The Commission of the European Union has warned international students planning to reach EU/Schengen Area countries for study purposes about the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which is set to launch in the first half of 2025.
European higher education institutions provide short-term study opportunities for students from all over the world and continue to remain among the most popular ones.
While the general procedures for students entering the EU for study purposes will not change, some international students must be prepared to comply with a new travel requirement.
Starting next year, students from countries permitted visa-free entry to the EU will have to apply for an ETIAS when joining a study programme in the bloc, Schengen.News reports.
All students who fall under this category must make sure that they get their ETIAS before they leave to pursue their studies in the EU.
With an ETIAS, students will be able to stay in the territory of 30 European countries for the purpose of pursuing their studies for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
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.
For students enrolled for longer study programmes than 90 days, they will need to obtain a student visa.
This Is What Students Will Need to Apply for an ETIAS
To apply for an ETIAS authorisation, students under a visa-free regime need to hold a passport that is valid for more than three months and is not older than ten years. Moreover, they need to have an email address, fill out the online form, and pay the fee, which will be €7.
Students have been warned that there is only one official website of the ETIAS and that they should be careful to no fall prey of scammers.
Once students obtain the ETIAS, the document, which will be linked to the passport, will remain valid for a period of three years or until the passport expires, depending on which comes first. Application for an ETIAS can be made multiple times.
Students must keep in mind that ETIAS is not a visa.
For students who will be staying for longer in the EU and who obtain a student visa, the Commission explained that the ETIAS comes in handy if they want to extend their stay.
Once the student visa expires, students can remain in the European countries requiring ETIAS for an additional 90 days without needing to leave and return. However, they will also need to be registered in the Entry/Exit System (EES) that will launch this November.
In addition to students, all the other foreign nationals who are permitted visa-free entry to the EU will also need to apply for an ETIAS authorisation.
