The European Travel Information and Authorization System ETIAS has been postponed till November 2023. ETIAS, which operates similarly to ESTA in the US, will pre-screen visitors arriving from nations eligible for entering the Schengen Area without a visa. The delay has been confirmed by EU authorities, but no explanation has been provided. The European Parliament initially endorsed the program in 2016.
The concept was born out of calls for stronger control over who enters the EU borders due to security concerns. In 2016, Jean-Claude Juncker, who is now the head of the European Commission, said,
“We need to know who is crossing our borders. This way, we will know who is traveling to Europe before they even get here.”
Some of the busiest international airports in the world, such as Amsterdam Schiphol and Paris Charles de Gaulle, are located in the Schengen Area. ETIAS anticipates having a six-month grace period after its introduction, during which adherence to the program will be encouraged but not required. This applies to both tourists and business visitors, as well as those entering the EU for medical reasons and those transiting the EU.
The European Union will mandate visa-free access to the Schengen Area for nationals of 63 non-EU nations that are designated as visa-exempt. ETIAS will be a necessary travel document even though it is not a visa and does not ensure entry. If a carrier transports a passenger without ETIAS, they will be held responsible and may be subject to financial fines.
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