New European travel rules introduced late last year could impact prospective travellers hoping to get across the Atlantic Ocean.
The new rules come into full-effect on April 10th.
These new travel regulations impact European countries in different ways, based on whether or not they are in the “Schengen area” or not.
The Schengen area includes 29 European countries. Basically, because these countries have common entry and exit requirements, they are removing the need for internal borders as part of the new European Union Entry/Exit System (EES).
The EES will allow travellers to move more freely between these countries without needing to go through border checks or get separate visas.
The Schengen area includes the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
The common trait these countries share is that there are typically no border controls between them; however, countries may be able to reintroduce border controls during exceptional circumstances.
To enter or exit a Schengen area country, one’s passport has to be valid for at least three months after your planned departure date.
Where before, border officers would stamp a passport if travellers were entering or exiting Schengen area countries, the new EES is a completely digital system.
This system registers all non-EU nationals, including Canadian citizens, who are travelling to countries in the Schengen area for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
The EES is designed to track overstays, denials of entry and traveller movements and will involve the collection of biometric data, such as fingerprints and facial images.
The Canadian government notes that each European country can decide who can enter or exit through its borders—they cannot intervene if a traveller does not meet a destination’s entry or exit requirements.
What to expect within the Schengen area?
When Canadian travellers arrive in a Schengen country with their Canadian passport, they may be asked to provide biometric data such as fingerprints and a photo of your face.
Travellers need not worry about doing this in advance, as this processing will happen when they arrive.
Canadian travellers with ePassports can use a self-service kiosk at the border, and can then proceed to go through border control.
Then, a passport control officer will review the traveller’s information and may ask further questions before deciding whether to grant or refuse access to the country.
Travellers’ biometric data — fingerprints and facial photos — will be stored for three years and those who return to the Schengen area within that time will not have to provide this information again until the three years has expired.
Canadians can visit Schengen area countries without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period; anything beyond this 90-day allowance requires a visa.
Further travel rules will eventually be introduced for Schengen area countries called the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS).
An exact start date for the ETIAS has yet to be determined, but it will require Canadians to obtain an ETIAS travel authorization before entering countries in the Schengen area for short stays of up to 90 days.
The Canadian government notes that ETIAS is not yet live.
They added that travellers should be cautious of fraudulent websites claiming to sell ETIAS authorizations.
Other European countries
The above Schengen area travel rules do not apply to 12 other European countries who have their own rules regarding entry, exit and travel regulation.
These countries include: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Ireland, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, United Kingdom and Ukraine.
Most notably on this list, the United Kingdom requires electronic travel authorisation (ETA) in order to enter England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
As of February 25th, those travelling to the UK must apply for an ETA before they travel, using the same passport they will be going to the UK with.
Once an ETA is acquired, it is valid for two years, allowing travellers unfettered access to the United Kingdom within that timeframe.
Those who need to get a new passport will need to apply for a new ETA.
There are a handful of situations in which travellers do not need an ETA. These include if someone is travelling through a UK airport without going through border control, if they are a dual citizen travelling on a British, Irish or British overseas territories citizen passport.
Furthermore, an ETA is not required if one has a visa or permission to live, work or study in the UK, or for those who live in Ireland, and you are travelling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man.
One tricky scenario may arise for those who are technically UK nationals with dual citizenships.
Because citizens of the UK are technically not foreign travellers, they are ineligible to be approved for an ETA, so they are required to travel with both a UK-based passport, and potentially a Canadian one.
The Canadian government notes that travellers should also be cautious of fraudulent or overpriced websites offering ETAs.
ETAs can only be applied for through the official UK government website. They only cost £16 to apply for, which is around $29.50 CAD.
More travel advice for navigating all of Europe’s travel rules and finding a specific country’s regulations can be found online here.
