Linea Directa 200 LEFT COL CAR INSURANCE

PROPERTY SEARCH

DomusVi Ciudad de Murcia residential cross content 1200

Date Published: 16/02/2024

When will I need a special ETIAS permit to get into Spain and how can I get one?

The EU has plans to introduce a visa waiver system for travel to the Schengen zone next year

As a measure to control migration in and out of the Schengen Area, the European Union is planning to introduce a new visa waiver procedure called the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).

The aim is to have more information about who is inside EU borders at any given time, and who may be contravening the current rules that mean that Brits and people of other nationalities who don’t need visas to enter EU countries such as Spain cannot spend more than 90 days out of every 180-day period (solely for business or pleasure).

ETIAS is set to be a 100% electronic system similar to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) used in the USA which allows border authorities to keep track of people coming from countries who do not need a visa to enter, which includes UK nationals. Applications for the ETIAS must be made online and will only be granted if applicants meet the ETIAS requirements.

It is not a visa, and it does not authorise you to spend longer in the EU than 90 days.

When will ETIAS come into force?

The current date the EU has given for the implementation of the ETIAS is for May 2025.

Is ETIAS required for transit passengers?

Travellers transiting through the Schengen Area on a connecting flight elsewhere do not need to get an ETIAS as long as they stay within the international transit area of the airport.

Can I study in Europe with ETIAS?

You can study short-study programmes like language courses and professional training courses in Europe with ETIAS for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. ETIAS cannot be used for long-term studies in Europe like university degrees. For that, students need to get a study visa.

Do I need an ETIAS if I am a resident in Spain or the EU?

One common question is whether this ETIAS visa waiver scheme will apply to those Brits and people of other nationalities which need an ETIAS to travel but who live permanently in a Schengen country, such as Spain.

The answer is no. British citizens resident in Spain or other EU countries do not need to apply for an ETIAS. This is because the ETIAS aims to control short-term stays within the EU, and so does not apply to people who already have permission to remain in the EU in the long term. Anyone with a residence permit, residence card or other document issued by an EU ETIAS country authorising them to stay there does not need an ETIAS travel permit.

Full list of countries you need an ETIAS for

Below is a list of countries within the Schengen Area that will require an ETIAS, and those nationalities who must apply for one, as well as the requirements you must meet in order to be granted an ETIAS.

Nationalities that need to get an ETIAS:

Albania
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Australia
Bahamas
Barbados
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brazil
Brunei
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Dominica
El Salvador
Georgia
Grenada
Guatemala
Honduras
Hong Kong
Israel
Japan
Kiribati
Kosovo
Macao
North Macedonia
Malaysia
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Montenegro
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Palau
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent
Samoa
Serbia
Seychelles
Singapore
Solomon Islands
South Korea
Taiwan
Timor Leste
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tuvalu
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States of America
Uruguay
Vanuatu
Venezuela

Countries you need an ETIAS to get into:

Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Monaco
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
San Marino
Slovenia
Slovakia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Vatican City

ETIAS requirements

Applicants for an ETIAS must meet the following requirements:

Passport with a minimum validity of 3 months from the date of departure from the European ETIAS countries
Debit or credit card to pay the ETIAS application fee
Current email address where the approved ETIAS will be delivered
Valid passport

You just need to give your personal information and contact details, as well as level of education and current employment details, your parents’ first names and which EU member state you will be entering to first.

You will also be asked a series of background and security questions, and any family members who benefit from free movement without residence cards will be asked the following to provide their ID documents and details of the family relationship with you as the applicant.

If you meet all these requirements, the ETIAS online application should only take around 20 minutes to complete. You also have to pay the fee, which is around 7 euros for applicants between the ages of 18 and 70; under-18s and over-70s still have to apply for an ETIAS but do not have to pay.

Once approved, the ETIAS should be valid for around three years or until the end of your passport or travel document expires, whichever comes first.

Image: ETIASVisa.com

Linea Directa Bottom Article M-Z CAR INSURANCE

Sign up for the Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin and get an email with all the week’s news straight to your inbox

Special offer: Subscribe now for 25% off (36.95 euros for 48 Bulletins)