The ETIAS for nationals of Taiwan is an upcoming visa waiver system for the Schengen Area in Europe.
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System, to give it its full title, will grant Taiwanese passport holders entry to the 22 EU and 4 EFTA countries that signed the Schengen Agreement.
To enter any of the 26 member states from 2022, Taiwanese citizens must register in the ETIAS system before departure.
Will Taiwanese citizens need visa for Europe?
Taiwan passport holders currently do not require a visa to travel to European countries in the Schengen Area.
This will not change in 2022 with the introduction of the ETIAS.
ETIAS is not a visa – it is an electronic travel authorisation, similar to the US ESTA and the Australian eTA.
The quick and simple online application is streamlined and convenient. Ultimately, ETIAS will allow citizens of Taiwan to keep visiting the Schengen Area visa-free.
What is the ETIAS for Taiwanese citizens?
ETIAS is a new entry requirement for Taiwanese nationals. The electronic authorisation allows Schengen member countries to screen travellers before they arrive in their territory. In 2022, the ETIAS system will add an extra layer of security.
The new travel permit for Europe will be available through an online application. It is designed to take no more than a few minutes to fill-out. In many cases, the system will process submissions almost instantly.
Travellers from over 60 countries (including Taiwan) will need to apply for the ETIAS, which grants a stay of up to 90 days within 180 days in the region.
The ETIAS electronic permit allows multiple entries. Holders of an authorisation may enter the Schengen Area as they please as long as they don’t overstay.
ETIAS requirements for Taiwanese citizens
To get the authorisation to visit European countries within the Schengen Area, nationals of the Republic of China (ROC/Taiwan) must register their details with the new European Travel Information and Authorisation System.
ROC passport holders must meet the ETIAS visa waiver requirements to successfully obtain the travel permit. Once approved, it can be used for up to 3 years.
Taiwanese applicants are required to submit personal information about themselves and their travel plans.
Documents required to obtain ETIAS for Taiwanese citizens
Below, citizens from Taiwan can find a list of the items they need to apply for a travel authorisation for Europe:
- Valid Taiwanese passport
- Credit or debit card, which will be used to pay the application fee.
- Active email address so that the final decision can be communicated (all correspondence will be via email)
The traveler’s passport must have been issued by the ROC or another ETIAS-approved country.
It must have a minimum of three months (90 days) validity remaining from the date of arrival in the Schengen Area. In other words, the passport cannot be set to expire before the traveller expects to leave the Schengen Area.
Each traveller should complete the ETIAS application accurately and truthfully. Any errors may result in the delay or denial of the travel permit.
The ETIAS application process for Taiwanese citizens
In addition to paying the ETIAS fee, Taiwanese nationals must provide the following information during the application process:
- Passport details, including the passport number, the country of issue, the date of issue, and the date of expiration.
- Personal information, which will include the traveller’s full name, their date of birth, their place of birth, and their gender.
- Contact details, including current place of residency, current email address, and a valid phone number.
- Travel plans, such as which European country the Taiwanese national will enter first and which other countries they intend to visit. It is not necessary for travellers to follow an exact itinerary, but they will be required to provide a rough outline of their intended plans.
All applicants have to answer a series of yes or no questions before submitting their application.
European officials are anticipating a roughly 95% approval rate for ETIAS applicants. When the authorisation is approved, the visitor will receive an email.
The automated system electronically links an approved ETIAS to the traveller’s passport.
If an ETIAS application is denied, an email detailing the reasons for the rejection will be sent. Appeals are allowed and must be made directly to the country through which the traveller intended to enter the Schengen Area. For example, if the itinerary began in Rome, the traveller would appeal to Italy.
Note: holding a valid ETIAS does not guarantee access to Europe. The final decision is always up to border officials.
Why the need for ETIAS?
In November 2016, the European Commission voted to implement the ETIAS program to increase security for both residents and visitors.
ETIAS will contribute to smoother arrivals. Furthermore, it will help border authorities identify individuals that may pose a threat to others before they enter Europe.
Authorities believe that the visa waiver system will be an efficient and secure way to screen travellers. This will aid the international effort to identify and combat organised crime, terrorism, illegal immigration, and human trafficking.
ETIAS will ultimately ensure a safer Europe for all of its citizens as well as its visitors.