Beginning 2021 You must register to travel to Europe

[Anniesantiago]

I'm not sure where to put this and whether it's been posted before.
Beginning 2021, USA and other country's citizens will need to register online to travel to Europe:

U.S. Citizens Will Need to Register and Pay a Fee to Travel to Europe—Here’s When and What to Know

Mark your calendars: The launch of the ETIAS travel authorization is currently slated for November 2023.

www.afar.com

 

[Donjek]

I'm not sure where to put this and whether it's been posted before.
Beginning 2021, USA and other country's citizens will need to register online to travel to Europe:

U.S. Citizens Will Need to Register and Pay a Fee to Travel to Europe—Here’s When and What to Know

Mark your calendars: The launch of the ETIAS travel authorization is currently slated for November 2023.

www.afar.com

That should get pinned.

 

[Kathar1na]

That should get pinned.

I beg to differ. I don't know why this "news" is doing the rounds again, there's no particular reason for it.

ETIAS is part of large-scale multi-annual multi-country IT projects. From the European Union agency that coordinates and manages them: ETIAS is due to become operational by the end of 2021. Full implementation is expected in the course of 2022.

We are still in 2019.

And even when ETIAS is fully implemented, it will be a bit of a "nothingburger": while you book your airplane ticket online, you will have to fill in a few boxes online and pay a modest sum of a few euros by credit card.

 

[trecile]

It has been posted before.

 

[trecile]

while you book your airplane ticket online, you will have to fill in a few additional boxes and pay a modest sum

Not while you are booking your ticket. Like the US ESTA or the Canadian eTA, you will fill out an online form with the correct governmental agency and be issued the Etias, which will be good for three years.
It should probably be done before booking tickets.
And as with the ESTA and eTA, there will probably be dozens of commercial websites popping up offering to get your Etias for you for a substantial fee. Always make sure that you deal directly with the official government site to avoid being ripped off.

 

[Kathar1na]

I would also like to caution against this line in the article linked above:

Through an online system on etiasvisa.com, a travel agency not affiliated with the European government, you should be able to book last-minute trips to Europe.​

​

The website invites you to register your email address so that you can be notified when the "ETIAS visa waiver will be available". There is no need to do this!

 

[Kathar1na]

Not while you are booking your ticket. Like the US ESTA or the Canadian eTa,

I'm sure you are right and I've modified my post. I don't remember the details, it has been a while since I did this for a trip to the USA. I vaguely remember that during the process of booking my airplane ticket I was notified that I had to be registered in ESTA or something like that. In any case, as far as the European ETIAS is concerned, it's futile as the system isn't up and running and will not be up and running for a long time.

 

[trecile]

The website invites you to register your email address so that you can be notified when the "ETIAS visa waiver will be available". There is no need to do this!

Yup, it looks like that site (and many others that you will find if you Google ETIAS) have been set up waiting for the day when they can charge rip off fees to do something for you that you can do yourself.

In any case, as far as the European ETIAS is concerned, it's futile as the system isn't up and running and will not be up and running for a long time.

Absolutely correct. No need to worry or do anything right now.

 

[Anniesantiago]

So I am talking about my 2021 Group in May/June and what I'm hearing you all say is I should just ignore this? And I"m sorry if it was posted before. Yikes.

 

[trecile]

So I am talking about my 2021 Group in May/June and what I'm hearing you all say is I should just ignore this? And I"m sorry if it was posted before. Yikes.

I would monitor it until it's official. The last thing I read was that it probably wouldn't be effect until the end of 2021 at the soonest.
I wouldn't bring it up with your group until it's officially in force.
@Kathar1na do you have the web address of the official EU site?

 

[Elizabeth2018]

I would monitor it until it's official. The last thing I read was that it probably wouldn't be effect until the end of 2021 at the soonest.
I wouldn't bring it up with your group until it's officially in force.
@Kathar1na do you have the web address of the official EU site?

ETIAS

ETIAS stands for European Travel Information and Authorization System. The ETIAS visa waiver will be available to all visa-exempt visitors.

www.etiasvisa.com

Here is the official site. There is a drop down menu with information for citizens of different countries affected.

 

[trecile]

ETIAS

ETIAS stands for European Travel Information and Authorization System. The ETIAS visa waiver will be available to all visa-exempt visitors.

www.etiasvisa.com

Here is the official site. There is a drop down menu with information for citizens of different countries affected.

Are you sure that's an official site? I thought that official EU sites had dot EU addresses, not dot com addresses. I can find a dozen sites with ETIAS in their names that look somewhat official.

 

[trecile]

Are you sure that's an official site? I thought that official EU sites had dot EU addresses, not dot com addresses. I can find a dozen sites with ETIAS in their names that look somewhat official.

Actually official EU sites have the domain europa.eu

 

[Elizabeth2018]

Don’t know. It is what I was directed to by a friend in the travel business. I assumed it was an official one...

 

[trecile]

And I believe this is the official site

Press corner

Highlights, press releases and speeches

ec.europa.eu

 

[Kathar1na]

do you have the web address of the official EU site?

The European Union agency is called eu-LISA, official name is "European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice". They manage several such IT systems, including ETIAS. This is where I got the info about their current timeframe: https://www.eulisa.europa.eu/Newsroom/News/Pages/ETIAS-Regulation-enters-into-force.aspx . But they are dealing mainly with the technical aspects.

It is the European Commission who provides information for the public. There will be more press releases etc when the time comes. They have already a pile of information on ETIAS, including the link you provided in your post or this little fact sheet.

