ETIAS Notifications
Having completed the ETIAS online application form a notice of acceptance should be forthcoming within minutes of submitting an application. This should be the case for an estimated 95% of all applications but whether the application is successful, fails or is subject to clarification, the applicant should be notified within 96 hours. Depending on the status of the application, one of the following scenarios will apply.
ETIAS Application Approved
Once approved the applicant will receive an email from the ETIAS authorities which will contain the following information and reminders:
- Clear declaration of travel authorisation approval
- Record of ETIAS application number
- Commencement and expiration dates of ETIAS travel approval
- Clear reminder that the holder must present the travel document (usually a passport) designated in the application form. Changes or updates to the travel document specified will necessitate the submission of a new ETIAS application form
- A reminder of the terms and conditions applicable for admission to the ETIAS member country and a reminder that any stay is limited to a maximum of 90 days out of any 180 day period
- A warning that, while mandatory, ETIAS approval does not guarantee automatic entry to any country and supporting documentation may be required at European Union external borders
- Where applicable, details of the ETIAS member countries in which the holder has authorisation to travel
- A reminder that all terms and conditions of any stay in the country or countries being visited must be adhered to
The notification will include a secure link to the ETIAS website which will allow instant access to, and verification of, the status of the authorisation including dates of European entry and exit, remaining time on a stay or to satisfy European border authorities
Contact details will also be given for various responsible bodies should the holder have any problems or queries regarding the security of the data stored in the ETIAS Central Unit computers. These will include:
- The European Data Protection Supervisor
- The data protection officer of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex)
Depending on whether the travel authorisation has been issued by the ETIAS Central Unit (in the vast majority of cases) or by an ETIAS National Unit the email will also contain contact details for:
- The national supervisory authority in the first intended country to be visited, or
- The ETIAS member state that approved the travel authorisation
ETIAS Application Refused
In the event of an ETIAS application being refused, this will be clearly stated on the returned notification along with the reason, or reasons, for refusal. Much of the information contained in the refusal will be the same as that in an ETIAS acceptance notification with the exception of the following:
- Clear statement as to why the application failed
- Reference to, and address of, the ETIAS National Unit that denied the application
- Information regarding the right to appeal and time limit applicable
- Instructions on how to lodge an appeal
A refusal is not irreversible and it may merely be a matter of filling out a new application form. A previous refusal will not be held against the applicant and the new application will go through the ETIAS screening process as would any new application. Simple errors while completing the form may result in the application being processed manually rather than being accepted instantly at the ETIAS Central Unit. In such cases, the application may be refused immediately but it is more likely that the National Unit of the country in which the application was lodged will notify the applicant personally and seek clarification before issuing an acceptance or refusal.
ETIAS Annulment or Revocation
While ETIAS approval will be mandatory to enter any of the ETIAS member states, the right to admission lies with the border authorities of the country being visited. Border security officers have the power to revoke or annul a visitor’s travel authorisation on a number of grounds even after an ETIAS was previoulsy apprved. These include:
- Believing the holder poses a security or criminal risk
- Suspecting the ETIAS was acquired fraudulently
- Data contained in the application has changed
- An alert in the the ETIAS database matches the details of the traveller
- The traveller’s name appears on the ETIAS Watchlist
- The passport, or other travel documentation, has been reported as stolen
Border security forces will have instant access to the ETIAS Central Unit database to check that a visitor’s ETIAS and other documentation is in order and can deny access as well as revoke or annul the ETIAS if not satisfied with the results of their queries. As with an acceptance or denial, ETIAS will notify the holder if their authorisation to travel has been annulled or revoked and provide the necessary details regarding lodging an appeal.