Going To Europe In 2024? You’ll Need To Apply For ETIAS, Here’s What You’ll Need

The document is required if you’re travelling to European countries within the Schengen region.

Pic for illustration purpose only

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Malaysians need to obtain an online document known as ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) to enter any of the European Union or Schengen member countries for a short term of 90 days over a 180-day period for tourism, business, transit, and medical from next year, 2024.

Starting next year, all Malaysian nationals, even those simply passing through Europe on their way to another destination, will need to submit an ETIAS application before boarding an airplane, a ship, or a coach vehicle bound for Europe.

ETIAS is based on the eTA systems used by Canada and Australia as well as the ESTA system, which is a comparable visa waiver programme used by the United States. The ETIAS was first suggested in 2016. It was introduced into law in September 2018.

The ETIAS will conduct a pre-screening of “third countries” (citizens of nations whose citizens do not require a Schengen visa) tourists. The screening would focus on threats associated with migration or terrorism.

The requirements for this application are as follows:-

Personal Information – Full name, birth date, place of birth, sex, ethnicity, nationality, home address, email address, and phone number.
Names of the parents – If known, this would be the parents’ first and last names.
Information about your travel documents, such as your passport number, issue and expiration dates, issue nation and location, or issuing authority.
Work history – Information about your current or most recent employer.
Information about your education, including the college or university you are now attending.
Information about your education, including the college or university you are now attending.
EU destination: The nation in the EU where you plan to travel and the precise location of your lodging.
Information on your expunged convictions, any trips to trouble spots, and whether you’ve ever faced return judgments.
If the applicant is under 18, please include the name and contact information of the parent or legal guardian who oversees their well-being.
EU Family – Applicants must supply information about the person they are related to and the nature of their relationships if they are either a citizen of an EU country or an EFTA national with rights to free movement throughout the EU.

The ETIAS application must be submitted with your travel documentation, such as a current machine-readable or electronic passport. The documents must be valid for at least three months after the proposed day of exit from the EU and cannot be more than ten years old. You may be eligible for an exception if you are related to a citizen of the EU or an EFTA nation.

The fee for the applicate is 7 Euro (RM 35.53). The payments can only be made through a debit card or a credit card. The payment needs to be done upon applying for ETIAS, and the applicant will know if they are applicable or not from the system within 96 hours or less.

The notification will be sent through the applicant’s email, notifying the applicant of the status of the application. Besides, applicants below the age of 18 and above the age of 70 do not have to pay for the application.

Nevertheless, it is essential to note that while processing time for most applications is only a few minutes, this is not a guarantee. Within 96 hours, you will receive an email informing you of the status of your ETIAS application and outlining any further steps that may be necessary. Thus, it is advised to complete the application for ETIAS 96 hours or even earlier before their departure.

The ETIAS application is valid for three years and can be used for multiple visits as long as the 90-day rule is followed.

When ETIAS is implemented in 2024, citizens of the 60 nations that do not currently need any kind of visa to enter Europe will need permission to do so. Either an ETIAS or a Schengen visa will serve as that authorization. ETIAS versus Schengen must be chosen, not both.

Simply said, travelers to Europe with ETIAS do not require a Schengen Visa. Those who lack ETIAS or are not eligible for it must possess a Schengen Visa.

For more information, one can visit https://etias.com/etias-requirements/etias-for-malaysian-citizens (ETIAS).

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