Entry into the European Union (EU) for citizens of countries that have a visa-free regime will soon not be possible without an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) form. It will be introduced in 2024, it will be filled out online, it will cost seven euros, and it will be valid for three years. It should enable more efficient and faster border control procedures, with better security. How to get it?
“Do you want to go to the Croatian coast for the weekend? Do you want to spend the New Year in France? Do you want to go shopping in Italy? From next year, in addition to your will, money, and passport, you will also need a mandatory form for entering the EU. It is called ETIAS or the European Travel Information and Authorization System for travel to the Schengen Zone. It will be mandatory for all travelers from countries that are not part of the EU but are part of the visa-free regime. Others will still have to apply for a visa,” said Dzenana Halimovic, a journalist.
What does that mean?
“With the introduction of the ETIAS form, visits to the EU will have to be announced earlier. The request for travel authorization can be submitted exclusively online. In cases where the applicant is unable to fill out the form, he can authorize someone to do it for him. The form is not yet available, and the exact date of the start of application of the form is not known either,” she stated.
“Most requests will be processed within a few minutes, they claim on the official ETIAS website. However, processing may take up to 4 days. In the event that additional documentation is required, the process may take up to two weeks. If the applicant is also asked for an interview, everything can last up to 30 days. For this reason, it is recommended to apply well in advance of the planned trip. Each applicant will receive a unique ETIAS application number by e-mail. Save it, because it is needed for the following procedures. At the end of the process, you will also receive the result of your application by e-mail. It is important to check the data in the ETIAS approval. If there is any error, you will not be allowed to cross the border. The permit is valid for three years or until the expiration of the travel document. When you change your passport, the procedure must be repeated, ” Halimovic explained.
How much does it cost?
“Along with the application, it is mandatory to pay a fee in the amount of 7 euros. Payment, like the application, will only be possible online, confirmed the Delegation of the EU to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Applicants younger than 18 or older than 70 will be exempt from payment,” she emphasized.
What is it for?
“Without this document, it will not be possible to enter the EU. When crossing the external borders of the EU, the information will be registered in the entry/exit system that will replace the stamps in the passports. The system will record the time and place of entry, and save the photo and fingerprints. The new system, the Delegation added, will enable more efficient and faster border control procedures. There will be, as they say, less bureaucracy, fewer delays for travelers, and better security, improved prevention of irregular migration and, in general, more efficient border management procedures,” Halimovic concluded, Radio Slobodna Evropa reports.
E.Dz.
