The European Commission is imposing European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) for citizens of visa waiver countries starting 2021, in about two years from now.
On 5 September 2018 the Council adopted a regulation establishing a European travel information and authorisation system (ETIAS).
ETIAS is not a visa, rather an electronic travel authorization works similar to US/Canada.
ETIAS will effect all those economic citizens who acquired citizenship/passport through Citizenship by investment (CBI) program.
Since many CBI countries have visa waivers with European Union, effective early 2021, CBI passport holders from these countries are required to pay €7 euro for ETIAS travel authorization before boarding a plan or sea routes. Entry will be refused at the border without ETIAS.
These are the 9 CBI countries that are affected by ETIAS
- Antigua and Barbuda
- St Kitts and Nevis
- Grenada
- St Lucia
- Commonwealth of Dominica
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Vanuatu
- Samoa
Exempted CBI passports
ETIAS does not apply to these CBI passports
- Malta (EU member state)
- Cyprus (EU member state)
- Bulgaria (EU member state)
- Turkey (Schengen visa required for Turkish citizens)
3 Simple Steps to Apply
CBI passport holders are required follow 3 simple steps
- ETIAS is not a visa just a travel authorization
- ETIAS system will charge €7 fee for each application.
- ETIAS is valid for 3 years for unlimited entries
ETIAS required to visit EU-30 countries
The ETIAS travel authorization will apply to all EU Member States (including Malta) that are part of the Schengen area, including those which do not yet fully apply the Schengen acquis, i.e. Croatia, Cyprus, Bulgaria and Romania.
| Schengen states | Schengen-Acquis |
| The 26 Schengen countries are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. | Croatia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Romania |
The ETIAS system checks against relevant security databases and issues a decision within ten minutes.
What databases will be checked by ETIAS?
When verifying and assessing the information submitted by visa-exempt travellers, the system will automatically cross-check each application against:
The existing EU information systems:
- Schengen Information System (SIS),
- Visa Information System (VIS),
- Europol data,
- Eurodac database,
Proposed future EU information systems:
- Entry/Exit System (EES),
Interpol databases:
- Interpol Stolen and Lost Travel Document database (SLTD),
- Interpol Travel Documents Associated with Notices database (TDAWN),
- a dedicated ETIAS watch list and specific risk indicators.
Freedom of movement with passport is over
With increasing number of world countries electronic authorizations ETA like US, Canada, New Zealand, European Union the freedom of boarding a plane with just a passport in your hand is pretty much over with tightening of border controls. UK has also proposed a electronic travel authorization system after brexit.
