Canadian travelers planning upcoming trips to Europe should get ready for stricter border measures. The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will come into play incredibly soon. This new system will go live in late 2024. The goal is to enhance national security and make entry smoother and faster for travelers from countries without visa requirements, such as Canada.
In order to travel with the ETIAS, travellers will need to apply for a travel authorization in advance. For a price of 20 euros they can ensure this quite easily through an online portal. This permission is linked directly to the traveler’s passport. It remains effective for up to three years or until the passport expires, whichever occurs first.
ETIAS will provide European border officials with advance information about who is coming to their countries. This data will be on-hand well before travelers step foot on their first flight. This kind of proactive measure will help secure the border while better managing it. While most applications for ETIAS will be processed within minutes, others could take longer based on individual circumstances.
Besides ETIAS, the Entry/Exit System (EES) will continue to be implemented with this measure as well. The EES will dramatically change the experience with border management in 29 EU countries. It will electronically register non-European nationals’ entries, exits and refusals of entry. That is because this system only extends to visitors traveling on short-stay visas. It includes visitors from countries whose nationals do not require a visa for visits of up to 90 days per 180-day period.
European authorities have acknowledged the critical need for a standardized tracking database. This system will help them better track who is coming to and going from their countries. Yet the adoption of these new proposed measures comes at a time when irregular migration into Europe is decreasing. This trend underscores just how effective smart enhanced border management strategies can be.
Uku Sarekanno touched on improvement in risk management. He stressed the need to proactively address any new security risks associated with uptick in travel.
The ETIAS and EES systems are two separate, albeit complimentary, initiatives aimed at solving different problems. Whereas ETIAS is all about pre-travel authorization, the EES is all about tracking travel habits and entries.
Public officials are hopeful that these new measures will turn things around. They argue that these amendments will help develop a more efficient and seamless traveler experience at the border between European nations. By automating repetitive or duplicative processes, they’re looking to create more time and bandwidth for border officers to focus on other crucial tasks.
It all takes time, according to an anonymous source close to the situation. They argued that moving to these advanced systems will require thoughtful planning and implementation.
The ETIAS requirement will officially go into effect on April 10, 2025. Canadian travellers need to be aware of these changes before heading off on their European adventures.
