
Citizens of Moldova will need an online permit to travel to the EU, starting 2024.
The EU Neighbours east portal reported this, noting that from 2024, citizens of all 63 countries that enjoy visa-free entry to the EU, including Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia, will have to obtain an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) travel authorization. This new EU requirement will apply for entry to any of the 27 Schengen Agreement countries, Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus. ETIAS will issue online travel authorizations, not visas. With a valid ETIAS travel permit, one will be able to stay in any of 30 European countries for 90 days over any 180-day period. To apply for ETIAS, one must have a passport valid for more than 3 months, provide an email address, fill out an online form and pay a fee of €7. There is only one official ETIAS website - europa.eu/etias. The application form on this site will appear after the launch of the system. As previously reported by InfoMarket, the ETIAS travel authorization will be tied to the traveler's passport and is valid for up to 3 years or until the expiration of the passport, whichever comes first. A new ETIAS travel authorization must be obtained when one obtains a new passport. However, this does not guarantee entry. Upon entry, the border guard will ask to see the passport and other documents and verify that the citizen meets the conditions of entry. One will be able to apply for an ETIAS travel permit by filling out an application form using either the official ETIAS website or the ETIAS mobile app. Most applications will be processed within minutes. However, it is possible that application processing may take longer: up to 4 days. This period may be extended up to 14 days if the citizen is asked for additional information or documentation, or up to 30 days if invited for an interview. Therefore, it is recommended to apply for an ETIAS travel authorization well in advance. The citizen should receive an email confirming the application with their unique ETIAS application number, which should be kept for future reference. Once their application has been processed, they will receive another email informing them of the outcome. When receiving the ETIAS travel authorization, one need to make sure that the name, passport number and other information are correct: if there is any mistake, the citizen will not be allowed to cross the border. If the application is rejected, an email will indicate the reasons for the decision. It will also provide information on how to appeal, information on the competent authority, as well as the appropriate deadline for filing an appeal. // 20.04.2023 – InfoMarket