Many tourists and business travellers have enjoyed the ease of travel to the Schengen area in recent years. They don't have to fill out a form, just pack their bags, pocket a valid passport and off they go. Many surely see 31 December 2022 coming with wistfulness. Presumably, by that date, it will no longer be possible. The article examines whether this is really a disadvantage for travellers.
Is visa liberalisation really an advantage?
Certainly, for the individual traveller who has to fill out an application before travelling, it is an additional expense in the stress of travelling. However, there is another side that also needs to be considered.
In recent years, there have been repeated attacks in European metropolises. It cannot be ruled out that terrorists from abroad enter unhindered. This should be prevented by ETIAS in the future.
After the experiences of 11 September 2001, the USA reacted to the threat with the ESTA visa. This allows tourists and business travellers from countries classified as safe to enter the country.
The situation is similar with ETIAS. After the application, the data is checked through various databases. If the system returns a hit, the application is examined more closely by an employee. Only if this person is also of the opinion that the traveller poses a danger, will the traveller be rejected.
ETIAS in no way abolishes visa liberalisation, but rather adds a security component to entry.
How much effort is actually required for the ETIAS application?
The effort is relatively low. The traveller probably only has to transfer the personal data and answer the security questions truthfully. Here, the tourist should take a little time, because information that does not match the passport will quickly lead to a rejection of the application. It is also best not to fill out the application immediately before the trip, but a few weeks before. This ensures that the ETIAS visa is issued on time.
At the border, processing is very quick. To ensure that there are no problems with the introduction of ETIAS at the external borders of the Schengen area, FRONTEX is being given significantly more staff.
By the way: Border officials can turn away an entrant despite a valid ETIAS if they feel that he or she could pose a threat to internal security.
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Many tourists and business travellers have enjoyed the ease of travel to the Schengen area in recent years. They don't have to fill out a form, just pack their bags, pocket a valid passport and off they go. Many surely see 31 December 2022 coming with wistfulness. Presumably, by that date, it will no longer be possible. The article examines whether this is really a disadvantage for travellers.
Is visa liberalisation really an advantage?
Certainly, for the individual traveller who has to fill out an application before travelling, it is an additional expense in the stress of travelling. However, there is another side that also needs to be considered.
In recent years, there have been repeated attacks in European metropolises. It cannot be ruled out that terrorists from abroad enter unhindered. This should be prevented by ETIAS in the future.
After the experiences of 11 September 2001, the USA reacted to the threat with the ESTA visa. This allows tourists and business travellers from countries classified as safe to enter the country.
The situation is similar with ETIAS. After the application, the data is checked through various databases. If the system returns a hit, the application is examined more closely by an employee. Only if this person is also of the opinion that the traveller poses a danger, will the traveller be rejected.
ETIAS in no way abolishes visa liberalisation, but rather adds a security component to entry.
How much effort is actually required for the ETIAS application?
The effort is relatively low. The traveller probably only has to transfer the personal data and answer the security questions truthfully. Here, the tourist should take a little time, because information that does not match the passport will quickly lead to a rejection of the application. It is also best not to fill out the application immediately before the trip, but a few weeks before. This ensures that the ETIAS visa is issued on time.
At the border, processing is very quick. To ensure that there are no problems with the introduction of ETIAS at the external borders of the Schengen area, FRONTEX is being given significantly more staff.
By the way: Border officials can turn away an entrant despite a valid ETIAS if they feel that he or she could pose a threat to internal security.