EU announces launch of visa waiver scheme, ETIAS

The EU has announced the launch of its visa waiver scheme, ETIAS, which is set to begin in May 2023.

The EU has announced the launch of its visa waiver scheme, which is set to begin in May 2023.

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is all done online and requires no biometric information, but charges applicants aged between 18 and 70 a fee of €7 ($A11) per form. It is unknown if others outside that age group will have a reduced fee.

According to an update issued by the EU this week, the application process will be via a “largely automated IT system”, with approval “granted within minutes” for roughly 95 per cent of applicants.

The EU said the maximum time for approval could be up to a month “in very exceptional cases”, while anyone who has been denied can appeal their application.

A successful ETIAS authorisation is valid for an unlimited number of visits over a three year span provided holders abide by current immigration laws.

At the time of writing, visitors cannot stay more than 90 days in any country in the bloc for every 180-day period.

The move affects around 60 countries including Australia, the US and the UK, after the nation left the EU.

Travellers within the EU are exempt and have freedom of movement.

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The EU has announced the launch of its visa waiver scheme, ETIAS, which is set to begin in May 2023.

The EU said the maximum time for approval could be up to a month ‘in very exceptional cases’, while anyone who has been denied can appeal their application.

The development came as Qantas launched its first direct flights from Australia to Italy, making it the only airline to operate a direct service between Australia and continental Europe.

The inaugural flight from Perth and Rome took off on Saturday, with Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce telling news.com.au that direct flights are the way of the future.

“We’re seeing an increasing preference for a non-stop flight to and from Australia to make the travel experience as efficient and easy as possible and we expect that will be a permanent shift in the way people want to travel,” he said.

Speaking about the new route, Mr Joyce said: “Qantas began services from Sydney to Rome in 1948 as part of our seven-stop Kangaroo Route to London, and from the early 1990s we flew our Queen-of-the-skies Boeing 747 twice a week until 2003 when direct services were suspended during the SARS pandemic.

“Almost 20 years later, we are excited our flight path once again leads to Rome proving it really is the Eternal City.”

Travellers can expect more fees before entering Europe.

The EU has also made moves with Australia to streamline a vaccine passport for travel overseas.

Currently, Australians travelling to parts of Europe need to verify their vaccination status with some authorities such as restaurants and museums, however, there’s been some instances where the government’s document is not recognised by service providers abroad.

As a result, tourists have been met with disruptions to plans given their only document to prove their vaccination – being the Australian Covid-19 Digital Certificate – isn’t recognised, barring them from entry to such venues.

But according to The Sydney Morning Herald, Health Minister Mark Butler will meet with his G20 counterparts today to discuss possible ways to “reduce the impediments for travellers as they cross borders”.

According to the publication, G20 countries such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, the United States and the European Union, will work together on a pilot program which will essentially mean a process that recognises each country’s vaccine documentation will be implemented.

Australian Federation of Travel Agents chief executive Dean Long said if the world wants to get back to any form of ‘travel normal’, a universal vaccination certificate recognition needs to be put in place.

“MasterCard, American Express, and Diners Club all have internationally recognised payment systems and it doesn’t matter where you are, they all work the same,” he said.

“We need governments to get something like that around the world [for vaccination certificates].”