Understanding the ETIAS System for European Travel
The acronym ETIAS stands for European Travel Information and Authorization System and it addresses the newborn Visa Waiver Authorization System sponsored by the EU and the Schengen Area Member Countries.
ETIAS System will be inaugurated in early 2025 and it will seek to pursue the main target of improving protection of the Schengen Area’s external borders through the security pre-screening and pre-clearance of all Visa Waiver incoming travellers.
At the same time ETIAS aims towards simplifying the Custom Controls Operations upon arrival at the Schengen area land, air and sea borders and, nonetheless, allowing a safer and more secure travel experience to the EU for both returning residents and visitors.
ETIAS System will work similarly to the ESTA system already put into effect in the US since 2009.
Citizens of 60 nations from all over the globe that hold Visa Waiver Rights to the European Union and Schengen Area will indeed, from 2025, be required to obtain an ETIAS in order to access any of the 34 ETIAS Member Countries that include 25 EU Nations, 4 non-EU Schengen Area Nations, 1 EU State bound to become Schengen Member and finally 4 Countries that are known as de facto members of the Schengen Area.
