How will airlines check ETIAS?

ETIAS and EES as security enhancing tools

Beginning in 2025 the European Union’s Schengen Area will launch EES and ETIAS; two new travel protocols that have been designed to perfect the security of Europe and, therefore, to make the travel experience safer to everyone, visitors included.

The main goal behind the launch of ETIAS is to enhance security across Europe as a consequence to the recent upsurge in illegal activities such as international terrorism and illegal migration. Short-term visitors from over sixty nations currently enjoy visa-free entry rights to Europe but European authorities and law-enforcement agencies have scarce to no information about these travelers.

ETIAS Visa Waiver and its application process have been designed to fill this informational gap by collecting data on each candidate’s background. Using the information gathered from applicants themselves, and through a cross-check of such data in a number of European security databases, each individual candidate will either be granted or refused the Visa Waiver and the right to travel linked to it.

With the use of the criminal, terrorist and medical intelligence collected during the application process, the ETIAS Central Unit will be in the condition to make an informed decision as to whether a potential traveler poses a security or medical risk.

Differences between ETIAS and EES

While ETIAS protocol will deal with Visa-free incoming visitors EES will serve a checking tool also to people whose nationality and/or travel duration or purpose require them to hold a valid Schengen Visa.
What EES will do is to basically replace manual stamping by creating an electronic record of a passenger’s EU entries and exits.

International air and sea carriers will be obliged to query EES and ETIAS systems from 2024.

Eu-LISA spokesperson Livia Vosman declared about carriers’ responsibilities “Due to the abolishment of the internal border controls in the Schengen area, the carriers have been mandated to ensure the application of the EES and ETIAS Regulations.” And on the general benefits of ETIAS and EES “border crossing for third-country nationals will be smoother and faster”.

Since land transportation is characterized by much more diversity, although, coaches will not be required to carry out EES / ETIAS controls for the first 3 years.

When and how will EES and ETIAS be checked by carriers?

Carriers will be obliged to carry out the relevant checks before boarding the EU-bound passengers. Such verifications can be carried out up to 48 hours before departure.

The control query will be managed through the digital carrier interface. Each inquiry will involve 3 steps:

  1. Carrier submits passenger data into the electronic interface.
  2. Carrier visualizes confirmation of passenger’s EES/ETIAS status.
  3. Carrier allows or denies boarding accordingly.

Carriers will only be allowed to board passengers whose query an OK to travel to the Schengen Area response.

Border rejections and carriers’ responsibilities

ETIAS and EES systems control performed by carriers, while mandatory from 2025, will not substitute controls carried out by European law enforcement agencies that as a matter of fact, will still have the duty to carry out their border checks and possibly to reject incoming travelers.

ETIAS does not guarantee entry to Europe. The final decision on a third-country national travelers will indeed always be the one made by border authorities of the destination country.

Still, as EU-Lisa’s Livia Vosman also declared: “ETIAS will significantly contribute to closing existing security information gaps. It will help Member States’ authorities to spot earlier any individuals that may pose risks to internal security, as well as to take action before the individuals reach Schengen’s external borders.”

Following 2024’s new travel protocols there will be two possible scenarios, in case a passenger is denied entry at the EU external border:

  1. The carrier allowed on board a traveler without confirmed ETIAS/EES OK status.
  2. The traveler was refused entry despite having confirmed OK ETIAS/EES status

When case 1 occurs, the carrier will be responsible for transporting the passenger back to the departure point. Penalties may also apply to the carrier.

When case 2 occurs, there will be no penalties for the carrier. Still the carrier might have to transport the traveler back to the point of departure.

Mandatory EES and ETIAS systems registration for carriers

From 2025 for any carriers wishing to transport persons to, from and within the European Union / Schengen Area will be required to be registered to the EES and ETIAS checking systems. Without such registration a carrier will not have access to the data and technology required to operate the two systems. Once registered will bear a series of responsibilities that include:

  • Screening, prior to boarding, all passengers for ETIAS and EES status.
  • Repatriating travelers who are refused permission to enter the European destination country.

While airlines and seafarers will necessarily have to be ETIAS and EES compliant by 2025, coach carriers will have time until 2026 to be ready.

Carrier registration for EES and ETIAS began in September 2021, and they are required to register to get access to the technical documentation and tools needed to prepare their systems and operators for the implementation of EES and ETIAS.

Q&A sessions are already being held every twice a month by eu-LISA to address carriers’ questions related to the implementation of ETIAS and EES.

Specialized eu-LISA teams will also provide technical assistance during the 2 systems’ testing phase.