Schengen zone: ETIAS system: Two new systems are coming into force in 2025 concerning entry into the Schengen zone of non-EU passport holders : ETIAS and EES.
ETIAS – European Travel Information and Authorisation System :
What is ETIAS ?
This system requires citizens from visa-exempt countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, to obtain travel authorisation before entering the Schengen Area.
At the present time is is not likely that ETIAS will become operational in the first half of 2025.
An ETIAS authorisation will be valid for short-term stays up to 90 days within a 180-day period. It will remain valid for three years or until the associated passport expires, whichever comes first.
The application process involves completing an online form and paying a fee of €7. (As soon as the webpage for making the application comes on-line I shall post the link).
Applicants under 18 or over 70 will be exempt from this fee.
For most applications approval should only take minutes. It is advisable to apply well in advance of their trip.
Who is exempt from making an application?
UK nationals and their family members who are beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement are exempt from ETIAS. They may reside on the territory of their EU host’s country and travel to other European countries requiring an ETIAS authorisation. FrenchVisas advises traveling with supporting document proving a relationship with the WA card holder.
The spouses and close family of EU passport holders are also exempt from requesting this authorisation. It is advisable to provide supporting documents of their relationship with the EU passport holder.
| Who is considered a family member under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement and EU law? A spouse, including a spouse of the same sex, a registered partner, if the applicable legislation treats registered partnerships as equivalent to marriage (It is not clear which country’s law is being referred to here) direct descendants under the age of 21 or dependents, as well as those of the spouse or registered partner, dependent direct relatives in the ascending line, as well as those of the spouse or registered partner. |
Applicants with family-member status do not have to pay the EUR 7 application fee. Their application will also not be subject to screening rules on illegal immigration.
A holder of a national long-stay visa is also exempt from requesting this authorisation.
The non-EU spouse of a French national who is visiting their spouse in France DOES need to make an application for the ETIAS application. Their entry into France and immigration status fall under French law and not EU law when they enter France. They do not benefit from the EU Freedom of Movement directive.
The EES system
The EES system will register visa-free and visa-required travelers entering Europe for a short stay. Travelers do not need to take any action prior to their trip, as registration occurs at the external border of any of the 29 European countries using the system. Registration on the EES will occur every time travelers cross external borders and will replace the manual stamping of passports.
Sarah MacGILCHRIST 22/02/2025
Who should apply – European Union
Need to know more about the Shengen 90 Day Rule? Read our blog article: The 90 Day Allowance: What you need to know.
