When ETIAS goes live in 2025 it will be mandatory for all qualifying people, including UK citizens, to submit an ETIAS application Germany. An approved ETIAS will be necessary for all travellers entering Germany or anywhere else within the Schengen zone.
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Welcome to Europe
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System, also referred to as ETIAS, was introduced in 2016 by the European Union. It will go live in 2025 at which time it will become mandatory for all qualifying people to have an approved ETIAS before travelling anywhere within the Schengen area. To qualify, a person must be a passport holder of a county that has a visa exemption agreement with the EU, such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and many others. EU passport holders will not need ETIAS, and it will not be available to those who require a Schengen visa. ETIAS is an electronic system that resembles the US ESTA system or the Canadian eTA system, in that it keeps track of travellers in and out of a region and streamlines the travel procedure. From 2025 –the exact date is yet to be confirmed – ETIAS approval will be required of all eligible travellers before they are allowed the Schengen zone, which includes Germany. The data collected during the ETIAS application procedure will be analysed and compared to databases such as Europol, Interpol and the Schengen Information System (SIS), to establish that the given information is accurate and that the applicant is not a security threat. ETIAS is a simple online application that should take no more than 20 minutes to complete (it will ‘time out’ after this time). It will be applicable to every citizen of any country that has visa-free status with the EU, which includes the UK.
Once ETIAS is approved to an individual, it will be valid for three years or until the linked passport expires. Within the time that it is valid, the ETIAS holder may enter the Schengen zone an unlimited number of times, as long as they do not stay for longer than 90 days within any 180-day period. ETIAS checks will be stringent – transport companies and border control authorities will be tasked with verifying ETIAS approval before allowing any eligible visitors into the destination country. There are many reasons for the introduction of ETIAS Germany visa waiver, the chief of which is security. With the increase in terrorist incidents in Europe in recent decades, the need to tighten border control and increase security became more pressing than ever. At the same time, a significant increase in the number of visitors to Europe meant that tracking them with modern technology seemed to be the next logical step in protecting the safety of visitors and residents of the Schengen region. Other aims of ETIAS requirements are to streamline the travel process by reducing border wait times, more easily detecting irregularities such as illegal immigration and human trafficking, and providing an additional source of revenue for the EU budget, among other things.
The EU introduced ETIAS in 2016 for several reasons, the main one being the issue of security. With the growing threat of terrorism and rising number of terrorist incidences in Europe in recent years, it has become clear that border security should be strengthened as a matter of top priority. The ETIAS system will serve to enhance border control and security for visitors and residents while also streamlining the travel process.
ETIAS will apply to all passport holders of countries including the UK that do not require visas to enter the Schengen zone, and will therefore significantly affect the travel preparation process for UK citizens.
Here, you will find all the necessary information about ETIAS before you set off on your travel UK to Germany. We will tell you exactly who needs to apply, when and how to apply, and the details of the application process including what the applicant will need before starting their application. The ETIAS system is not yet live, and although we know it will be operational in 2025, the date is yet to be confirmed. Also, some other information is still likely to change or be repeatedly updated over time. We are dedicated to remaining a trusted source of information on ETIAS and updating our website as and when changes occur.
The ETIAS visa waiver program is entirely computerised and requires minimal effort. An online application form must be completed by the eligible passenger, which should take only a few minutes and will cost a small fee. As long as the submitted information is deemed satisfactory, approval is likely to be given within 24 hours. However, before starting the application, it is advised that the applicant ensures they have a reliable internet connection, appropriate documentation in the form of a valid biometric passport, and a functional payment card with sufficient funds to pay the application fee. Applicants under the age of 18 and over the age of 70 will not be charged a fee, but they will require ETIAS.
Occasionally, applicants may be asked to submit more information or attend an in-person interview. This may be the case if the information submitted is deemed suspicious or insufficient. An application may on occasion eventually be denied, however the applicant will likely have the opportunity to appeal the decision – ultimately that will depend on the reason that the ETIAS was denied to begin with. You can check our ETIAS FAQ page for more info.
Everyone who applies for ETIAS must have a valid biometric passport and provide information about it, such as the date of issue, expiration date, document number and country. Biometric passports have been the norm in the United Kingdom since 2010, thus it should not be a problem for most people. Third parties may apply on behalf of an individual, however this must be specified when the application is submitted. Third parties must also provide their name and contact information and, if appropriate, their relationship to the applicant.
Anyone applying for ETIAS will be required to enter certain information, which will include the following:
By far the majority of ETIAS applications will receive a positive response within 24 hours of submission. It will be unusual for an ETIAS application to be rejected, however it could happen in the event that the applicant provides false or misleading information in their application, misses an interview, provides an invalid, lost or stolen passport, or is flagged as having an existing SIS alert on their name.
Certain other factors will exclude an individual from gaining ETIAS approval based on information stored in the ETIAS Central Unit database. This will include information that indicates that an individual has a serious criminal conviction, is suspected to be involved with terrorist groups, is a suspected illegal immigrant or has certain infectious or contagious diseases (a detailed list of which is yet to be released).
When ETIAS is refused to an individual, that person can appeal the decision. In response, the applicant will be told the reason that their application was rejected. If they dispute the reason given, they may be given a chance to re-apply, and in this scenario, the application would be treated as an entirely new submission.
