LONDON, March 5 — The British government announced on Wednesday that European visitors will need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) starting April 2, as part of the final phase of a global rollout aimed at enhancing border security and streamlining entry processes.
According to the Home Office, eligible people can apply for the ETA – a digital travel permit linked to their passports – starting on Wednesday. This replaces traditional visa requirements for short-term visits.
The policy follows the system’s implementation for non-European travelers, including those from the United States, Canada, and Australia. To date, more than 1.1 million ETAs have been issued globally.
“Expanding the ETA worldwide underscores our commitment to a secure, contactless border system while ensuring a seamless travel experience,” Minister for Migration and Citizenship Seema Malhotra said. She added that the digital approach strengthens immigration controls and aligns with Britain’s broader strategy to innovate through technology.
Applicants can obtain an ETA via the British government’s official website or mobile application by submitting biometric and biographic details, along with responses to eligibility questions. The government is working with airlines, ferry operators, and rail carriers to ensure smooth compliance with the new requirements, the Home Office said in a statement
Few links for few countries: https://www.passportsandvisas.com/travel-blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-eta-visa-to-canada.
ETIAS
ETIAS is required for citizens of countries that currently enjoy visa-free travel to the Schengen Area. This includes countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and Japan, among others.
The system is not yet operational. It is expected to be launched in mid-2025.
ETIAS travel authorisation is an entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling to any of these 30 European countries. It is linked to a traveller’s passport. It is valid for up to three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. If you get a new passport, you need to get a new ETIAS travel authorisation.
With a valid ETIAS travel authorisation, you can enter the territory of these European countries as often as you want for short-term stays – normally for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. However, it does not guarantee entry. When you arrive, a border guard will ask to see your passport and other documents and verify that you meet the entry conditions.
Once available, you can fill out the application form using either this official ETIAS website or the ETIAS mobile application. Applying for the ETIAS travel authorisation will cost approximately EUR 7, though some travellers are exempt from paying this fee.
Do Canadians need ETIAS to enter Europe?
However, if their stay exceeds 90 days, a visa is required. When it launches, the ETIAS travel authorization – which is not a visa – will be required for Canadian passport holders planning to stay in the 30 EU member states and Schengen associated countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.1
Do US citizens need an ETIAS visa?
If you are an American citizen planning to travel to countries in the Schengen area, and Cyprus, you will need to apply for ETIAS authorization. (The “Schengen area” refers to a border agreement between countries in Europe.)Dec 31, 2024
More information about what to expect when crossing EU borders is available here.
Romania and Bulgaria join EU
01 January 2025
Jan 1 (Reuters) – Romania and Bulgaria scrapped land border controls to become full members of the European Union’s Schengen free-travel area on Wednesday, joining an expanded bloc of countries whose residents can travel without passport checks.
Abu Dhabi: The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) has called on the public to take the initiative to download its electronic application “UAE Fast Track”, which facilitates entry procedures for those arriving in the country speedily.
The authority stated in a video clip that the “UAE Fast Track” application allows the public, through pre-registration, to complete travel procedures in a matter of seconds without the need to wait at registration counters, by using smart gates.
It pointed out that the application can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play, following which the user can enter all the required details related to their trip to complete the application submission.
ETIAS & EES
European Union: New Rules & System
In Brief:
EES: ENTRY EXIT SYSTEM
- Register visa-free and visa-required travelers entering Europe for a short stay, (EU call a ‘third country’) i.e. NON- EU citizens or a citizen of Schengen area.
- EES collects FACIAL IMAGE, FINGERPRINTS, Travel Document Data, DATE and PLACE where the traveler entered and exited the EU.
- It identifies overstayers and provides reliable data on entries, exits, and refusals of entry.
- EES will replace the manual stamping of passports.
- Target Date: 10 November 2024.
ETIAS:
- New entry requirement for travelers who do NOT need a visa to enter 30 European countries for a short stay.
