Europe's ETIAS - new step in travel authorization for visa-free countries

Today's immigration laws would seem extremely repressive and restrictive to people of the 19th century. Then, the concept of freedom of movement encompassed not only the right to leave one's country but also the right to enter other countries freely.

This led to massive migrations at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, when millions of Europeans moved to America, Australia, and South Africa. Borders between most European countries were often just lines on maps, easily crossed by seasonal workers, emigrants, or "pleasure-seeking English travelers" (a new term of the time, "tourist," was coined for the latter). However, even then, certain categories of migrants—such as the Irish, Jews, Italians, and Chinese—began to be viewed as "undesirable" in some countries.

Restrictions were imposed on their immigration, but it was World War I that delivered a real blow to the freedom of movement. In his novel " Julio Jurenito", Ilya Ehrenburg humorously remarked that Europe had acquired the "useful" invention of visas, leading travelers to spend a significant portion of their time waiting in consulate queues. 

Initially, there were both entry and exit visas. Over time, most Western countries swiftly abolished exit visas, but some, like the USSR and South Korea, retained them until the late 1980s. The collapse of the Eastern Bloc in the early 1990s, the formation of the European Union, and a new wave of capitalist globalization rekindled dreams of a borderless world, where people could move freely with just a passport. Optimism was also fueled by new technologies. Since the early 21st century, many countries, such as India and Iran, began issuing e-visas to tourists, which could sometimes even be processed at the airport. However, these optimistic expectations proved to be premature.

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, waves of illegal immigration, escalating interstate tensions, and the removal of visa requirements for certain post-Soviet countries led to a shift from traditional paper visas to e-travel authorizations (eTAs) for citizens of visa-free countries, replacing the electronic visas (eVisas) that were initially intended to streamline the process. Europe has begun implementing the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) since 2024. 

This programme affects citizens from over 60 countries that have visa-free agreements with the European Union, who will be required to obtain an e-travel authorization to enter. European people argue that ETIAS is not a visa but rather an "add-on to the visa-free regime." Applicants do not need to visit consulates or provide biometric data. By completing an online form and paying a fee of 7 euros, travelers will be able to visit Europe for up to three years. However, the European Commission cautions that obtaining ETIAS does not guarantee entry. At the border, travelers or business people will face additional checks. If border officials determine that they do not meet the criteria, entry will be denied. 

Essentially, the ETIAS form resembles a visa application, requiring personal details, contact information, education and employment history, travel purposes, criminal records, and information on visits to conflict zones, among other things. Citizens of Moldova, Georgia, and Ukraine must possess biometric passports to obtain ETIAS.

European officials promise that processing data will take only a few minutes. However, they admit that in some cases, handling the information might extend from 4 to 14 days. Additionally, a prospective EU visitor might be invited for an interview, which could prolong the data processing time up to a month. Europeans are not the pioneers in creating such systems. As early as 1998, Singapore introduced elements of the eTA system. In 2016, e-entry permits became a requirement for visitors to Canada. 

Similarly, to visit Australia, citizens from visa-free countries must obtain an e-travel authorization. This process involves providing a criminal background check, confirming the absence of tuberculosis, and paying an application fee of 20 Australian dollars. Today, the eTA system continues spreading globally, with the European Union's example proving influential. Starting August 1, 2024, Israel introduced a similar e-authorization system, known as ETA. Currently, the system can be completed free of charge in a test mode, but soon, obtaining permission to visit Israel will cost around $7. The implementation of this new system has proven to be far more complex than its creators initially anticipated. 

ETIAS was originally scheduled for launch about two years ago, but due to technical issues, the programme’s rollout has been postponed to 2025. Meanwhile, various fraudsters have found ways to navigate these technical hurdles with much greater success. Today, numerous websites in various languages allegedly represent ETIAS. In reality, these sites provide misleading information, collect personal data from users, and sometimes even charge fees for "processing entry permits" to the EU.   Like many other initiatives, e-permits are presented as a way to streamline data processing for the benefit of travelers.

However, in practice, they often mean additional time spent filling out new forms and another fee with no guarantees. The line between an e-permit and a multiple-entry visa is so thin that it might eventually become indistinguishable. This has already happened in Sri Lanka, where the free eTA was transformed into a paid “Visa+” following the COVID-19 pandemic. Similarly, in 2020, visa-free entry to South Korea for Russian citizens and nationals from several other countries was suspended due to the coronavirus. In 2022, access was reinstated through e-permits. Human rights advocates also point out that, according to official statements, e-permit systems will actively employ elements of artificial intelligence. 

This could lead to significant errors and potentially conflict with principles of the rule of law and human rights. Additionally, this approach allows foreign authorities to collect extra information about travelers and use it at their discretion. Chloé Berthelemy, Senior Policy Advisor at European Digital Rights (EDRi), has called for a ban on mass biometric surveillance and other forms of biometric monitoring that disproportionately restrict rights and freedoms. 

She also highlighted the risks of centralized cyberattacks on databases and warned against the "securitization" of migration issues and the fortification of "Fortress Europe." In response, officials stated that "there are guarantees in place to protect travelers' privacy and personal data. Their personal information will be stored in the EES only for as long as necessary and for the purposes for which it was collected." 

In conclusion, the spread of eTA systems represents another sign of the retreat from globalization, the restriction of freedoms, and the intensification of global surveillance over ordinary citizens. This trend reflects a troubling aspect of our times.