The ETIAS does not replace the Schengen visa, it complements it. Until now, people entering the Schengen area needed either a passport without a visa or a Schengen visa. All travellers who were previously able to enter the Schengen area without a visa will in future require an ETIAS entry permit. For travellers who have always needed a Schengen visa, nothing will change. They will still have to apply for their visa.
ETIAS is a compromise between freedom and security
Currently, the list includes 60 countries that can enter the Schengen area without a visa. This is convenient for travellers, as they only need a passport and thus cross the border. Most travellers want to see the country, swim in the sea or do business.
However, some travellers have unfair, criminal or perhaps even terrorist intentions. The USA reacted to this threat more than ten years ago with its entry system ESTA.
For travellers, an ETIAS application represents only a minor financial and time burden. For all travellers and the countries of the Schengen area, the gain in security is enormous. Many suspected criminals can be tracked down in advance and prevented from entering the Schengen area.
Obtaining a Schengen visa is costly
To obtain a Schengen visa, the traveller must contact the consulate in his or her home country. The country where he will be staying is responsible. If his stay touches several countries, the country where he will spend most of his time is responsible. If the periods are of equal length, the country that the traveller first enters is responsible.
The application must be made at least 15 days before entry and cannot be made earlier than three months before the planned trip.
The following documents must be presented when making the application:
- A passport with at least two blank pages. The passport must be valid for three months after the planned departure
- The application form for the visa
- A recent biometric passport photo
- A travel health insurance with a minimum coverage of 30 000 euros. This must be valid for the entire Schengen area and for the entire duration of the stay.
- The fee for the Schengen visa
Different types of visa
ETIAS is intended for tourist and business travellers. If you want to study or work in the Schengen area, you need another visa.
In principle, a distinction is made between uniform Schengen visas and visas with limited territorial validity.
With the uniform Schengen visa the traveller can visit any country in the Schengen area. Only the first entry must be in the country indicated on the visa application. Anyone crossing the Schengen area as a transit traveller requires a category A visa. Category C is a short-term visa. It can be issued for a single entry, for a double entry or for a multiple entry. For the multiple entry visa there is the
- 1-year visa
- 3-year visa
- 5- year visa
In the case of a visa with limited national validity, entry is only possible for one or more countries expressly mentioned on the visa. The national visa of category "D" is issued to persons who wish to study, work or stay in the country for a longer period of time.
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The ETIAS does not replace the Schengen visa, it complements it. Until now, people entering the Schengen area needed either a passport without a visa or a Schengen visa. All travellers who were previously able to enter the Schengen area without a visa will in future require an ETIAS entry permit. For travellers who have always needed a Schengen visa, nothing will change. They will still have to apply for their visa.
ETIAS is a compromise between freedom and security
Currently, the list includes 60 countries that can enter the Schengen area without a visa. This is convenient for travellers, as they only need a passport and thus cross the border. Most travellers want to see the country, swim in the sea or do business.
However, some travellers have unfair, criminal or perhaps even terrorist intentions. The USA reacted to this threat more than ten years ago with its entry system ESTA.
For travellers, an ETIAS application represents only a minor financial and time burden. For all travellers and the countries of the Schengen area, the gain in security is enormous. Many suspected criminals can be tracked down in advance and prevented from entering the Schengen area.
Obtaining a Schengen visa is costly
To obtain a Schengen visa, the traveller must contact the consulate in his or her home country. The country where he will be staying is responsible. If his stay touches several countries, the country where he will spend most of his time is responsible. If the periods are of equal length, the country that the traveller first enters is responsible.
The application must be made at least 15 days before entry and cannot be made earlier than three months before the planned trip.
The following documents must be presented when making the application:
- A passport with at least two blank pages. The passport must be valid for three months after the planned departure
- The application form for the visa
- A recent biometric passport photo
- A travel health insurance with a minimum coverage of 30 000 euros. This must be valid for the entire Schengen area and for the entire duration of the stay.
- The fee for the Schengen visa
Different types of visa
ETIAS is intended for tourist and business travellers. If you want to study or work in the Schengen area, you need another visa.
In principle, a distinction is made between uniform Schengen visas and visas with limited territorial validity.
With the uniform Schengen visa the traveller can visit any country in the Schengen area. Only the first entry must be in the country indicated on the visa application. Anyone crossing the Schengen area as a transit traveller requires a category A visa. Category C is a short-term visa. It can be issued for a single entry, for a double entry or for a multiple entry. For the multiple entry visa there is the
- 1-year visa
- 3-year visa
- 5- year visa
In the case of a visa with limited national validity, entry is only possible for one or more countries expressly mentioned on the visa. The national visa of category "D" is issued to persons who wish to study, work or stay in the country for a longer period of time.