Applying for ETIAS: No Health Information or Biometrics Are Required

Once ETIAS is launched, visa-exempt travellers will need to apply online for a travel authorisation to enter most European countries. As the launch has approached, a good deal of misinformation has spread about the kind of data applicants must hand over. The reality is more reassuring than the rumours, so here is an accurate picture of what is — and is not — involved.

Photo by Arnaud STECKLE on Unsplash

What information you will provide

The ETIAS application form asks travellers for straightforward personal information, such as name, address, passport details and current occupation. It also includes questions about any past travel to conflict zones or criminal convictions, and asks you to indicate your travel plans in Europe.

Some travellers will answer a few extra questions. Those who declare a family member who is a citizen of a European country requiring ETIAS will be asked for further details about those family ties. And if a third person submits the application on your behalf, they will also have to provide their name, contact details and information about their relationship to you.

What will not be requested

This is where much of the confusion lies. When applying for an ETIAS, travellers will not be required to provide any information related to their health or vaccination status. Equally, no biometric data — such as fingerprints — is collected during the ETIAS application. If you see a service asking for those, treat it as a warning sign.

Photo by Soekarno Omar on Unsplash

How the application works

Travellers will be able to apply through the official ETIAS website or the ETIAS mobile app once it is available. The fee is EUR 20, unless you fall under one of the exemptions. After submission, the application is automatically cross-checked against other European databases, including the Schengen Information System (SIS), the Visa Information System (VIS) and the Entry/Exit System (EES).

For most people, this automatic processing takes no more than a few minutes, with the reply sent by email. In the rare cases where extra information is needed to decide an application, a decision can take up to 30 days, which is why it is sensible to apply well in advance rather than at the last minute. When you are ready, our guide to the ETIAS application walks through the steps in plain terms.