Based on misunderstandings in the media, the EU says that ETIAS is not a new visa for Albania, but it is an authorization that citizens must be provided with before traveling to the union countries.

This system is automated and is in the development stage. According to the EU announcement, it is expected to start functioning at the end of 2022.

ETIA does not require travelers to show up at the consulate and apply for a visa, and no biometric data is obtained.

What is ETIAS?

ETIAS is an automated IT system currently under development and not yet in use. It is expected to start operating at the end of 2022. Citizens from 62 countries, including Albania, the US, Canada or Australia, will need to use ETIAS.

All Albanian citizens enjoy the right to apply for ETIAS because Albania is and will continue to be a visa-free country for the EU.

Is the ETIAS travel authorization a new visa?

ETIAS authorization is not a visa. Citizens of countries with visa liberalization, such as Albania, will continue to travel visa-free to the EU, but will simply be required to obtain an authorization through ETIAS prior to their trip.

The ETIAS travel authorization does not reinstate visa requirements. There is no need to go to a consulate to make an application and no biometric data is obtained.

The online ETIAS application is completed within just a few minutes. The only document you will need to apply to ETIAS is a valid passport. The cost to obtain an ETIAS is € 7 per person, while persons under the age of 18 are exempt from paying this fee.

Once approved, the ETIAS authorization is valid for three years, for an unlimited number of entries in all Schengen area countries, unless it lasts more than 90 days in a period of 180 days.

What are the objectives of ETIAS

For the EU, the main objective is to strengthen security controls for visa-free travelers in the Schengen area, in order to strengthen the fight against organized crime and prevent irregular migration.

They will also improve border management by simplifying bureaucracy and delays for travelers when arriving at the border. The aim is to ensure a coordinated assessment of the risks posed by certain third-country nationals in the Schengen countries. This system is expected to significantly reduce the number of refusals to enter border crossing points.

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