ETIAS, how to obtain one?
Submitting an ETIAS application is an easy process that should not require each traveller more than 10 minutes of time. The application is to be carried out electronically exclusively, through either desktop, tablet, or mobile devices.
When filling out the application for each traveller will be required to input their personal data such as full name and surname (as written on the passport), surname at birth, birth date, birthplace, and birth county; also, they are required to provide updated and valid contact details such as residence address, current email address and phone number. Applicants are also expected to have a passport whose validity will cover the whole duration of their planned stay in EU/Schengen Area, with 3 additional months since the scheduled departure date from ETIAS area, in order to be eligible for the Visa Waiver.
Moreover, travellers will also be asked to state which of the 34 ETIAS Member Countries they plan to be visiting first. It must be noticed that such requirement concerns the ETIAS System Member State of First Intended Stay. This implies that travellers are not asked to declare any possible flight – transit country (eg. If you set forth from UK to Portugal with an airport transit in France, your first country of intended stay shall be declared as Portugal).
ETIAS candidates are to answer a few eligibility questions concerning
- health status
- criminal records (if any)
- previous immigation history (if any) to the EU/Schengen Area
Once submitted through the payment of the due ETIAS taxes, the content of the application form will be cross-checked by the relevant security databases also including Europol Data, VIS, SIS, and Interpol Data that will allow for a swift (and most of the times positive) feedback on the Visa Waiver application.
EtiasEU will bear no responsibility in case of false or non correct input data.
After submitting the application, the outcome, positive in most cases, is expected to be available within 72 hours and will be sent to each candidate via email with the granted Visa Waiver or the reasons behind the application’s rejection. To this extent ETIASEU advises passengers willing to travel towards the ETIAS Area to submit their application not later than 3 days before their scheduled departure.
If for any reason you need your ETIAS Visa Waiver to be issued urgently flag the “urgent procedure” option in the application form so as to obtain priority service.
ETIAS Visa Waiver will automatically be linked to the traveller’s passport therefore it is not required, albeit recommended, to print out a paper copy of the Waiver.