When I google I enter this: Etias site:.europa.eu . This cuts out many useless sites and gives me only official websites of the European Union (mainly Commission, Parliament and Council). The newest info on ETIAS that I've found is a Commission press release from a few weeks ago where a Commissioner states: The Commission also calls on the European Parliament and the Council to reach swift agreement on all pending legislative proposals on security information systems, including the technical implementation of ETIAS and the strengthened Visa Information System.

When they call on Parliament and Council to reach swift agreements, it often means that they are considerably behind schedule because the EU countries can't agree among themselves about how to proceed or (more rarely) because of disagreement between the EU countries and the EU Parliament.

 

[wayfarer]

As with the previous thread please leave politics out of replies.
Please note that if someone breaks the rules inadvertently the posts will be deleted as they have above with the referred posts...but if someone breaks the rules knowingly points will be given.

 

[oursonpolaire]

There was a long long thread on this last March. It's best to rely, as others have noted, on the European Community site than on any travel agency.

 

[t2andreo]

I'm not sure where to put this and whether it's been posted before.
Beginning 2021, USA and other country's citizens will need to register online to travel to Europe:

U.S. Citizens Will Need to Register and Pay a Fee to Travel to Europe—Here’s When and What to Know

Mark your calendars: The launch of the ETIAS travel authorization is currently slated for November 2023.

www.afar.com

I recommend making it a resource under "Traveling TO THE CAMINO." I would also title the alert, "Non-EU Citizens Will Need Advance Online Permission to Travel Starting 2021."

It will grab attention that way. This is important as it applies to all other non-US persons as well.

Australia has had a near identical system for something like 20 or more years. The US has had one for EU nationals traveling to the US for at least 15 years. This is just reciprocity in a way,.

Viewed from the border enforcement position, they legitimately want to know who is planning to come, before they show up at an EU airport. It is far easier to say, don't sell this person a ticket, or do not not board them, or refer them to the nearest embassy or consulate to have a potential matter sorted, than it is to deal with someone fresh off a long flight.

It truly is no big deal. But if you fail to follow the new rules, you will not be able to travel to any EU / Schengen country, starting in 2021.

Every country gets to decide who can and cannot come into their country, and to set rules for that passage and entry. We, travelers and pilgrims, only need to comply.

Hope this helps.

 

[SYates]

I recommend making it a resource under "Traveling TO THE CAMINO." I would also title the alert, "Non-EU Citizens Will Need Advance Online Permission to Travel Starting 2021."

It will grab attention that way. This is important as it applies to all other non-US persons as well.

Australia has had a near identical system for something like 20 or more years. The US has had one for EU nationals traveling to the US for at least 15 years. This is just reciprocity in a way,.

Viewed from the border enforcement position, they legitimately want to know who is planning to come, before they show up at an EU airport. It is far easier to say, don't sell this person a ticket, or do not not board them, or refer them to the nearest embassy or consulate to have a potential matter sorted, than it is to deal with someone fresh off a long flight.

It truly is no big deal. But if you fail to follow the new rules, you will not be able to travel to any EU / Schengen country, starting in 2021.

Every country gets to decide who can and cannot come into their country, and to set rules for that passage and entry. We, travelers and pilgrims, only need to comply.

Hope this helps.

@t2andreo
The system isn't in place yet nor will it be in place until at least end of 2021. Plenty of time to worry then ;-)
BC SY

 

[t2andreo]

Okay, But I know I will be registered on the first day... one of OCD's side effects...

 

[Kathar1na]

Okay, But I know I will be registered on the first day... one of OCD's side effects...

That's ok but please everyone don't make other people nervous or over-excited about it . I just checked the law in question: even when the ETIAS system is operational, there will be a transitional period, namely for a period of six months from the date on which ETIAS starts operations, the use of ETIAS shall be optional and the requirement to be in possession of a valid travel authorisation shall not apply.

And that's not even the end of it because the Commission may extend that period for a maximum of a further six months, renewable once.

So it's in principle possible that it will be 2024 before ETIAS is obligatory ... ! (Chapter XVI, Final Provisions, Article 83 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1240).

 

[t2andreo]

I am reminded of being confronted at Spanish airline security in 2017 over an issue of EU rules applying to prohibited items...

On politely appealing to the supervisor of the initial employee / officer, and SHOWING a printout of the applicable EU rules, I was very politely, but condescendingly, told by the supervisor: "...but señor, this is Spain..." End of argument...

Okay, so don't anyone worry, all will unfold smoothly, without inconsistent application... just as it always does... Buen viaje...

 

[Trevor Ockenden]

This may have been posted already but it is the first time I have seen it so thank you for the heads up.

 

[Jay Es]

The U.S equivalent has never stopped Europeans going on holiday to America so I don't see this being an issue really.

 

[Canche]

I'm not sure where to put this and whether it's been posted before.
Beginning 2021, USA and other country's citizens will need to register online to travel to Europe:

U.S. Citizens Will Need to Register and Pay a Fee to Travel to Europe—Here’s When and What to Know

Mark your calendars: The launch of the ETIAS travel authorization is currently slated for November 2023.

www.afar.com

Thanks for the heads up

 

[Deleted member 29041]

The U.S equivalent has never stopped Europeans going on holiday to America so I don't see this being an issue really.

Not true, as I know of several cases where Danish citizens have been (falsely) rejected. Mostly persons that had a name similar to somebody on some obscure agency's watch list.