ETIAS FOR NI-VANUATU CITIZENS

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The EU-Vanuatu visa waiver agreement has been partially suspended. Until further notice, Vanuatu citizens require a visa to enter the EU.

Ni-Vanuatu nationals can travel to the European Union without a visa thanks to visa waiver agreements between Vanuatu and the European Union. It is necessary to have a valid Ni-Vanuatu passport.

Citizens of visa-exempt countries, including Vanuatu, will be able to obtain a travel authorization for Europe, ETIAS, before leaving their home country beginning in November 2023.

ETIAS is an acronym that stands for European Travel Information and Authorisation System. It has been in the works since 2016, with the goal of improving security within the Schengen area.

ETIAS is being implemented alongside the EES — the European Entry Exit System. ETIAS will prescreen visa-exempt travellers to ensure they do not pose a threat to Europe. The new travel authorization will make the Schengen Area safer for Ni-Vanuatu residents and visitors from around the world.

EUROPEAN COUNTRIES THAT GRANT NI-VANUATU CITIZENS ENTRY WITH AN ETIAS

Vanuatu ETIAS holders will be able to visit the following countries with an approved travel authorization:

ETIAS Required

ETIAS permits Ni-Vanuatu Citizens to travel to all Schengen member states 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

ETIAS INFORMATION FOR VANUATU PASSPORT HOLDERS

The ETIAS is only valid for short trips to the Schengen Area for Ni-Vanuatu citizens. Travelers from Vanuatu can use ETIAS to visit any of the Schengen countries for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.

Obtaining an ETIAS from Vanuatu will be much easier than obtaining a Schengen visa. Ni-Vanuatu citizens will not need to visit an embassy or consulate because the ETIAS application is available online.

Travelers who meet the ETIAS requirements can fill out the application form in a matter of minutes.

The majority of Vanuatu ETIAS applications will be automatically approved shortly after submission.

WHO NEEDS TO APPLY FOR ETIAS FROM VANUATU?

Ni-Vanuatu citizens of all ages, including minors, will be able to apply for an ETIAS to visit the Schengen Area without a visa beginning in November 2023.

The ETIAS will be required for Vanuatu residents visiting Europe for any of the following reasons.

  • Tourism and leisure
  • Business
  • Health and medical
  • Transit

As long as the associated passport is valid, the visa waiver will be valid for three years. The ETIAS allows Vanuatu residents to visit the Schengen Area multiple times. Tourists are not required to obtain a new travel authorization for each trip to Europe.

ETIAS SECURITY CHECKS FOR TRAVELLERS FROM VANUATU

The automatic screening process will begin as soon as the ETIAS fee is received. The data of the Ni-Vanuatu national will be cross-checked against international security databases such as the following:

  • SIS
  • VIS
  • EURODAC
  • EUROPOL
  • INTERPOL.

If any of the systems receive a security alert, manual revision will be required. The ETIAS from Vanuatu will be manually processed by Frontex or national EU agents. In case of unexpected processing delays, it is best to apply for ETIAS as soon as possible before travelling to Europe.

TRAVELLING TO EUROPE FROM VANUATU WITH AN ETIAS

The Ni-Vanuatu traveller will be able to present their machine-readable passport at the border once they arrive in Europe. The passport will then be digitally scanned by immigration officials to ensure that it contains a valid ETIAS travel authorization.

Passengers from Vanuatu who have an approved ETIAS and meet all European entry requirements will be permitted to cross the border.

Visitors who do not meet the requirements or have a valid ETIAS will be denied entry and their refusal will be recorded in the Entry Exit System.

Depending on the nature of the refusal, entry refusals recorded in the EES may impede future attempts to obtain an ETIAS travel authorization for Europe.

Before travelling to Europe, Ni-Vanuatu citizens must ensure that they meet all of the European entry requirements.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS TO OBTAIN AN ETIAS FROM VANUATU

The ETIAS requirements for Ni-Vanuatu are straightforward. To get started with the app, travellers will need:

  • A machine-readable, passport from Vanuatu
  • An email address to receive status updates
  • A credit or debit card to pay the ETIAS online fees

COMPLETING THE ETIAS APPLICATION FORM FROM VANUATU

With the requirements in hand, Ni-Vanuatu applicants must complete the following information in their ETIAS application form:

  • Full name
  • Date of birth
  • Country of birth
  • Passport number
  • Passport country
  • Passport date of issue
  • Passport date of expiry

Expert advice: Make sure all of the above-mentioned personal and passport information is entered into the ETIAS application form exactly as it appears on the citizen’s Ni-Vanuatu passport.

Typing errors may cause the screening process to be delayed or even result in the denial of an ETIAS travel authorization.

Following that, Ni-Vanuatu ETIAS applicants must provide information about the trip, such as:

  • Intended date of arrival into the Schengen Area
  • First country of entry into the Schengen Area
  • Purpose of their visit

Although the ETIAS form requires applicants to choose a single Schengen country as their designated first point of entry, they will be able to travel to all member countries once they have entered the territory.

Ni-Vanuatu citizens will be required to fill out a section of the form with basic security and health questions. Applicants must complete the entire ETIAS form truthfully and accurately.

The ETIAS aims to keep people who are deemed dangerous to the European Union outside of the Schengen area. Applicants from Vanuatu with a criminal record may still be able to enter Europe if they are not deemed to jeopardise the Schengen Area.

ETIAS FOR NI-VANUATU NATIONALS – FAQ

Students and professionals from Vanuatu may attend academic events in Europe on an ETIAS if they meet the following criteria:

  • The ETIAS must be valid beyond the class dates
  • The conference, congress, workshop, course or summit must have a duration of under 90 days
  • The event must take place in a European country that belongs to the Schengen Area

Ni-Vanuatu nationals who want to study at a European university in the Schengen Area must contact the consulate or embassy of the country where the school is located. The student must have an acceptance letter from the university where they wish to study.

Following that, the Vanuatu student must apply for a study visa by presenting their passport, acceptance letter, and any other documents required by the embassy or consulate.

The ETIAS travel authorization for Europe allows holders from Vanuatu to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

The ETIAS allows Ni-Vanuatu holders to enter all member countries and travel freely between them as long as they do not exceed the maximum stay.

This period of stay is available to Ni-Vanuatu ETIAS holders doing business in Schengen countries of the European Union.

However, Ni-Vanuatu passport holders who wish to seek employment or begin working in the Schengen Area must apply for a work visa through the embassy or consulate of the country in which they wish to reside.

Travellers from Vanuatu passing through the Schengen Area on their way to a third-country destination must have the necessary travel documents in order to board their flight.

Regardless of how short their layover, transit passengers from Vanuatu must bring the following documents with them when they arrive at Schengen border control in Europe:

  • A valid Ni-Vanuatu passport that is unexpired
  • An approved ETIAS travel authorisation for Europe
  • An onward ticket for a destination the traveler is allowed to enter (they must have a valid visa or travel authorization for this country if one is required)