- With ETIAS, visa-free travelers need to apply for an AUTHORISATION prior to travel. ETIAS is NOT a visa.
- For ETIAS: Provide personal information, address, passport details, current occupation, and information about past travel to conflict zones or criminal convictions. NO biometric data, such as fingerprints, is collected with ETIAS.
In Details:
Both systems aim to strengthen European security and security of those who travel.
Why?
ETIAS is a new entry requirement for travellers who do not need a visa to enter 30 European countries for a short stay. These include the 27 countries belonging to the Schengen Area as well as Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Romania. With ETIAS, visa-free travellers will need to apply for a travel authorisation before starting their trip. ETIAS is not a visa, and its introduction does not modify the visa-free status of travellers.
The EES will register visa-free and visa-required travellers entering Europe for a short stay. No action will be required from travellers before they start their trip, as registration will be done at the external border of any of the 29 European countries using the system. The countries in question include the 27 Schengen countries, Bulgaria, and Romania. Registration on the EES will be done every time travellers cross external borders and will replace the manual stamping of passports.
How?
When applying for an ETIAS travel authorisation, travellers will need to provide their personal information, including address, passport details, current occupation, and information about past travel to conflict zones or criminal convictions. No biometric data, such as fingerprints, is collected with ETIAS.
The EES, on the other hand, will collect travellers’ facial image and fingerprints. It will also collect travel document data as well as the date and place where the traveller entered and exited the territory of European countries using the system.
When?
Travellers will need to apply for an ETIAS travel authorisation well in advance of starting their trip to Europe, whereas registration with the EES occurs at the external border of the 29 countries using the system.
ETIAS and the EES will not be launched at the same time. The EES will become operational first and ETIAS will follow a few months after.
The exact dates will be announced by the EU later this year.
What is an EES?
The Entry/Exit System modernises the management of the EU’s external borders, gradually improving the experience for travellers. It identifies overstayers and provides reliable data on entries, exits, and refusals of entry. This system will effectively combat identity fraud by collecting biometric data.
On 10th November 2024, the EES (Entry Exit System) will be deployed within the Schengen area. The EES is a new automated IT system for digitally collecting personal data of non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay, whether they require a short-stay visa or not, each time they cross the borders of the Schengen area.Sep 6, 2024
Who needs EES?
The EU has a target date of 10 November 2024 for the EES to go live. Who will it apply to? It will apply to those travelling for a short stay, from what the EU call a ‘third country’. This is people who are not an EU citizen or a citizen of the Schengen area.
It seems like almost a no-brainer, since the airline is 49 percent owned by Delta Air Lines. But on March 2 Virgin Atlantic Airways officially joined SkyTeam airline alliance, enhancing the group’s offerings at both London Heathrow and Manchester Airport. The only question we have is why did it take so long? Delta has had a 49 percent stake in Virgin Atlantic since 2012. Virgin Atlantic is already a founding partner of a joint venture with SkyTeam members Delta and Air France-KLM.
As part of Virgin’s membership in Skyteam, its customers can now benefit from more opportunities to earn and redeem points, with access to an extensive global route network. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold and Silver members will receive a raft of benefits, including SkyPriority airport services for Gold members.
Virgin Atlantic formally joined SkyTeam at a signing ceremony in London on March 2. The move means Virgin Atlantic becomes SkyTeam’s first and only U.K. member airline, enhancing the alliance’s trans-Atlantic network and services to and from Heathrow and Manchester airports.
Virgin Atlantic customers will now benefit from a seamless customer experience, across 1,000 global destinations in over 170 countries. Customers can book every SkyTeam member flight on a single ticket, checking in with baggage just once through to their final destination.
Virgin Flying Club members have more opportunities to earn Virgin Points and Tier Points across all member airlines, accelerating both their rewards and tier status. In addition, Flying Club members will be able to redeem points on SkyTeam member airlines. Alongside joint venture partners Delta and Air France-KLM, these include Aerolíneas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air Europa, China Airlines, China Eastern, Czech Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, ITA Airways, Kenya Airways, Korean Air, MEA, Saudia, TAROM, Vietnam Airlines and XiamenAir.
