Two long-scheduled systems for handling aspects of third-country travel to Europe—also often postponed—are scheduled to finally take effect next year. One will impose a €7 fee on incoming visitors and require a pre-approval form; the other will electronically track how long outsiders are spending in Europe’s Schengen countries.
If you’re wondering who the ‘third country visitors’ are, that’s all of us who are not residents of the EU…Americans, Austrailians, Japanese, etc., and now including UK residents since Brexit.
The first system, called ETIAS, for European Travel Information and Authorization System, is similar to the ESTA system used by the U.S.; it’s not a visa, but it does require a form, filed online, that provides information on the traveler, including passport and residence information.
The €7 fee covers the costs, and a good-for-three years form will be issued, supposedly within minutes. Approval can be denied to people with serious criminal records. The actual implementation date is still uncertain; the official word is “before the end of 2022.”
The second new procedure, EES, or Entry/Exit System, also does not apply to Schengen-country residents. It’s essentially an electronic system in which visitor passports will be swiped in and out of the Schengen Area, recording how much time and when a visitor has spent. Since visitors not on special visas are allowed 90 days out of 180 to travel within the zone, it will now be possible for all member countries to track eligibility. When the system takes effect, again sometime this year, it will make border checks by humans with rubber stamps unnecessary, although some states may continue that system along with the new one.
