If you plan to travel to Italy this year for vacation, visit friends and family, or attend a business meeting, you will need Etias Italy. The immigration policy of the Schengen zone is about to change slightly as visitors from visa-exempt countries now require authorization to enter the zone. Keep reading to know when these changes will take place and what is required.
ETIAS Italy & The Schengen Region
Italy is a South European country bordering the Mediterranean Sea to the South. The country is home to more than 61 million inhabitants per the last census and has a land area of 301,340 km2. Italy remains one of the most popular travel destinations for international travelers, with an estimated 50 million people visiting every year.
Due to its illustrious past as the center of the Roman Empire that ruled large parts of the known world at the time, there are still relics of its ancient past with museums, art galleries, and cathedrals. Spending time in Italy as a tourist will be worthwhile as there is so much to see. It will also interest you to know that some of the world's most beautiful and advanced cities are in Italy, such as Turin to the South, Milan, Naples to the South, Rome, the capital, and also the magnificent city of Florence.
Italy is also the home of two independent states; the Papal Vatican State and San Marino.
ETIAS Italy
ETIAS is the European Travel Information and Authorization System, a security and tracking program introduced by the European Union. This program will become active in 2023, and all visitors coming from visa-exempt countries will need to get ETIAS approval before entering the country. Currently, there are more than 60 countries whose citizens do not require visas to enter the Schengen area.
In the past, all they needed was to land at the airport or arrive at a border post and present their passport to immigration officers; all this is set to change with the launch of ETIAS Italy. Although they won’t need a visa to enter the Schengen zone, they will need to secure this approval before leaving their home countries or countries of residence for Italy or any other country in the Schengen zone.
ETIAS is an automated system created to identify and track individuals who may pose a security risk to member states in the Schengen zone. Travelers that have not passed through ETIAS screening will not be allowed into the area. The initiative was unveiled in Jean Claude Junker’s Address of 2016 when he emphasized the need for an automated system to vet visitors coming to Europe.
Who Needs ETIAS Italy?
ETIAS will be mandatory for travelers coming from Visa exempt countries who wish to enter Italy or any of the other Schengen countries. The check will also be extended to visitors coming to countries on the verge of joining the Schengen Area. To obtain this approval or visa waiver, the traveler must complete and submit the ETIAS form online.
Those who are not from visa free countries will have to apply for a Schengen visa instead through the Italian embassy or consulate in their home countries. After submitting their information, the system will gather their information and check them against a security database that scores different platforms like VIS, EURODAC, and Interpol.
If the application triggers an alarm, the data will be sent to a security team for manual review, and the applicant will receive a notification informing them of the state of their application. If the application is denied, the applicant has a right to appeal and provide extra documentation but will be charged a fee for arbitration.
General Requirements For ETIAS Application
All applicants must provide the following information to validate their application.
A valid passport with a minimum of three months counting from the departure date from Italy
Proof of sufficient funds to support their expenses
International medical insurance
Invitation letter, where applicable
Proof of Accommodation
Round trip ticket
How To Apply For ETIAS Italy
You don’t need to visit the Italian embassy or consulate in your home country since the application for ETIAS is done online. Simply visit VisaHQ and submit your information as follows
Log onto VisaHQ
Select your citizenship
Select Italy as your destination
Choose ETIAS
Fill out the form correctly
Pay the application fee
Submit for processing
The process takes only a few minutes, and the ETIAS waiver will be sent to your email address if you are eligible. Kindly note that ETIAS Italy is not a visa but an electronic permit valid for 180 days and allows you to stay in Italy for up to 90 days.