Turkish nationals will not be required to apply for ETIAS, EU delegation clarifies

Brussels: The EU Delegation to Türkiye has clarified that all Turkish nationals, without exception, will not need to apply for an ETIAS.

The clarification comes following disinformation that diplomatic passport holders permitted visa-free entry to the bloc will need to meet this requirement.

The ETIAS travel authorisation will apply only to nationals of countries that have a visa liberalisation agreement with the EU.

The Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye has clarified that all Turkish nationals, without exception, will not be required to apply for an ETIAS travel authorisation once the new system becomes operational.

Through an official statement, the delegation explained that since Türkiye is not part of the list of countries whose nationals are permitted visa-free entry to the Schengen Area, the requirement for an ETIAS will not apply to them, Schengen.News reports.

The same further noted that Turkish visa-free travellers will also not be affected by the new travel system.

Such a clarification from the EU Delegation to Türkiye comes in response to reports saying that Turkish diplomatic and service passport holders will need to apply for the document and pay the €7 fee when the new travel system enters into force.

In its statement, the EU Delegation said that since ETIAS is not applicable to Türkiye, those who are permitted visa-free entry to the bloc on the basis of their diplomatic passports will not need to apply for ETIAS.

This means that this group of Turkish nationals will be able to travel to the EU without a visa and without an ETIAS travel authorisation as well.

Since ETIAS is not applicable to them, Turkish nationals who can travel visa-free (e.g. holders of diplomatic passports or ‘green passports’) will not need to apply for an ETIAS travel authorisation. They will be able to travel without a visa and without an ETIAS travel authorisation.

Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye

As for ordinary passport holders of Türkiye, they will only need to apply for a visa to be permitted entry into the bloc.

ETIAS is an entry requirement for all foreign nationals who are permitted to enter the member states of the EU without having to obtain a visa, the implementation date of which has yet to be announced. It must be noted that ETIAS is not a visa, as it is often referred to as such.

The ETIAS travel authorisation will be linked to the travellers’ passports, and the document will remain valid for a period of three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.

The application for this travel authorisation will be fully online, with applicants having the possibility to complete it through the official website of ETIAS or the ETIAS mobile application.

The applications for an ETIAS are expected to be processed within minutes. However, if certain applications need to be more thoroughly checked, the processing period can extend up to 14 days if additional information is required and up to 30 days if applicants are invited for an interview.

Applicants will have to pay a €7 fee for the ETIAS travel authorisation, and application decisions will be emailed.

The entry into operation of ETIAS is linked to the launch of the EU’s new border system – the Entry/Exit System (EES). This means that ETIAS cannot be launched before the EES. ETIAS will start operating after the progressive deployment of the EES.