The European Union has recently revised the introduction of ETIAS. It will now be launched in 2024, which is push-back from the previously planned 2020, 2022, and 2023 launches. ETIAS stands for EU Travel Information & Authorization System. Travelers visiting Europe from 2024 onwards will be required to obtain an approved ETIAS online prior to their departure. With over 37 million visitors to Europe each year, the introduction of ETIAS is expected to have a significant impact on traveler plans from all over the world,” reads information published on European Travel Information and Authorization System website.
For citizens from countries with visa-free access to the European Union, the new electronic system was to have been operational from November 2023.
As information published on the ETIAS website notes, passengers will be required to complete an online application form that covers a range of biometric, travel, and security-related questions. The ETIAS application will then be electronically processed within 96 hours, and the authorization delivered by email.
Passenger data will be checked against a variety of European and International databases, including no-fly lists, to identify potential terrorist and criminal threats, who will then be refused entry via the ETIAS program. It is expected that most applications will be processed within 1 hour if no further checks are required.
The new system will affect more than 60 states, including citizens of Georgia who could enter the Schengen Area without a visa.
