ETIAS FOR EMIRATIS

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

Travellers from the United Arab Emirates can visit the Schengen Area without applying for a Schengen visa before departure.

However, there will be changes to visa-free travel to Europe from November 2023. All visa-exempt citizens —including Emirati nationals— will be required to register with ETIAS to enter any of the Schengen countries.

By November 2023, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System will be fully implemented. ETIAS is an electronic travel authorisation, or visa waiver, similar to the United States ESTA.

Tourists travelling to Europe with a United Arab Emirates passport will need to apply for and obtain an approved European visa waiver before they go to Schengen Area countries.

WHAT IS THE ETIAS AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT EMIRATIS?

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System is a visa waiver programme for visa-exempt non-EU citizens.Passport holders from all ETIAS eligible countries including the United Arab Emirates will need to apply.

ETIAS is currently under development and will be fully implemented by November 2023. The required systems will tie in with existing immigration databases as well as other security data systems. ETIAS will provide a seamless screening and entry procedure for Emiratis visiting any of the Schengen countries.

HOW DOES THE ETIAS BENEFIT EMIRATI PASSPORT HOLDERS?

The ETIAS travel authorisation applications for citizens of the UAE has several advantages, including:

  • Easy application
  • Quick approval
  • No need to visit an embassy

ETIAS IS VALID FOR ALL COUNTRIES IN THE SCHENGEN AREA

With ETIAS, travellers from the UAE can visit to any of the countries in the Schengen Area with the same permit. ETIAS is verified at the external Schengen border. Emirati passport holders can then visit any of the countries in the Schengen zone for up to 90 days.

SAFER TRAVEL EXPERIENCE WHEN VISITING SCHENGEN COUNTRIES

ETIAS is being introduced by Schengen authorities with the objective of strengthening and improving internal security within the member countries.

Thanks to the implementation of ETIAS, travellers heading from the United Arab Emirates to the Schengen Area will be pre-screened before boarding a flight towards any member nation, even if they do not require a visa.

The pre-screening process ETIAS will make visiting the Schengen countries safer for both residents and tourists.

Checking visa-exempt travellers against security databases and denying entry to those who may represent a risk to the safety of the Schengen nations will be a great benefit to citizens of the EU and visitors from the United Arab Emirates.

The ETIAS registration and verification process will provide Schengen authorities with more infomation about who is crossing the external border.

WHAT DO EMIRATI CITIZENS NEED TO VISIT EUROPE?

From November 2023, when the Europe visa waiver for Emirati citizens is launched, all travellers to Europe from the United Arab Emirates will need to obtain an ETIAS travel authorisation.

Getting an ETIAS from the UAE involves completing an onlline application. It is quick and simple to complete with basic personal and passport information.

Most ETIAS applications from the UAE will be approved soon after the application is submitted. The approved visa waiver is linked to the applicant’s passport electronically and they are notified by email. The ETIAS will be verified when the passport is scanned at an external Schengen border.

If the traveller fulfills all entry conditions, they will be authorised to enter the Schengen Area. Note that ETIAS does not guarantee entry to Europe but will be a mandatory entry requirements for visa-free travel.

WHAT COUNTRIES CAN EMIRATI CITIZENS VISIT WITH AN ETIAS?

ETIAS holders from the United Arab Emirates will be able to travel to countries in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days per trip, within a 180-day period.

ETIAS Required

Currently, there are 22 European countries that form part of the Schengen Area:

  • 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

ETIAS REQUIREMENTS FOR EMIRATI CITIZENS

To get started with the ETIAS application from the United Arab Emirates, travellers need:

  • Valid passport issued by the UAE
  • Email address to receive ETIAS status updates
  • Credit or debit card to pay the ETIAS fee

The passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the intended date of departure from the Schengen Area.

ETIAS VISA WAIVER APPLICATION FOR EMIRATIS

An ETIAS visa waiver for Europe will be essential for all Emirati citizens travelling to Europe for tourism or business purposes. It is easily obtainable online through the ETIAS application form.

Each eligible citizen travelling to Europe from the United Arab Emirates will need to complete a short application form with their contact details and answer some security questions regarding their travel history and their health.

The information provided in the ETIAS application for Emiratis will be screened against various security databases. The approved ETIAS visa waiver will be sent to the applicant’s email address once it has been granted.

All applicants are urged to double-check the information they provide on the application before submitting the ETIAS request. All of the data provided in the ETIAS application form must be provided exactly as it appears on the Emirati citizen’s passport.

Any inconsistencies between the details provided in the form and the data printed on the applicant’s passport may result in the ETIAS request being delayed or, in some cases, denied. It is important that there are no spelling mistakes in the personal information, passport details or email address provided.

TRAVELLING TO EUROPE FROM THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Travellers with the European visa waiver for Emirati citizens can travel to any of the Schengen countries included in the ETIAS agreement for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period. This means Emirati citizens with ETIAS can travel to any of the Schengen zone countries without the need to apply for a visa.

Emirati ETIAS holders may spend up to 90 consecutive days in the participating countries, after which they must remain outside the Schengen Area for the next 90 days. Then, ETIAS holders from the UAE will be granted another 90 consecutive days which they may spend in all member countries.

The ETIAS for Europe is valid for 3 years as long as the passport used in the application remains valid. When either the Emirati passport or ETIAS expires (whichever is sooner), the traveller will need to reapply for travel authorisation before returning to the Schengen zone.

An approved ETIAS travel authorisation permits Emirati citizens multiple entries into the Schengen zone. This means that any Emirati citizen with a valid ETIAS can visit Europe several times in this 3 year period. The total stay must not exceed 90 days per 180-day period.

ETIAS FOR UAE CITIZENS

If the Emirati passport that is electronically linked to an approved ETIAS expires before the 3-year validity of the travel authorisation runs out, the citizen will need to request a new travel authorisation using the number of their new passport.

Once granted, the ETIAS is associated with the passport used for the visa waiver request and may not be transferred to a second passport, even though both belong to the same person.

Nationals of the United Arab Emirates with more than one valid passport due to dual nationality must choose one passport to apply for the ETIAS travel authorisation with.

Emirati travellers with dual citizenship must make sure to travel on the same passport used in the ETIAS application.

No. Although the ETIAS travel authorisation allows UAE holders entry into the Schengen countries for business, as well as tourism and leisure, ETIAS does not grant permission to work nor seek employment in Europe.

Nationals from the United Arab Emirates who plan to work in any of the Schengen member nations need to visit the embassy or consulate of the country in which they wish to reside and work.

Embassy or consulate officials from the chosen country will inform Emiratis of the specific requirements they need to have at hand when applying for a European work visa.