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This is your one-stop source for everything you need to know about ETIAS, the new electronic travel system forinternationalvisitors to Europe’s Schengenzone.
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Yes, once ETIAS goes live and becomes mandatory in 2025, Canadian citizens will be required to apply for ETIAS approval. Visitors from visa-exempt countries will be using this new system for all travel to the Schengen Area taking place in the 2025 and later. There will be a 6-month grace period to allow both travelers and border officials to adjust to the new system, but it’s in your best interest to complete an application, even if you are traveling during the grace period. You should submit an application no less than 96 hours (8 days) before you intended date of departure. Once approved, your ETIAS will remain valid for 3 years following its date of issue (unless your passport expires), so you won’t need to worry about it expiring before your trip.
No, Canada will still remain on the European Union’s list of visa-exempt countries. However, there will be some changes to the travel process, as Canadian citizens traveling to the Schengen Area will need to complete an ETIAS application online and gain pre-approval before departing. This new system will be far simpler than the traditional visa system, and ETIAS will not function as or replace a standard visa because it is intended only for short-term tourist trips lasting no more than 90 days within a 180-day period. For all trips in 2025 or later, ETIAS approval will be mandatory for Canadian citizens visiting Spain or any other Schengen country. As a visa-exempt country, Canada will be one of 60 different countries affected by these new ETIAS policies and changes to the travel process.
In 2025, the new ETIAS visa waiver system will go live and, after a 6-month grace period, will become mandatory for all Canadian citizens wishing to enter the Schengen Area. The adjustment period will allow both travelers and border officials to get used to the new system, but you shouldn’t delay submitting an ETIAS application just because you will be traveling during the grace period. Completing an ETIAS application will be a relatively simple process, as travelers will only need access to the internet, a valid email address, a valid biometric passport (expiring no sooner than 3 months from their intended date of arrival), and sufficient funds to pay the ETIAS application fee. Once approved, your ETIAS will remain valid for up to 3 years from its date of issue (unless your passport expires), so you don’t need to worry about it expiring before your trip.
ETIAS will be mandatory for all travelers, regardless of age. Citizens from ETIAS-eligible countries (check our homepage for a complete list of these countries), including minors, will need ETIAS authorization to enter the Schengen Area in 2025 or later. However, only legal adults should complete ETIAS forms, so a minor’s form should be filled out by their parent or legal guardian.