Border security: screening travellers before they arrive in the EU
Before setting foot in Europe, travellers from visa-exempt countries will go through a new layer of security screening designed to keep the EU safer.
Travellers from 59 non-EU countries who don't need a visa will be screened before they arrive in the EU using the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias).
What is Etias?
Etias is an online system designed to enhance security and manage travel to the 27 EU countries, as well as Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
The idea behind the screening is to detect criminals, terrorists or anyone else posing a risk before they arrive in Europe. The system will check travellers' information against various security databases to identify potential risks.
Current situation
There is a lack of information related to people from countries that don't require a visa when they travel to the EU. At the moment, these travellers are checked at the Schengen border where they arrive. The decision to allow or deny entry is made by border guards without knowing if the person is considered to be a risk. It is especially difficult when people arrive by land as the only info then is their travel document.
As Europe’s openness should not come at the cost of its security, Etias has been developed to identify possible security concerns.
Similar models already exist in countries such as the US, Canada and Australia.
What will change?
Before travelling, people coming from countries that don't need a visa to visit the EU will have to fill in an electronic form with travel documentation and personal data, such as name, date and place of birth, gender and nationality.
There will also be background questions about issues such as previous criminal records and their presence in conflict zones.
This will allow authorities to asses if someone could pose a risk well before they arrive at the Schengen border. If they do, they could be refused entry.
Quick, cheap and effective
Authorisation will be valid for up to three years and travellers will be allowed to stay within the Schengen area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Travellers will be asked to pay a fee of €7, and it will be free for those under 18 and over 70. It is expected that the vast majority of applicants will get authorisation almost immediately.
However, the authorisation alone does not guarantee entry. Travellers from visa-exempt countries will still be required to show their passport and other documents to border guards to verify that they meet the entry conditions. The final decision about EU entry remains with the national border guard.
What happens if there is a risk?
Applications will be processed automatically. If there is a hit with any of the EU security databases or a positive reply to the questions, the data will be manually checked and risks assessed individually. The decision has to be taken within four weeks. Refusals must be justified and the applicant has the right to appeal.
Next steps
The laws governing the Etias system have been in force since October 2018. Etias is expected to become operational towards the end of 2026, following the launch of the Entry/Exit System - a digitialised system for registering travellers which replaces passport stamps - in October 2025.
