“Attention Canadian Travelers: Europe Trip Permits Face Delays!”

Canadians intending to travel to Europe currently don’t need to stress about obtaining a travel permit – for the moment – since the introduction of a new entry requirement for nationals who don’t need a visa has been postponed.

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) was scheduled to initiate last year, mandating Canadian passport holders and others traveling to these 30 European nations for brief visits to obtain the permit.

To facilitate the ETIAS implementation, the European Commission is planning to establish an automated IT framework, known as the Entry-Exit System (EES), aimed at registering non-EU nationals who travel for short stays in 30 EU member countries and Schengen associated nations.

A spokesperson for the European Commission informed Global News on Monday that the commission, together with EU member countries and eu-LISA, the IT agency of the European Union, have “made considerable efforts” to launch the EES before the conclusion of 2024.

“Nevertheless, the deployment of a large-scale IT system like EES is a complicated task, and delays cannot be completely ruled out,” the spokesperson noted in an email response.

The commission has also not received “the necessary readiness declarations from all member states, which is a legal prerequisite for commencing the operation of the system,” the spokesperson further elaborated.

A recommendation was presented by the commission last month for a “gradual commencement of operations” of the EES, but it has yet to be accepted.

“Once the proposal is approved and takes effect, the commission will determine the date for the gradual commencement of the EES, following the receipt of all readiness declarations from Member States,” the spokesperson stated.

“At the latest, six months after the gradual launch, the EES will need to function at its full capacity.”

The ETIAS deployment is anticipated six months following the operational commencement of the EES, according to the spokesperson.

At present, Canadian nationals can enter Europe without any travel authorization or visa and stay for a maximum of three months.

However, should their stay surpass 90 days, a visa will be necessary.

Upon its launch, the ETIAS travel authorization – which is not classified as a visa – will be necessary for Canadian passport holders intending to reside in the 30 EU member nations and Schengen associated territories for a duration of up to 90 days within any 180-day timeframe.

To acquire this permit, Canadian travelers will need to complete a form containing their personal details, travel document information, educational background, current employment, intentions regarding their stay, and any past criminal convictions.

The cost to apply for ETIAS is $10.

Minors below the age of 18 and seniors over 70 are exempt from this fee. Relatives of EU citizens or non-EU nationals who can move freely within the European Union are also not subjected to this charge.

The new scheme, which was approved by the European Council in 2018, will impact around 1.4 billion travelers from more than 60 nations that are not required to obtain a visa to enter Europe.

The ETIAS travel authorization will remain valid for up to three years or until the passport expires – whichever occurs first.

“ETIAS will further enhance Europe’s internal safety by conducting pre-travel checks on visa-free travelers to assess whether they pose a security risk, illegal immigration threat, or public health concern,” Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, states on its website.

Since its endorsement, the implementation of the ETIAS has been postponed several times.

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