ETIAS

ETIAS, what it means for travellers; What it means for the

border security

Background

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is a system for granting
authorisation to travel to those countries of the European Union which belong to the Schengen
Area.  The final decision on crossing the external border lies with the EU Member State of
first destination.  ETIAS will carry out pre-travel screening of travellers who enjoy from visa-
free access to the Schengen Area, and thus allow Member States to deny authorisation to
travellers considered to pose a security threat, a risk in terms of irregular migration or public
health. In order to cross an external Schengen border, visa-free travellers will need to have
both a valid travel document and an ETIAS authorisation.

Why?

EU Member States’ border management authorities currently have little information about
travellers exempt from visa requirements entering the EU. ETIAS will therefore be an
important means of addressing this information gap by supporting security screening and risk
assessment of travellers, reinforcing the internal security of the Schengen Area. A similar pre-
travel authorisation system is in place for example in the USA, Canada and Australia.

When?

The ETIAS Regulation was passed by the European Parliament on 5 July 2018. The adoption
was formally confirmed by the Council of the EU on 5 September and officially signed by the
two co-legislators on 12 September. It entered into force on 9 October 2018. The ETIAS legal
framework is still in the course of completion with the European Commission’s Implementing
and Delegated Acts. ETIAS is due to become operational by the end of 2022.

How many travellers will be affected by ETIAS?

Currently, nationals of around 60 countries worldwide do not need a visa to enter the EU. A
detailed list is available here.
There are approximately 1,885 official external border crossing points into the EU. These
were estimated to have processed around 565 million external border crossings in 2014, a
figure that is forecast to rise to 887 million by 2025. EU citizens will make up two-thirds of
these border crossings, and of those non-EU citizens crossing the EU border, it is estimated
that approximately one third will come from visa-exempt countries.

Discussions on the status of countries currently in talks with the EU to enjoy visa
liberalisation may also have an effect on the number of people applying for ETIAS
authorisations in the future.

FAQs
What is the role of Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in ETIAS?

Frontex will be responsible for setting up and running the ETIAS Central Unit. Operating on
a 24/7 basis, the ETIAS Central Unit will have several key tasks, including:

 where necessary, verifying travel authorisation applications with regard to a traveller's

identity in cases of a match against one of the databases checked during the automated
process

 defining, testing, implementing, evaluating and revising specific risk indicators contained in
the ETIAS screening rules

 carrying out regular audits on the processing of applications and on the implementation of
the ETIAS screening rules, particularly concerning their impact on fundamental rights, privacy
rules and data protection
  ensuring that the data stored in the application files and the data recorded are correct and
up to date

 providing information about ETIAS to the general public

 establishing and operating the Carriers Assistance Centre and supplying support to the
travellers

What other components will be part of ETIAS?

ETIAS will be composed of the ETIAS Central Unit, the ETIAS Information System, and the
ETIAS National Units.

Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency will be responsible for the ETIAS
Central Unit (see above), including the Carriers Assistance Centre and helpdesk for
travellers.

Eu-LISA will be responsible for the development and the technical management of the
ETIAS Information System, comprising, among others:

 a central system to process the applications

 a national uniform interface in each Member State that connects the central system and the
national infrastructures

 a secure communication infrastructure between the central system and the national uniform
interfaces

 a public website and a mobile app for mobile devices

 an email service as well as a number of tools for applicants, such as an account service, a
verification tool, and a tool to provide or withdraw consent for data retention beyond the
general retention period

 A carrier gateway for carriers to check whether travellers are in possession of a valid ETIAS
authorisation

Member States will establish ETIAS National Units, which will have primary responsibility
for:

 conducting risk assessments on applications forwarded by the ETIAS Central Unit based on
the confirmation of matching of information between data contained in the application file
and one or more databases checked during the automated process or of meeting the
conditions of the screening rules

 taking final decisions on whether to accept or turn down these applications

 providing applicants with information on appeals procedures

 managing the ETIAS watch list together with Europol.

Europol will be primarily responsible for:

 providing opinions to EU Member States when consulted on applications 

 managing the ETIAS watch list together with EU Member States.

How will the ETIAS system work?

ETIAS will cross-check identity data provided by travellers in their application against a
number of databases. If there is any concern regarding a particular application, it will be
further verified and processed manually.

ETIAS will initially check against the following databases:

 existing EU information systems:

- the Schengen Information System (SIS)

- the Visa Information System (VIS)
- Europol data

 future EU information systems:

- the Entry/Exit System (EES)

- new Eurodac database

 Interpol databases:

- the Interpol Stolen and Lost Travel Document database (SLTD)

- the Interpol Travel Documents Associated with Notices database (TDAWN)

 a dedicated ETIAS watchlist and specific risk indicators.

How long will it take to obtain an ETIAS authorisation?

ETIAS is planned as a simple, fast and traveller-friendly system: completing the online
application should not take more than 10 minutes, and automatic approval should be issued
within 24 hours in more than 95% of cases.

If the case needs to be handled manually by the ETIAS Central Unit, managed by Frontex,
and thereafter followed up by the ETIAS National Units, the response time can be prolonged.
In exceptional circumstances, further information may be asked of applicants and further
procedural steps could be necessary. The traveller will receive either the final response or a
request for additional documentation within 96 hours.

How will border checks change after the introduction of ETIAS?

