Starting from 2024, visitors from countries which do not need a visa to enter the Schengen Area will have to obtain a quick electronic entry authorization before they can travel to an EU or Schengen country.

This electronic entry authorization is known as ETIAS and can be quickly obtained online in a matter of minutes. It is not a visa requirement.

Who Needs ETIAS?

Citizens of the following countries need an ETIAS before they can travel to the Schengen Area and European Union:

• Albania
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina
• Australia
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Brazil
• Brunei
• Canada
• Chile
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Dominica
• El Salvador
• Georgia
• Grenada
• Guatemala
• Honduras
• Hong Kong S.A.R*
• Israel
• Japan
• Kiribati
• Macao S.A.R*
• Malaysia
• Marshall Islands
• Mauritius
• Mexico
• Micronesia
• Moldova
• Montenegro
• Nauru
• New Zealand
• Nicaragua
• North Macedonia
• Palau
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent
• Samoa
• Serbia
• Seychelles
• Singapore
• Solomon Islands
• South Korea
• Taiwan**
• Timor Leste
• Tonga
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Tuvalu
• Ukraine
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom
• United States of America
• Uruguay
• Venezuela

Until the launching of the system, more countries might be added to the list, but at the moment, all citizens of the above-mentioned countries will be obliged to obtain ETIAS authorization before entering any EU country.

* Special administrative regions of the People’s Republic of China.
** Entities and Territorial Authorities that are not recognised as states by at least one Member State.

I’m a British Citizen: Do I Need ETIAS?

Yes, now that Brexit is finalised, the UK is no longer a part of the EU. Even though British citizens can still enter visa-free in other EU countries, they must register for ETIAS when it’s made active.

ETIAS Exemptions

The following categories of individuals who enter the Schengen area are not eligible for ETIAS:

• Refugees or stateless persons who do not have the nationality of any of the Schengen Member States nor a travel document issued by any Member State.
• Foreign nationals who need uniform visas (Schengen visa).
• Foreign nationals who have a long-stay D visa for the Schengen area.
• Holders of a diplomatic passport who are exempt from the visa requirement due to an agreement between the Union and a third country.
• Foreign nationals who hold a border traffic permit issued by a Member State when exercising their right to move freely within the context of the Local Border Traffic rules.

You may also be exempt from an ETIAS if you have a family member of the EU and they meet certain criteria under Directive 2004/38/EC of EU laws.