By the end of 2025, the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will be implemented, meaning that non-EU passport holders must take different preparations for subsequent visits to EU and Schengen Area countries. This will have an effect on air and sea travel.
When ETIAS becomes mandatory in 2025, it will no longer be possible to simply present a passport as valid entry identification. All passports must have ETIAS approval before they can be scanned and accepted at airports, sea terminals, or any other Schengen Area border control points. Additionally, all land, air and sea carriers that bring travelers into the European region must also check for ETIAS approval.
An ETIAS-approved passport will also be electronically linked to the EU’s Entry/Exit System. This system will keep track of the holder’s movements within Europe each time they enter or leave any of the participating countries. The EES record is a digital version of a passport stamp, and it will keep track of the holder’s previous visits to EU and Schengen countries, as well as how long they stayed in each place.
EES and ETIAS Checks
Citizens of the European Union and Schengen Area will continue to be able to travel freely through Europe without a visa or ETIAS requirements. However, starting in 2021, passport holders from other third countries, such as the UK will need to apply for ETIAS before they can travel.
The European Union has introduced a new law that mandates that all carriers check for the necessary ETIAS approval on passports. This ensures that all foreign nationals traveling within Europe have been approved and monitored. The ETIAS approval will be mandatory for entry into the European zone, and because there are no longer internal border controls, it is necessary to have this system in place.
While passport control officers and border crossing personnel can and will check a traveler’s documentation, the relevant carrier must check a visitor’s passport for ETIAS and EES at the point of departure. This includes airports, ferry ports, tunnels,s and international train stations. It is the first point of contact individuals will have on any foreign visit, and thus is a logical place to start.
The travel carrier must:
- Ensure that all documentation provided by travelers is valid before allowing them entry into their country or destination. This includes assessing passports for ETIAS and EES authorization.
- Checking of EES records detailing Schengen and EU countries visited previously and flag irregularities such as overstaying. exceeding the visits allowed, and deportation.
The carrier ensures that all passengers are registered for ETIAS and have the necessary documentation. At the point of departure, the carrier will scan the traveler’s passport and check the ETIAS and EES status. The result will determine whether:
- There is an issue with the ETIAS and/or EES, and boarding will be permitted.
- The passport holder carries with him the proper validation and may proceed to board.
- Even if the correct documentation is presented, a passenger may not be automatically granted entry to the destination EU or Schengen country. The decision rests with the security and border authorities of the destination country.
Registration Required
To comply with EU regulations, airline companies and other international carriers must register for EES and ETIAS. This is mandatory for any carriers wishing to carry on transporting passengers to, from, and within the European arena. Carriers not properly registered will not have access to the documentation and technological systems required to operate the EES and ETIAS systems. Once registered, the carrier will have certain obligations, these include:
- Carriers who fail to meet these obligations by allowing passengers to board without an ETIAS-approved passport will be deemed responsible and subject to possible fines or sanctions.
- Responsibility for bringing home travelers abroad who are refused permission to board.
- Properly screening all passengers for EES and ETIAS before letting them, board.
Increased Security for Safer Travel
The introduction of ETIAS is primarily designed to help increase security in Europe by gathering information about visitors from certain countries. This is important in light of the recent upsurge in criminal activity, terrorist activity, and illegal immigration.
The ETIAS application process will require people to provide information about any criminal or terrorist background. This information will then determine if someone is allowed visa-free access to Europe. This information will then be checked against various European security databases. Based on this information and other EU Security database checks, the applicant can either be granted ETIAS approval and the right to travel or be denied travel within or to Europe.
The ETIAS system also requires travelers to provide a history of their medical conditions or of transmissible or contagious diseases. This information is critical because of the ongoing Covid pandemic and the potential for similar future global medical emergencies.
The ETIAS Central Unit will be able to make informed decisions about whether a traveler poses a security or medical risk to Europe based on the information provided on their ETIAS application. This is not currently the case for citizens of countries outside of the EU and Schengen Area who enjoy visa-free European access. However, this situation will change in 2023 when ETIAS comes into full force. Through the use of the ETIAS protocols, Europe is protecting itself from acts of terrorism, illegal immigration, criminality, and crises of the medical kind.