although the application fees for their ETIAS is absolutely free whereas others will have to pay seven euros as an application fees for applying for their ETIAS.
With the help of ETIAS you can visit European Nations for business, travel, medical and transit purposes.
