The ETIAS which is also called as European Travel Information and Authorization System, is a visa waiver program, and this program is expected to come into effect by November 2023. The main aim of this program is to strengthen the borders of Schengen by checking the data of travellers before they enter that particular zone. The eligible countries are 50, and they should get hold of an ETIAS Visa Waiver before they enter any Schengen countries. This rule also applies to Bulgaria, Cyprus and Croatia, which will be the countries joining the visa waiver soon. The best part about this visa is that the travellers will also be able to move freely between the Schengen countries as there will be no internal hard borders within that particular zone. There have been many revolutionary changes in how this entire process is conducted. One can even complete the process online, and one does not need to go physically to the embassy.
Who needs an ETIAS Visa Waiver?
By the current date, there are more than 50 countries that should apply for an ETIAS waiver. However, more countries are likely to be added in the list. People who want to study in Europe should avail of a different type of visa as ETIAS is not a visa and it is not designed for such a purpose.
Schengen Visa
A Visa is an official document which allows the individual to enter a foreign country legally and is usually glued into the bearer’s passport. There are several types of visas, each of which affords the bearer different rights in the host country. The Schengen visa is the visa which allows its holder to circumnavigate in the Schengen area, and it covers 26 countries without any border control with them. The countries are Belgium, Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, France, Czech Republic, Hungary, Greece, Iceland, Latvia, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Portugal.
ETIAS Versus Schengen Visa
When the ETIAS visa comes into being in 2023, the citizens of those 60 countries will not require any kind of visa for travelling to Europe. In simple words, the visitors who have an ETIAS visa do not need a Schengen Visa, and the ones who do not have the former one will need the latter one.
What is the critical difference between ETIAS and Schengen Visas?
There is a key difference between ETIAS and the Schengen visa, as the former is an electronic system which links to the travellers’ passports and allows them to enter and travel within the European Union. Schengen Visa, entered manually into the passport, enables the individual to travel within the 26 member states. There is a stark difference between both. ETIAS allows individuals to travel throughout entire Europe. On the other hand, a Schengen Visa is only specific to the country one has applied for. This means that it is only sometimes valid for the other Schengen countries. Suppose a visitor wishes to visit two or more Schengen countries, he should apply for his visa at the embassy of that country. It considers the first day of entry and it allows a maximum stay of 90 days in the entire six-month period.
How should one apply for ETIAS or a Schengen Visa?
Applying for ETIAS is the easiest and most streamlined process. One can apply for the application online in merely twenty minutes, and the form one is supposed to fill out requires basic personal information. It also requires details regarding any world conflict zones. The officials also check whether you have any criminal record or not. One should also specify the first destination country in Europe, and after they check their database, an acceptance or rejection is returned within minutes. A payment of seven euros should accompany the application.
On the contrary, the application for a Schengen Visa should be made in person at the destination country’s embassy. One can expect up to six weeks or more for the issuance of a visa.
Following are the other requirements while applying for a Schengen Visa-
- Your passport must have two blank pages for the entry and the exit stamps.
- Your passport should also be valid for the three-month period past the date of visa expiry.
There is another main difference between the ETIAS and Schengen Visas. ETIAS only exists in one electronic format. On the other hand, there are several different variations of the Schengen visa, with has several conditions and restrictions.
Category A is the type of category which grants permission for holder to transit through the airport in a Schengen country. However, it also has the condition that one should not stay in that country or even leave the airport.
Category C states the following-
- Single entry visa allows the individual to enter the area only once and it expires once the holder leaves the area.
- Double entry visa is the one which allows the entry and exit from the Schengen area twice and it expires at the second exit.
