26-10-2023 (SINGAPORE) Singaporean travelers heading to Europe can now breathe a sigh of relief, as the launch of the new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias) has been postponed until spring 2025, sparing them from the need to apply for this document until then.
Etias is a system modelled after the United States’ Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) and aims to pre-screen non-European Union (EU) travelers who currently enter Europe without a visa. Its primary objective is to enhance security measures.
Originally, it was reported in July that Etias would become a requirement from 2024. However, the EU has officially delayed its launch due to various issues, ranging from resource constraints to data integration challenges.
The Council of the European Union has specified that the EU Entry/Exit System, which tracks the movements of non-EU travelers, must first be operational before the implementation of Etias. This information was reported by SchengenVisaInfo.com.
From 2025 onwards, visitors to thirty European countries will be required to apply for the Etias document. These countries are mainly continental European nations that share borders and are signatories to the Schengen Agreement, which established a zone of freedom of movement among participating countries.
The Schengen Area now includes 27 countries, such as Belgium, Iceland, and the Netherlands, but notably, the United Kingdom is not part of it. Three other non-Schengen countries—Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Romania—will also adopt Etias.
As stated by etias.com, in 2025, Singaporean citizens planning to travel to Europe will need to complete an Etias application before boarding any aircraft, sea carrier, or coach vehicle bound for Europe. This requirement applies to all travelers, including those transiting in Europe en route to other destinations.
Apart from Singaporeans, citizens from 58 other countries and territories, including Malaysia, Australia, Japan, South Korea, the United States, and Canada, will also be obligated to apply for the Etias document. This document is valid for three years.
Applicants can expect to receive a response within 96 hours of submitting their application, indicating whether it has been approved, refused, or requires manual processing.
