New EU entry system: which Ukrainians will not have to pay for visiting the EU?

The rules for Ukrainians visiting EU countries will change from 2025. The new ETIAS border crossing regulation system will come into force. It covers citizens from countries for which visa-free entry to the European Union is allowed. From now on, for a short-term visit to Europe it will be necessary to pay 7 € to register in the border system. But for some groups there is free travel without having to join ETIAS. We will tell you more about the system itself and preferential groups of tourists further on.

ETIAS system: essence and purpose

Digitization of data in all spheres of human activity has become one of the main trends of this XXI century. Most bureaucratic procedures can already be completed online by submitting an electronic application with a package of scanned documents. This unifies information and speeds up flows, simplifying routine processes that take a lot of time and effort during physical processing.

Drawing up documents to obtain a permit to enter another country is no exception to this. The European Union has taken a global approach to mass tourism and developed an electronic system ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) for online submission of applications for entry to Europe by citizens of visa-free countries for short-term visits.

The electronic registry will be used to fill the database of tourists crossing the Schengen border for up to 90 days. The system is designed to improve security and simplify the border process.

How ETIAS will work

The mechanism for registration and authorization is simple and straightforward:

1. The tourist submits an application together with a short questionnaire containing passport, contact details, foreign travel history.
2. The applicant pays a one-time fee of 7 € for registration in the system and consideration of his application.
3. Once in the system, the application is thoroughly checked against security databases to verify the information provided by the applicant.
4. In case of confirmation of the personal information provided and approval by the regulatory authorities, the traveler receives a permit to enter European countries in electronic format. The validity period of the authorization is designed for up to 3 years.

It takes up to 10 minutes on average to complete the application. Waiting for the results lasts minutes from the moment the application form is sent. In rare cases, the response may be delayed for a few days, but not more than 30 days.

Who will need to register with ETIAS

The new Schengen border crossing rules apply to all non-EU citizens who enjoy visa-free travel for up to 90 days. EU citizens with a residence permit, card or other document issued by an EU member state are exempt from registration.

The system is designed to simplify and legalize travel within the Schengen area. Mandatory monetary contribution of 7 € is provided to finance the functioning of the new information system, as well as the development of EU travel services. Taking into account that about 60 countries of the world enjoy the option of visa-free entry into the Schengen zone, but from 2025 their citizens will be obliged to register in the system, the financial flow to the EU from just crossing the border will be stable and full of water.

Exemptions from the rules: who will not need to register in ETIAS

EU representatives in Ukraine emphasize that refugees are exempted from registering in the electronic visa-free border crossing system. Such a condition emphasizes Europe's assistance to Ukrainian citizens in particular, who receive temporary asylum or plan to leave for the EU in the near future. Exemption from mandatory registration in ETIAS will simplify border crossing in case of emergency departure, as well as save money.

Citizens under the age of 18 and over 70 are exempt from paying the fee. They are also required to register in the system, but the authorization is free of charge. The requirement to register with ETIAS also covers infants and small children in order to control the safety of both EU citizens and tourists.

The permit fee is also waived for persons who have confirmed family ties to EU citizens and non-residents who have the right to travel freely in the Schengen area.

Read also: How to get to Polish airports from Ukraine

When is the best time to apply for entry

According to the new ETIAS rules, you should submit your entry request no later than 96 hours before you intend to cross the border. On average, this is how long it can take to process the application, check it and issue the permit.

To avoid financial risk, you should submit your application one month before the planned date of departure. This will protect you from pointless expenses for tickets and accommodation in Europe in case of refusal. In addition, in rare cases, the verification of the application can be delayed for up to 30 days. If the application form contains questionable information, additional interviews with EU regulatory authorities will be required for further verification.

Even if travel plans are not yet confirmed, it makes sense to register in advance. The main condition is to clearly indicate the first country of arrival in Europe. After that, you can freely adjust your travel program without restrictions.

Reasons for denial of authorization

The rules of the ETIAS system are liberal, but contain several valid reasons for probable refusal:

• Establishing the loss or theft of travel documents claimed on the application form;
• identification of a person as a potential illegal emigrant, security threat or epidemiological risk;
• lack of supporting documents or failure to appear for an additional interview;
• existence of refusals of entry into the EU with fixed confirmation;
• reasonable doubts as to the reliability of the information provided in the application form.

When making an application, it is recommended to carefully check the entered data, carefully select accompanying documents for their correct recognition by the electronic system.