Border guards working at the border crossing points of the Schengen Area will scan
travellers’ document data electronically and register them in the Entry/Exit System, thus
triggering a query to ETIAS. If the traveller is in possession of a valid travel authorisation, the
traveller will be able to continue their journey if all other entry conditions are fulfilled. If the
traveller is not in possession of a valid ETIAS travel authorisation, border guards will refuse
him/her entry and will record this refusal of entry in the Entry/Exit System.

How many employees will be needed for ETIAS to function?

By the time ETIAS becomes operational, it is estimated that Frontex will employ around 250
dedicated staff in the Central Unit which will be operating 24/7. Eu-LISA is expecting to hire
some 40 members of staff. Member States will be responsible for adequately staffing their
own ETIAS national units.

How much will it cost to obtain an ETIAS authorisation?

Travellers will have to pay a fee, with travellers below 18 and above 70 years of age
exempted from this payment. Once issued, the authorisation will be valid for three years for
an unlimited number of entries. However, the travel authorisation may be revoked or annulled
should the conditions for issuing it no longer apply.

How will the ETIAS system be financed?

The operational and maintenance costs of the ETIAS Information System, the ETIAS Central
Unit and of the ETIAS National Units should be covered entirely by the revenues generated
by the fees.

Who will be affected by the introduction of ETIAS?

ETIAS will only apply to nationals of countries and territories who enjoy visa-free travel to
the Schengen Area. Nationals of EU Member States and nationals of countries belonging to
the Schengen Area will not need an ETIAS authorisation.

 Example: a Norwegian returning home from Brazil via Portugal would not need an ETIAS
authorisation, as Norway is a member of the Schengen Area even though it is not an EU
Member State.

Nationals of countries exempt from the requirement to hold a visa to enter the EU’s Schengen
area will need to be in possession of an ETIAS authorisation only if they wish to cross a
Schengen external border.

 Example: an Australian will need an ETIAS authorisation to travel to Switzerland, which is not
an EU Member State but is a member of the Schengen Area. However, the same Australian
traveller will not need an ETIAS authorisation to travel to Ireland, which is an EU Member
State but not in Schengen.

What information will travellers need to provide to obtain an ETIAS authorisation?

Under the ETIAS Regulation, individuals wishing to obtain authorisation to enter the territory
of the countries belonging to Schengen will have to provide basic information about their
identity, travel document, level of education, and occupation, as well as answer a number of
background questions concerning issues such as previous stay in conflict zones or criminal
convictions.
Are there any countries where similar systems to ETIAS have already been introduced?

ETIAS has similarities with systems already used in a number of countries, first and foremost
the United States (electronic system for travel authorisation - ESTA), Canada (electronic
travel authorisation - eTA) and Australia (electronic travel authority - ETA).

How will the introduction of ETIAS impact the carriers?

ETIAS will have an effect on the transport industry:

 Carriers (such as airlines, ships, international bus companies) will have to systematically
check whether visa-exempt third country nationals travelling to the Schengen Area are in
possession of an ETIAS authorisation before boarding them.

 In accordance with EU rules even today carriers are liable if entry is refused at the border,
and they will remain responsible for repatriating the refused traveller at their own cost, in
addition to a possible fine for faulty processing.

 With ETIAS in place, carriers will also be liable if they transport passengers without an ETIAS
authorisatio.

What rights does a traveller whose ETIAS application has been turned down have?

If authorisation is refused, the relevant ETIAS National Unit will have to inform the applicant
and provide him/her with information about the applicable national law, the necessary
authorities to contact, the procedure to lodge an appeal against the refusal of an application,
and any relevant deadlines. A previous refusal of a travel authorisation will not lead to an
automatic refusal of a new application.

How will ETIAS protect personal data?

The ETIAS Regulation contains all necessary safeguards to ensure a fair and adequate
processing of the personal data of the applicants. EU Member State law enforcement
authorities and Europol will have access to the information of the ETIAS application files
only under strictly defined conditions, for the prevention, detection or investigation of
terrorist offences or other serious criminal offences.

Personal data recorded in the ETIAS system will only be stored for the period of validity of
the travel authorisation, or for five years from the last decision to refuse, revoke or annul the
travel authorisation.

In addition, the representatives of the Consultative Forum on Fundamental Rights of Frontex,

the European Data Protection Supervisor, the European Data Protection Board and the EU
Agency for Fundamental Rights, as well as the Fundamental Rights Officer of Frontex, will
take part in the ETIAS Fundamental Rights Guidance Board, an independent advisory
body tasked with  assessing the impact of processing applications and the screening rules on
fundamental rights, and providing guidance to the ETIAS Screening Board.
What happens if a traveller’s data matches the information in one of the checked databases?

All ETIAS applications will be checked against the following databases: ETIAS Central
System, Schengen Information System (SIS), the Entry/Exit System (EES), Visa Information
System (VIS), Eurodac, Europol data and Interpol Stolen and Lost Travel Documents
Database (SLTD) and Travel Documents Associated with Notices (TDAWN) databases as
well as against the ETIAS Watchlist.

If there is a hit against any of those databases, the ETIAS Central Unit will manually process
the application and remove ambiguity about applicant’s identity within 12 hours. If the hit is
assessed by the ETIAS Central Unit to be false, the automated process continues, whereas if
the hit is confirmed, the application file will be forwarded to a responsible EU Member State
for further handling. After the manual processing of the application, the ETIAS National Unit
of the responsible Member State will either issue or refuse a travel authorisation.

Looking for more information?

ETIAS Regulation - consolidated text

European Commission press release

European Commission memo
European Parliament press release
European Parliament briefing