ETIAS may be required to enter Spain in 2025
The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will launch in May 2025. This means that travelers from more than 60 countries, including Ukraine, the USA, and the UK, will have to obtain a special permit to enter Spain and other EU countries, as well as pay a fee. The introduction of ETIAS has been talked about for more than two years, but this time the EU authorities have decided on the final launch date for the system.
So, what is ETIAS and what should tourists know about it? The decision to introduce it was made due to the worsening problems associated with terrorism and the migration crisis. To make travel within the Schengen area safer, the European Commission has proposed the creation of an electronic travel information and authorization system. It empowers border authorities to track people arriving from countries that have a visa-free agreement with the EU. Once the system is launched, anyone who decides to visit the 27 Schengen countries, as well as Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Romania, will be required to apply for a travel permit.
The ETIAS authorization is linked to the traveler’s passport and is valid for 3 years. It gives the right to enter the territory of EU states at any time and stay there for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. But please note that ETIAS is not a visa and does not guarantee that you will be allowed into the country. The final decision will be made by border guards after checking your documents.
Is it difficult to obtain an ETIAS and what is required? It is planned that the procedure for obtaining a permit will take no more than 20 minutes. On the official website of the European Union, you will need to fill out a form, indicating your full name, information about citizenship, education, health status, criminal record, family composition, enter your contact information, and the name of the country you are going to enter. You will then need to pay a fee. It is expected that ETIAS will cost €7 per adult over 18 years of age. There is no need to pay anything for children. Immediately after the transaction is completed, application processing will begin and the traveler will receive the ETIAS approval via email.
Foreigners who permanently reside in Spain will not need to apply for an ETIAS. The system is aimed at controlling short-term stays in the country and does not apply to those who already have a residence permit, TIE card, or other document allowing them to stay in the country for a long time.
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