ETIAS Eligibility

  • Ukraine is set to become a launch member of the ETIAS, enabling its citizens to be among the first to benefit from the program.
  • Starting in 2025, Ukrainian citizens will be eligible to apply for ETIAS, allowing them to travel to the Schengen Area without needing to obtain a visa.
  • The online application system for ETIAS will be available for Ukrainian citizens, streamlining the application process and making it more convenient for travelers.

Other ETIAS Requirements

  • Ukrainian citizens who intend to visit Europe for short-term purposes such as tourism, business, transit or medical visits are required to obtain an ETIAS.
  • The application for ETIAS can be made online.
  • ETIAS is applicable for entry into Europe via air, sea, or overland.
  • The traveler must have a machine-readable e-passport to be eligible for ETIAS.
  • Applicants who are under 18 or over 70 years of age will receive their ETIAS free of charge.

Starting in 2025, Ukrainian citizens who wish to enter participating European countries for tourism, business, transit, or medical reasons on a temporary basis (less than 90 days) must obtain an ETIAS. The new requirement aims to screen travelers arriving from foreign countries due to the rise in global terrorist activities.

Approved in 2016, the ETIAS program is designed to offer a new screening tool that will operate seamlessly throughout all European countries involved. This screening tool will take four years to develop the required systems that will tie in with existing immigration databases and other security data.

The ETIAS program will be in force from 2025 onward and will require Ukrainian citizens to go through a screening process before they are allowed to enter any participating European countries. This screening process is necessary to ensure that the travellers entering European countries are not a threat to public safety.

The ETIAS is a measure to ensure that the European countries can continue to welcome travellers while also maintaining high levels of security. By implementing the ETIAS program, the participating European countries can ensure that their borders are secure while still maintaining their reputation as a welcoming destination for travellers from all over the world.

From 2025, Ukrainian citizens who intend to travel to Europe must complete an ETIAS application before boarding a plane, ship, or bus. All Ukrainian travelers, including those who will be passing through Europe on their way to other locations, must fulfill this requirement.

Furthermore, any Ukrainian citizen who intends to enter Europe for a duration of over 90 days, or for purposes that are not covered by the ETIAS program, will need to apply for a Schengen visa. To obtain further information regarding the application process, interested parties are advised to visit https://etias.co.uk/ and use the homepage assessment.

To avoid any delays or the risk of an ETIAS application being refused, it is recommended that Ukrainian citizens complete their application at least 96 hours prior to their scheduled departure date. To obtain full details on the requirements for an ETIAS application, one can visit the ETIAS requirements page or the ETIAS FAQ‘s.

It is important to carefully review these pages before commencing an ETIAS application to ensure that all the requirements are met. This will also help to avoid any potential delays or complications during the application process. 

Beginning in the year 2025, it will become mandatory for individuals seeking to apply for an ETIAS to hold full citizenship in Ukraine. As a result, individuals who possess a passport or travel document that does not indicate Ukrainian citizenship may find themselves required to apply for a standard Schengen visitor visa, rather than an ETIAS.

For those who are citizens of Ukraine, the process of applying for an ETIAS should be a relatively quick and straightforward one. In most cases, these applications can be processed and approved within a matter of minutes. Once the application has been approved, the individual will receive a notification of authorization via email. This notification will take the form of a PDF document, which will be stored electronically in the European Immigration system.

It is worth noting that individuals who are granted an ETIAS authorization will not need to present or print any physical documents. Instead, the authorization will be electronically tied to the individual’s passport details. This means that border control officers will be able to quickly and easily verify the traveler’s status and allow them to enter the Schengen Area.

Benefits of the ETIAS program

  • ETIAS, the European Travel Information and Authorization System, offers benefits to travelers visiting the Schengen Area.
  • One of these benefits is that ETIAS remains valid for three years from the date of issue.
  • Another benefit is that travelers can make multiple entries to the Schengen Area for a duration of 90 days per entry.
  • Additionally, the authorization process for ETIAS is fast and efficient, with electronic delivery.
  • Finally, travelers can apply for ETIAS authorization using a desktop computer, tablet, or mobile device.

ETIAS Application Advice

  1. Plan ahead and apply early:
  • Submit your ETIAS application at least 96 hours before your planned departure to Europe.
  • This will give you enough time to address any issues that may arise during the application process.
  1. Know your options if denied:
  • If your ETIAS application is denied, you can still apply for a full visitor visa to the European country you wish to visit.
  • Keep in mind that the requirements for a visitor visa may be more stringent, and the application process can be more complicated and time-consuming.
  1. Understand the limitations of ETIAS:
  • While an approved ETIAS allows you to travel to Europe without a visa, it does not guarantee entry into the continent.
  • The final decision on whether to grant you entry into a European country rests with the border security personnel at the point of arrival.
  • Be prepared to provide additional documentation and answer any questions to help make a case for your entry, if necessary.