Finally, it has arrived: the ETIAS is a reality after being announced by the European Parliament in 2018. From 2023, fee-free travel to the European Union will be over because of the visa waiver system that will come into effect. Want to know more about the ETIAS visa and whether it affects you? Stay with us and find out, because we’ll tell you all about it!

What is ETIAS, the new travel permit?

The first thing you should know is that SEIAV and ETIAS are the same. ETIAS stands for Eruopean Travel Information and Authorization System and SEIAV for Sistema de Información y Autorización de Viajes.

From its name, you might deduce that it will have to do with your travel to Europe, and you are right. This new ETIAS permit for Europe is designed to authorize short-term travel up to 90 days.

In this regard, as of November 2023, any citizen wishing to enter any of the member countries of the Schengen Zone and coming from a country that previously did not require a visa to do so, will be required to apply for an ETIAS permit.

You may ask yourself, what is the reason for the need to create a measure like this. Well, it is because it is necessary to reinforce the security of European borders, in order to facilitate the detection and identification of possible risks and threats to the continent.

In addition, it is important for you to know that this will not affect your free transit within the country you choose to visit, but it will be a mandatory requirement to enter Europe.

ETIAS is not a visa, it is an authorization.

That’s right, ETIAS is not a visa. The European Commission has stated and corrected that it is, rather, an authorization to travel to any of the countries belonging to the European Union and the Schengen Zone. In addition, it clarifies that citizens coming from countries that do not require a visa to enter the Schengen Zone will still not need a visa, but will have to present this permit.

It is hoped that now, when ETIAS enters into force, greater control and security can be achieved with respect to travelers entering the territory.

When does the ETIAS travel authorization come into force?

The European Commission has confirmed that the ETIAS will enter into force as of November 2023. However, it will not be immediately mandatory until 6 months after its implementation.

This grace period will allow travelers to familiarize themselves with the new requirements and the process. In addition, during this period travelers will be provided with information on Schengen Zone borders and visa policy changes.

That said, although ETIAS will not be mandatory during this grace period, eligible travelers are encouraged to apply.

What to do if you want the ETIAS permit?

Anyone interested in applying for an ETIAS permit to travel to Spain or any other country of the European Union may do so directly through the Internet before making their trip and will not have to wait more than 10 minutes for the application to be evaluated and the result to be sent.

It is foreseen that it can be cancelled by credit card and through the online portal for a one-time fee of 7 euros for each adult person, i.e. over 18 years of age, and minors will be exempted from paying it.

Likewise, it will be valid for 3 consecutive years during which you will be able to travel for no more than 90 days to any country of the European Union. The ETIAS will be valid for business or pleasure trips, as long as they are of short duration; while if you travel to study, work or live in Europe you will have to apply for a visa and not the authorization.

The authorities estimate that 95% of the electronic applications made will be approved in less than 10 minutes and those that generate doubts will be handled manually.

Which countries will need the ETIAS visa?

The ETIAS travel authorization will be mandatory for citizens of third countries that were not required to have a visa to visit the Schengen Zone. As a result, there are currently 60 eligible countries whose civilians must apply for the permit.

It is important to mention that travelers coming from these countries will not have to apply for a visa at an embassy or consulate, but will be able to do it from home through the Internet.

The ETIAS travel authorization will allow travelers to be pre-screened before they board a plane. All information provided in the application will be screened and compared with information in a security database held by agencies such as Interpol and Europol.

In this regard, we can mention the United States, Argentina, Canada, Brazil, Australia, Ukraine, England, Japan and the United Arab Emirates among the countries that will have to apply for ETIAS authorization to travel to Europe by 2023.

You may also be interested in: What is the NIF in Spain and how to obtain it?

What are the steps to apply for ETIAS?

Before you apply online for your ETIAS permit you must ensure that you meet the following essential requirements:

• Your passport must be valid.

• You must have an email address that you can provide.

• You must have a debit or credit card.

If these basic requirements are met, the next step is to complete an online form through a largely automated computer system. One aspect to note is that citizens will not be required to attend consulates to make the application and no biometric data will be collected, so much less information will be needed than when applying for a visa.

In this form you will have to enter your most important biographical information, as well as your full name, date of birth, country of residence and passport information. Once you have completed the required fields, you will have to answer a series of security and health-related questions.

As mentioned above, requests will be processed in a matter of minutes and will be checked against security databases such as SIS, VIS, Europol Data and Interpol.

Those “special” cases are estimated to take, at most, one month to be fully reviewed.

You may also be interested in: Basic guide to importing to Spain

What are the benefits of ETIAS for the European Union?

The advantages of implementing an electronic travel permit are many. In addition, it is worth noting that it brings benefits not only for government entities, but also for travelers.

Some of the main benefits of ETIAS are as follows:

Streamlining entry into the Schengen Zone

With simplified and improved border management, travelers will be able to pass through immigration control more quickly. Border officials will also save time, as they will have pre-screened passengers.

Improved security for the European Union

Since ETIAS is synchronized with the main security databases mentioned above, the fight against terrorism and criminal activities will be considerably improved, as dangerous individuals will be more easily detected.

Prevention of illegal migration to Europe

Since a travel authorization will be required to enter any EU country, it will be much more difficult to enter Europe illegally. As a result, illegal immigration will be greatly reduced.

Improving border management

An updated border system, which is synchronized with other major systems in other parts of the world, will facilitate border management for thousands of officials. In the long run, the work will become much more efficient, making them much more effective in security matters.

You may also be interested in: All about the entrepreneur visa in Spain

Do you have plans to travel to Spain next year? Remember that the ETIAS visa is valid for business and leisure travel, so why not take advantage of it to bring your business idea to Spain? If you need advice or require the services of a manager to make your business prosper, do not hesitate to contact us at TAS Consulting through our website or by sending an email to tasconsultoria@tas-sl.es. Our experts will be happy to assist you.