It has become the new standard for travellers who can visit a country without a specific visa: theElectronic Travel Authorization (ETA). This online form enables the authority of the receiving country to store data on a traveller, with the ETA replacing the form that travellers had to fill in before entering a country in the past.
The ETA is therefore similar to an entry permit.. With the ease of completing everything electronically from home or the office. And it takes just a few minutes to cross the border on arrival. usually with a QR code generated by the ETA.
This flexibility is generally reserved for visa-exempt travellers.. However, some countries - such as Cambodia - now require this authorisation before arriving on their soil, visa or not, while in Kenya and Sri Lanka, the ETA is in fact equivalent to a visa. A curiosity for Mexico, however: at airports, French travellers do obtain their visa - free of charge - on arrival, as well as an electronic Multiple Migration Form (MMF). This is generated automatically, but must be printed out before crossing any land borders.
Legislation varies widely from one country to another, so it's essential to check what the rules are for entering the destination country.. Airlines generally send messages reminding passengers of the formalities they must complete. On the website of the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, a page dedicated to formalities provides all updates.
A model that is spreading around the world
Until now, European business travellers have mainly had to complete an ETA for North America (USA and Canada) or the Pacific zone (Australia and New Zealand).
Australia was the first country in the world to launch an ETA. The first tests began in 1996 with Singapore. The practice became widespread from 2001. Australia applies two types of ETA. The simplest is for EU nationals. Called Evisitor, it is free and delivered online, usually within 24 hours.
The Australian model has been followed over the last ten years by the following countries: Cambodia, Canada, Kenya, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka and the United States: Cambodia, Canada, Kenya, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka and the United States. In 2024, Malaysia and Cambodia made it compulsory for European travellers to obtain an electronic travel authorisation. In 2025, IsraelThe United Kingdom and Thailand will in turn introduce an ETA. for visa-exempt visitors or those benefiting from a free visa.
For the United Kingdomthe UK-ETA programme becomes universal from January 2025 after having been tested for a year with certain Gulf nationals. This formality will apply to 49 countries, but will be phased in gradually.
Citizens of Canada or the United States will have to obtain an ETA before their arrival on 8 January, EU citizens can rest easy until 2 April. On that date, except for Ireland, they will also have to obtain the famous authorisation. It will cost £10The passport will be issued in a maximum of three days and will be valid for two years. However, any change of passport will require a new application.
The setbacks of ETIAS and EES in Europe
Europe is also working on the introduction of both a visa and an electronic pre-travel authorisation.. It concerns nationals of countries other than thirty European countries (26 EU Member States + Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland). In the pipeline since 2016, ETIAS should make it easier for people to enter Europe and will be valid for three years.
However, ETIAS prior authorisation goes hand in hand with SEA. This is in fact an automated computerised entry/exit system, installed to reinforce Europe's external borders. It replaces the passport stamp. The EES takes into account data recorded in the ETIAS database, the travel document used, and the date and place of entry and exit.
The system will be used above all to better control migratory movements. It will register third-country nationals every time they cross the external borders of European countries participating in ETIAS. EES will be automatic, and will not require any additional formalities on the part of the passenger..
Ideal in their conception, the two programmes have nonetheless come up against technical problems from the outset. But also, at times, the procrastination of the countries involved in the system. So the ETIAS-EES has been postponed at least 5 times since its potential introduction in 2021. Not only technical difficulties involving system failures, but also data protection and problems in setting up the SEA have delayed the launch.
Planned for June 2024, France has managed to obtain an extension with the Olympic Games. The launch was then postponed until 10 November. We have since learned that this will not be until mid-2025.. It would appear that there are still incompatibilities between the ETIAS and EES data systems…
ETAs are the future of travel
ETAs may well be synonymous with simplifying travel formalities, but digital technology can sometimes be a headache. Last week, passengers travelling to the United States from Europe were unable to produce their ETA because of a system failure. The breakdown lasted two hours. The ESTA website announced that maintenance would be carried out again on 13 November between 7am and 9am European time. As luck would have it, few planes were departing for the United States from Europe at those times!
