The European Commission has postponed the launch of the ETIAS visa waiver scheme, under which all non-EU passport holders need pre-travel authorization to enter the bloc. It will now be operational by November 2023, according to a new note issued by the European Commission. ETIAS is not a visa. Rather, it is a visa-waiver program, just like the United States’ ESTA program, which began in 2008. It does not replace visas either. it will only apply to third-country nationals from countries that do not already require an EU visa. Processing is faster than a visa, online (like ESTA) and does not require biometric information. However, like ESTA, it comes at a cost. EU travelers are exempt and have freedom of movement across the bloc, allowing them to spend as much time as they like in multiple countries. EU residents will also be exempt from the scheme, regardless of their nationality. But for everyone else entering the bloc from a country that did not previously require a visa, ETIAS will be mandatory. The move affects around 60 countries, including the US and the UK, which lost freedom of movement after Brexit. Nothing changes for those who previously needed a visa to enter. The application process will be carried out through a “highly automated IT system”, with approval granted “within minutes” for around 95% of applicants, according to a new note issued by the EU. required for approval can be up to one month in “very exceptional cases”. Anyone whose application is rejected will have a right of appeal. The ETIAS authorization is valid for an unlimited number of participations for three years. However, holders must comply with immigration and overstay rules. Currently, third-party nationals cannot stay more than 90 days in the bloc as a whole, in any 180-day period. The cost: €7 ($7.35) for people between the ages of 18 and 70. It is not yet clear whether others will have a reduced rate or be able to apply for free. In comparison, the US charges $21 for an ESTA authorization. Applications cannot yet be submitted and no date has been set yet for when they will begin. Main image: Noppasinw/Adobe Stock