Don’t Travel To Spain Without This One Thing in 2022

Traveling to Spain is on the bucket list of many American tourists. However, from 2022 it’s going to be necessary to take one extra step to get prepared for a trip to the Iberian peninsula.

ETIAS, or the European Travel Information and Authorization System, is a new security measure that the EU Schengen area is planning to implement within the next few years. It will allow European security services to screen all foreign visitors arriving in the 26-country borderless area, including Spain.

The system is to be put in place to ensure the security of residents and visitors to the Schengen area and to safeguard against visa overstays. It is also expected to speed up the process of entering Europe for US travelers, who will be able to pass through the region’s borders in a much more streamlined way.

This is going to be a very important extra step travelers need to take before starting their journey. However, getting an ETIAS for Spain will be a quick and easy process that will only take a few minutes to complete.

To help you prepare for this change read on to learn how this new system could affect a trip to Spain and how Americans can get ready to travel to Spain from 2022 with ETIAS.

How to Register With ETIAS as an American

Before a trip to Spain, Americans will need to go online to apply for an ETIAS visa waiver. This can be done up to a few days before departing for your destination.

The online application form will ask travelers a number of personal and security questions and you will need to provide essential data such as your:

-Full name

-Gender

-Date of birth

-Passport number

-Passport expiry date

-Your country of arrival in the Schengen Zone

Once the form has been completed, you’ll then need to provide your email address and pay the visa fees with your debit or credit card.

As the whole process for this kind of travel authorization is managed online you’ll receive all the notifications about the status of your ETIAS approval via email. Once fully approved, the document will be electronically tied to your passport, although it’s still recommended to carry a paper copy of your approval email when you arrive in Spain.

How Many Times Can Americans Travel to Spain with ETIAS

Once an ETIAS visa waiver has been approved, it is valid for 3 years or until your registered passport expires (whichever comes first). This means it can be used multiple times during its validity period.

Like the current visa policy of Schengen, you’ll still be permitted 90 days in Europe per visit during any 180 day period. There are no limits beyond this on the number of times an ETIAS visa waiver can be used as long as it’s valid.

Arriving in Spain with ETIAS Travel Authorization

Once you’ve been approved for ETIAS, every trip to Europe during its validity will be similar to the process of arriving in the region now.

A slight difference is you must let the authorities know which Schengen country you’ll be arriving in first, in this case, Spain. However, on arrival in the borderless zone, you can travel to all 26 participating countries.

When you arrive at the boarding gate, the airline crew will check that passengers have the correct authorization to enter the EU. After arriving in Spain your passport will also be checked by border guards to ensure your ETIAS is valid and that you can enter securely.

Whilst ETIAS is going to be a big change for travel to Spain and the EU generally, in reality, not much will be different for travelers on the ground. However, this one extra step is going to make travel much safer and simpler for those arriving in the country.