Starting 2025, if you’re a Trinidad and Tobago national, you’ll have to apply for an ETIAS visa for short-term travel to select European countries.
This means that for visits to select European countries, you’ll have to complete an electronic ETIAS application at least four days prior to your departure. This includes transiting en route to other destinations.
What is ETIAS?
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) was first introduced in 2016 by the European Union with the intent to strengthen travel security to Europe and the Schengen area from countries that currently require no visa for such travel.
Its goal is to improve the security of its member states by capturing data on travellers and identifying those who could pose security threats before they’re able to travel to the Schengen area.
The process is all online which means you can expect your application to be approved within minutes and sent via email.
Physical copies aren’t needed since the ETIAS is stored electronically along with passport details in the European Immigration system.
Your approved ETIAS document is not a visa!
It’s a visa waiver, sort of like the U.S. ESTA and Canadian eTA.
The ETIAS is valid for three years and can be used for multiple entry and transit to other European countries. If you happen to get denied an ETIAS, you can still apply for a full visitor visa.
It’s also important to keep in mind that an ETIAS does not guarantee entry to your destination as the final decision is made by border security personnel upon your arrival.
So, what’s the difference between an ETIAS and Schengen Visa?
Before we break down the difference between the ETIAS and Schengen visa, let’s first be clear on what is the European Union (EU) and Schengen Area; both are typically confused but there are significant differences.
The European Union is an economic and political union between 27 European countries.
The Schengen Area is the largest border-free zone in the world, which permits unrestricted movement to millions of EU citizens, as well as non-EU nationals living in the bloc or visiting the EU as tourists.
There are 29 countries that form the Schengen Area and most are also members of the European Union. However, not every European Union member state is part of the Schengen Area, and not every Schengen member state is part of the European Union.
For example, Cyprus and Ireland are both EU member states. However, these two countries are not part of the Schengen Area.
Now that we’re a bit clearer, back to the travel docs…
An ETIAS is an electronic travel authorisation–valid for up to three years–that allows you to enter and travel (up to 90 days) within the European Union but not necessarily the Schengen area if you’re not an EU citizen.
On the other hand, the Schengen visa is an entry permit for non-EU nationals for short-term travel (up to 90 days) to a country in the Schengen Area.
ETIAS allows travel throughout Europe and can be used for multiple entries under a 90-day duration, while a Schengen Visa is specific to the country applied for.
Travellers who are visiting multiple countries will have to apply for a Schengen visa for the country they plan to spend the most time.
Another difference is you can apply for your ETIAS online and receive the document via email within minutes.
A Schengen visa application, on the other hand, must be done in person at the embassy or consulate of the destination country. The process is not automated and can take six weeks or more before the visa is approved and has to be manually entered into your passport.
Which countries require an ETIAS?
The ETIAS countries that will require travellers to have an EU travel authorisation will be those that are currently the full EU Schengen States, as well as countries that are European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Members, European Microstates With Open Borders, as well as Future Schengen Members. Future Schengen Member Countries will need to implement ETIAS as part of joining the EU as a full member.
Full Schengen Member Countries
- Austria
- Belgium
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
European Free Trade Association (EFTA) on Schengen Agreement
- Iceland
- Liechtenstein
- Norway
- Switzerland
- Future Schengen Member Countries
- Bulgaria
- Cyprus
- Romania
European Microstates With Open Borders
- Andorra
- Monaco
- San Marino
- Vatican City
For more information on ETIAS guidelines and applications for TrinBagonian citizens, visit their website.
