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 some time between October and December 2026.
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 €20 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
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