Link: https://www.insidertravelreport.com/?s=virgin-atlantic-joins-delta-air-france-klm-in-skyteam-alliance&preview=1
France’s decision to ban short-haul domestic flights for environmental reasons was a world first that made headlines around the globe – but how many flights will the new rule actually ban?
The French government announced its domestic flight ban back in 2021, but it has been back in the news after the European Commission ruled in France’s favour following a challenge by airport associations.
This clears the way for other European countries to bring in similar rules, as part of climate-based efforts to limit flights and persuade travellers to take green alternatives.
What does the new rule say?
The new policy doesn’t ban all domestic flights – only those between destinations that can be reached by train in less than two-and-a-half hours.
So how many flights does this ban actually affect? At present, just three.
How much difference will this make to France’s carbon footprint?
Research carried out at an EU level suggests that it won’t make a huge difference, with short-haul (less than 500km) flights accounting for just six percent of airplane fuel used within the Bloc.
Long haul-flights (over 4,000km) account for just six percent of flights taken, but 47 percent of fuel burned.
What about private planes? …
More details in the link: https://www.thelocal.com/20221213/explained-how-does-frances-domestic-flight-ban-really-work/
Reduce Carbon Emissions Programs & …
Planes, trains, ferries and even roads look set to be affected by UK strike action, while French rail and airline unions have also filed strike notices.
The British actions come in the context of widespread industrial action from nurses to postal workers, train drivers to border guards, all of whom are striking to win pay rises above the rate of inflation that will help them cope with the spiralling cost of living.
Eurostar
UK-based security staff will walk out on December 16th, 18, 22nd and 23rd. The UK’s RMT union is also taking strike action between December 24th and 27th.
The Eurostar will be running fewer services than usual on December 23rd and 24th and has cancelled several services and changed the times of others – anyone with a pre-booked train is advised to check the website.
Network Rail strikes have closed UK rail lines, so the Eurostar will be running no services at all on December 26th.
For more details, please click on the link: https://www.thelocal.com/20221212/everything-you-need-to-know-about-how-strikes-will-affect-france-uk-travel-this-christmas/
Forget these 7 cheap flight hacks
Forget these 7 cheap flight hacks – and do these instead
Booking cheap flights online has become sport among price-conscious travelers. But with plenty of websites hawking low prices and airlines bombarding consumers with competitive deals from every corner of the internet, it’s hard to know the best – and most economic – way to grab budget fares.
The tragic explosion in Beirut affected local businesses from essential services to restaurants, fashion and even the arts – shattering buildings and centres. British auction house, Christie’s has just announced it will support Beirut’s throbbing art community with a charity auction.
Dubbed We Are All Beirut – Art for Beirut: A Charity Auction, the online auction will take place from late October to the first half of November.
“Seeing the images of devastation on Tuesday 4 August will always remain in all our collective memory and our thoughts are with all families, friends and artists who have lost so much. We hope to raise enough funds with this initiative to make a significant difference,”CEO at Christie’s, Guillaume Cerutti, commented, continuing “we are committed to help and hope that many of our international clients, friends and collectors will follow our call to action.”
According to Caroline Louca-Kirkland, Managing Director at Christie’s Middle East, the initiative will include approximately 40 to 50 lots of international and regional art, jewellery, design and watches. Funds will be allocated to restore the city’s art and cultural community, including the Sursock museum – Beirut’s modern and contemporary art museum.
Read more, please click on the link: https://www.graziame.com/culture/art-books/christies-is-holding-an-auction-to-help-rebuild-beiruts-cultural-scene?fbclid=IwAR1DY1-_nw478VQLKRWvt2Q2UkrXTQPgBEwBLoTGBmL_ehaaEj-G89oLhYg