This authorization would make it easier for European authorities to identify potential threats.
ETIAS refers to the new Travel Information and Authorization System (for its acronym in English), designed by the European Union , with the aim of prematurely identifying possible threats within the territory, since the information that the traveler provides when filling out ETIAS it is contrasted with the databases of Interpol and Europol.
This electronic document is intended for citizens of countries that are currently visa-exempt to visit countries in the Schengen zone , that is, it is a requirement to enter Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Slovenia, Spain, Estonia, Finland , France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Sweden and Switzerland.
But who should apply for ETIAS ?
In total, there are 60 countries whose citizens must have this requirement, among which are South American countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.
According to the new regulations, “by the end of 2022 all visa-exempt foreign visitors will have the obligation to process the ETIAS authorization,” a requirement that applies to tourism or business trips , which can last up to 90 days.
This authorization will be mandatory because it seeks to prevent illegal immigration and improve security . This is thanks to the fact that the level of risk that a traveler may pose is analyzed, in order to accept or deny their entry into the Schengen zone.
How to process ETIAS in Colombia ?
Currently, Colombians traveling to some European territories only require a passport, however, the European Union expects that this document will begin to be required from the second half of 2022 (July).
It should be noted that ETIAS is valid for 3 years from the date of approval, but since the document is directly related to the passport , in the event that it expires before the aforementioned period, the electronic travel authorization will be canceled.
To access this visa waiver, whoever is going to request it must have a valid biometric passport, an email account and a debit or credit card at hand to pay the value of the document.
Once with the aforementioned information, you must enter the online form , in which they will ask you questions about security and your background, for example, if you have visited Europe before, if you have been denied entry in the past, etc.
“Registering online is easy, as long as the information provided is accurate. Once approved, the European visa exemption for Colombian citizens is sent to the email address, provided in the registry, “reads the official portal.
Process that must be carried out in advance of your trip, since the approval of this The document will depend on whether or not you can travel.For now, as the program has not started, the page to process the authorization is not yet available , but you can access the official page to learn more about ETIAS.