Information About the European Travel Information and Authorization System
What is the ETIAS?
ETIAS travel authorization, a convenient entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals, is your gateway to 30 European countries. It's seamlessly linked to your passport, valid for up to three years or until your passport expires. If you get a new passport, simply obtain a new ETIAS. The application process is a breeze, a simple online transaction that produces a travel document for a nominal fee. This document, along with your passport, is all you need to present to customs officials when you arrive in your host country.
• The ETIAS document itself
• Valid, unexpired passport
• Visa/consulate letter provided to you by the MICA Office of International Education – our office will offer you this shortly after being accepted to your program – more details to come
• Acceptance letter, email, offering admissions from your study abroad/exchange program
With a valid ETIAS travel authorization, you can enter the territory of these European countries as often as you want for short-term stays - generally for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. However, it does not guarantee entry. When you arrive, a border guard will ask to see your passport and other documents and verify that you meet the entry conditions. Again, these documents include (as stated directly above):
• The ETIAS document itself
• Valid, unexpired passport
• Visa/consulate letter provided to you by the MICA Office of International Education – our office will give you this shortly after being accepted to your program – more details to come
• Acceptance letter, email, offering admissions from your study abroad/exchange program
The MICA Office of International Education (OIE) is here to support you. We require all students to try to acquire the ETIAS before traveling. In some cases, authorization can take up to 4 weeks, so timing might be challenging for those traveling in mid-January. We encourage you to email your program in the European Union for advice after you've been accepted and to inquire about the visa and immigration services they offer. Remember, your first question should be about the ETIAS and your entry to their country for study.
Staying updated on the ETIAS website is crucial. The timing of the site going live is uncertain, and all students should be extremely mindful of this between now and January 1, 2024. Regularly checking for updates to the ETIAS program is a must. Failing to obtain the ETIAS promptly could jeopardize your semester abroad. Remember, all MICA F1 international students must have their I-20 document signed by the OIE before they depart from campus for their study abroad/exchange program.
When will the E.U. start accepting applications for the ETIAS authorization?
The ETIAS website says the E.U. will open applications "from 2024." An exact date has yet to be announced. The Office of International Education (OIE) will require all students to begin checking to see if they can register for the ETIAS starting January 1, 2024. You must check every day before departing from your home country to see if the ETIAS website has begun the ETIAS registration service. Once you are issued your ETIAS, which should occur directly after registering on the site, the OIE will require you to upload a copy of the purchase receipt.
Please get the ETIAS authorization to avoid refusal to enter the host country of your study abroad site. You will be sent home, and your semester will be lost; all applicable cancellation fees through your program or your exchange program, including MICA, will be charged back to you. The ETIAS is required for travel – this rule has no exceptions. It is the student's responsibility to obtain the ETIAS, and there is very little the OIE can do if you forget to get it and are deported back to your home country.
Start researching today to learn more about the ETIAS. Remain mindful of any announcements regarding the date in 2024 when the authorization website officially opens for issuance of the ETIAS. The OIE will also send notifications as soon as we learn more. Check your MICA Gmail account throughout the semester to learn more.
Who needs to apply to visit an E.U. country?
Any national of the visa-exempt countries to the E.U. looking to travel to an E.U. country for a short-term stay must apply for ETIAS authorization. These visa-exempt countries include the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Mexico.
The European Union defines a short-term stay as any stay (or combination of stays) up to 90 days within 180 days. Stateless people living in and with a travel document from one of the visa-exempt countries or Ireland will also be required to apply for ETIAS authorization.
ETIAS can also be used in place of a visa for certain nationals of visa-required countries. The complete list of those eligible for this exception includes students on a school trip who are nationals of visa-required countries but reside in any of the visa-exempt countries, Switzerland or Liechtenstein.
The complete eligibility requirements can be found on the ETIAS website.
How much does it cost to apply?
The online application for ETIAS authorization incurs a fee of 7 euros, or approximately $8. This authorization remains valid for three years or until the travel document used for the application expires. Once used, it is only valid for short-term stays or 90 days of travel within a 180-day period. After making the payment online, it is advisable to print several copies of the transactional paperwork and carry them with you at all times during your journey to your host country. Keep a small copy with you as an additional form of passport validation, especially if you plan to travel between EU and cooperating countries.
When you pay for the authorization online, print several copies of any transactional paperwork and carry them with you at all times while in transit to your host country. Fold up a small copy and carry it with you as a form of additional passport validation should you engage in inter-country travel throughout the E.U. and E.U. cooperating countries.
What information do I have to provide to ETIAS?
To apply, prospective travelers must provide personal information, including their name, date of birth, nationality, address, parents' names, email address, and phone number. They will also be asked to share their current occupation and level of education, as well as details about their intended travel and stays in E.U. countries. Applicants must also include details of the document they will be used to travel, such as a passport. There are special requirements for eligibility for travel documents from some countries (not including the U.S.). ETIAS applicants will also be asked to provide details about any criminal convictions, among other personal information.
How do I know I've been approved?
Once the system is up and running, ETIAS applicants will receive an email confirming that their application has been submitted. This email will have an application number that is important to keep for future reference. Once an application has been processed, travelers will receive a second email with the authorization decision.
How long will it take for ETIAS to approve me?
Most applications are processed within minutes of applying, but prospective travelers should expect to receive an application decision within four days. Exceptions are if additional documentation or information is needed or applicants are asked to be interviewed. If approved, travelers should confirm that all their personal information is correct; if a mistake isn't corrected before travel, the authorization will not be valid to cross into the E.U. If an approval is, for some reason, rejected, applicants can appeal the decision.
How far in advance do I need to apply?
Starting in 2024, prospective travelers should apply for ETIAS certification at least a month before their planned travel date and ideally before that. If you're flagged for an interview, it could take an additional 30 days beyond the normal turnaround time. In the case of a rejected application, an appeals process would be necessary to travel.
Travelers must have their ETIAS authorization throughout their entire stay in the E.U. Although authorization is necessary to enter the E.U., it does not guarantee entry at border control. Travelers must still meet established E.U. entry requirements, which include having a passport or other travel document valid for their stay and at least three months afterward.
YOU SHOULD CHECK YOUR PASSPORT TODAY AND VERIFY WITH CERTAINTY THAT YOU CAN MEET THIS 3-MONTH RULE. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RULE COULD CAUSE YOUR ETIAS TO BE DENIED, OR WORSE IF IT IS OVERLOOKED, YOU MIGHT BE DENIED ENTRY TO YOUR HOST COUNTRY.
Will ETIAS requirements slow me down at airports?
Because ETIAS authorization is a new process, it could slow down the line at passport control, potentially creating problems for tight flight connections. Right now, if a U.S. traveler is flying to one country in the Schengen zone through a connecting flight in another country, they will have to go through passport control before getting on their connecting flight.
Can I trust unofficial ETIAS sites?
According to the European Union, "dozens" of unofficial ETIAS sites offer information on the upcoming system, with some illegally using the E.U. logo and publishing inaccuracies.
Though the E.U. does allow commercial intermediaries to apply for ETIAS authorization on behalf of customers, these third parties could be operated by scammers who want to misuse the personal information required in the application.
To avoid scams, travelers should prioritize applying through the official ETIAS website once it becomes available in 2024.
Sources
• Travel Europe, ETIAS Official Website
• Washington Post
