An electronic travel authorisation is an online pre-clearance for visa-free travellers that has to be in place before departure.
An electronic travel authorisation is an online pre-clearance for visa-free travellers that has to be in place before departure.
Also called: ETIAS, ESTA.
How it works#
The authorisation is tied to the passport and lasts several years or until the passport expires, but it replaces no visa and guarantees no entry: border officers decide on arrival. Applications go through the official site only; commercial intermediaries charge a markup for the identical service. Validity rules differ by destination.
Not to be confused with#
An electronic travel authorisation is not the same as a visa: a visa is examined and granted, an authorisation is an automated pre-clearance for nationals who need no visa.
In German#
The German term is Elektronische Einreisegenehmigung. German version of this term
Related terms#
- Schengen 90/180 rule: The Schengen 90/180 rule limits visa-free stays to 90 days within any rolling 180-day period across the entire Schengen area.
- Passport validity rule: A passport validity rule is the requirement of many countries that a passport remain valid for a minimum period beyond departure, often six months.
- Transit visa: A transit visa is permission to pass through a country while connecting, even when no stay there is planned.
Articles that use this term#
TopicEvery article and term onRights and disruption.