ETIAS FOR EAST TIMORESE CITIZENS

This website is not associated with or owned by the EU. The European Union’s official website is europa.eu.

Citizens of Timor-Leste, or East Timor, will be able to apply for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) to travel to more than 20 European countries beginning in November 2023.

These nations comprise the Schengen Area, an area with open borders in which travel between member states is permitted. France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Greece, and Sweden are among the Schengen nations.

East Timorese citizens do not need a visa to visit countries in the Schengen Area. This is because Timor-Leste is on the list of Schengen visa-free nations.

ETIAS will be operational beginning in November 2023 and will become a mandatory requirement. Visitors from East Timor will need to register with this visa waiver programme in order to visit these European countries.

COUNTRIES THAT REQUIRE EAST TIMORESE NATIONALS TO CARRY AN ETIAS

ETIAS Required

ETIAS authorises East Timorese Nationals to travel to all Schengen member states from November 2023:

  • EU Schengen
  • Non-EU Schengen States
  • Non-Schengen EU States
ETIAS Required

Non-EU Member States:

Micro-States de facto part of Schengen Area:

ETIAS Required

Non-Schengen EU States

HOW CAN EAST TIMORESE NATIONALS GET ETIAS AUTHORISATION?

Timorese nationals will be able to receive Schengen Area entry authorization by registering their details with the European Travel Information and Authorisation System. This may be accomplished quickly and conveniently by filling out an ETIAS application form online.

It is not essential to visit an embassy; the registration can be performed fully from the applicant’s home or workplace.

The East Timorese applicant must fill out a part of the form with their personal information, passport data, and trip intentions, followed by security questions.

The following personal and contact information must be provided by the applicant:

  • Full name
  • Date and country of birth
  • Nationality
  • Current address
  • Contact phone number and email address

PASSPORT DETAILS TO APPLY FOR ETIAS FROM EAST TIMOR

They must also give information about the passport they intend to use. This is significant since the ETIAS authorization is digitally linked to the passport used to apply.

If a traveller comes at a European border check with a passport that differs from the one shown on their ETIAS registration, they may be denied entrance. If the traveller’s passport used to register with ETIAS is lost, stolen, or destroyed, they must register with ETIAS afresh using their new passport.

Passport information necessary for ETIAS registration includes:

  • Passport number
  • Passport country
  • Date of issue
  • Date of expiry

The applicant must provide information about their travel plans in Europe, such as their Schengen country of entry and intended travel dates.

Following the submission of the ETIAS application, the information is screened against international databases in a process designed to identify threats to European security. Although the majority of applications are approved almost immediately, travellers should apply ahead of time in case of any unexpected delays.

East Timor applicants will be notified via email once their application has been processed and approved.

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ETIAS FOR CITIZENS OF TIMOR-LESTE?

To be eligible for the visa waiver, East Timorese nationals must fulfil the following ETIAS requirements:

  • The purpose of visiting the Schengen Area must be tourism, business, or transit
  • The stay cannot exceed 90 days within a 180-day period

If a Timorese national desires to live, work, or study in a Schengen member state, they must apply for the necessary visas and permissions.

Similarly, if the tourist intends to stay for more than three months, he or she must apply for a visa.

The following documents are necessary to submit an ETIAS application from East Timor:

  • A valid passport from a visa-exempt country
  • A current email address (to receive confirmation)
  • A payment method (credit or debit card)

All information must be entered precisely and truthfully. Errors or anomalies may cause the ETIAS application to be delayed or refused. The information on the passport must match the information on the passport used to enter Europe.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE ETIAS FOR EAST TIMORESE TRAVELLERS?

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System is being implemented to strengthen border security in Europe. This will make the continent safer for European citizens as well as international tourists, such as Timorese.

Each East Timorese applicant’s information is cross-checked against the following foreign databases:

  • Europol
  • Interpol (TDAWN, SLTD)
  • The ETIAS watchlist for Europe
  • VIS
  • SIS
  • EURODAC

By pre-screening each traveller from East Timor before they arrive, border control authorities for the Schengen Area can identify security risks and prevent them from arriving in Europe. ETIAS will help prevent cross-border crime and illegal immigration.

To help identify potential security risks, the ETIAS application requires that the travellers from Timor-Leste answer some questions about their employment history, past travel (especially to zones of conflict), and criminal record (if any).

The increased security afforded by ETIAS will give travellers peace of mind when visiting European countries. There are further benefits for East Timorese travellers:

DO NATIONALS OF TIMOR-LESTE NEED A VISA FOR EUROPE?

East Timorese citizens do not require a visa to visit any of the Schengen countries. However, there is a visa-free stay restriction of 90 days, beyond which the tourist would require a long-term visa.

Following the implementation of the ETIAS visa waiver, it will become an extra requirement to enter Schengen nations. However, ETIAS is not a visa, but rather a travel authorization, comparable to ESTA in the United States and eTA in Canada. It will be far faster and easier to get than a consular visa.

The Schengen Area does not encompass all of Europe. Sovereign governments who have not signed the Schengen Agreement have their own immigration and visa procedures.

The majority of European countries outside the Schengen Area also grant Timorese citizens visa exemption, which means no visa is required. These countries are:

  • The UK
  • Andorra
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Moldova
  • Montenegro

Certain European nations, however, need East Timorese tourists to have a valid visa, including the following:

  • Albania
  • Belarus
  • Ireland
  • Georgia (eVisa)
  • Macedonia
  • Serbia
  • Turkey (eVisa)
  • Ukraine (eVisa)

Before planning a trip to Europe, be sure you have the necessary visa or visa waiver for each country you intend to visit.

ETIAS FOR NATIONALS OF TIMOR-LESTE- FAQ

Timorese nationals will be able to get ETIAS to visit any Schengen member state beginning in late 2023.

The only exemption would be any East Timorese with dual citizenship whose second citizenship was in one of the Schengen states. They would not need authorization or a visa to enter the Schengen Area due to their Schengen citizenship.

East Timorese nationals who are not also citizens of a Schengen country must apply for an ETIAS for visa-free travels of up to 90 days. The ETIAS does not allow you to stay any longer than this. A long-term visa is required for stays of more than three months.

Citizens of Timor-Leste will be able to travel to any of the member states of the Schengen Area from late 2023 using the ETIAS. They will be able to visit for purposes of tourism, business, health, and transit.

ETIAS can be used to attend conferences, workshops, and events in Europe. However, the ETIAS does not entitle international visitors to study long-term in any of the member states of the Schengen zone. Each country has their own policy regarding international students and residency for nationals of countries outside of the European Union and Schengen Area.

East Timorese citizens who wish to attend university in Europe or otherwise study in a European country must apply for and obtain the relevant visa and any applicable residency permit and study permit they may need for that particular country.

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System does not constitute a visa. While candidates from East Timor must provide some of the same information as in a visa application, the process is quicker and easier.

Visas often require the applicant to apply at an embassy and, in many circumstances, to undergo an interview. ETIAS can be obtained by applying online without leaving the house or travelling.

ETIAS is a visa waiver scheme that allows border officials to check travellers in order to prevent dangers. The ESTA for America and the eTA for Canada are both similar systems.

ETIAS allows East Timorese citizens multiple entries into the Schengen Area and is valid for three years, whereas most visas have stricter restrictions.