Another computerization was promised to tourists entering the European Union. According to European media, tourists from third countries who enter Europe on a short-term tourist visa will soon stop having their passports stamped, as information on entry and exit to the bloc will be automatically recorded through a new automated system — the Exit/Entire System.
The Entry/Exit System (as the name translates) is a new automated system that is expected to be fully operational by the end of this year. It will be used to track travelers from third countries entering the EU and to identify overstayers. Its main goal is to replace the existing system of manual stamping of passports, as the latter “takes a lot of time, does not provide reliable data on crossing the border and does not allow to identify persons who have overstayed systematically,” the EU authorities are confident.
The system will record specific data about travelers, including their name, fingerprints, personal image, type of travel document, date and place of entry, date, and location of departure, and the period of their stay in the Schengen area. However, let us remind you that even those who are allowed to enter without a visa “light” the need to obtain an entry permit online – which is provided for by the new European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). It will cost 7 euros per person and will be valid for three years. As a reminder, the price of Schengen for 3 countries is now 80 euros without additional visa center fees.
However, we remind you that in the far-reaching plans of the EU authorities, visa centers will soon disappear, and it will be possible to get a Schengen visa without leaving your home. This result of the procedures of complete digitalization of the process of obtaining visas was presented in the European media. At the same time, according to experts, the process will last several years, but everything can happen shortly – the European Union has already started work. “Visa applications will be processed on a single online platform, which will also inform applicants of which country they will be granted a visa for in case of multi-country travel. The new system is also designed to work harmoniously with the ecosystem of EU border management systems and databases. Making the process of obtaining a Schengen visa online for travelers who need it to visit any of the 27 member states will not only make life easier for applicants, requiring less effort and cost but will also improve security in the EU,” MEPs said. Read details at this link.