ETIAS VISA WAIVER FOR PALAUANS

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To visit the Schengen Area, Palauans will soon need to register with the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). ETIAS will be operational in November 2023 and will become a visa-free entry requirement for Palauans visiting Schengen countries.

Visa-free travel to Europe is currently available to Palauans. They do not need a visa to visit the Schengen Area countries for tourism, business, or transit for up to 90 days.

ETIAS will be required for all Palauans and citizens of other visa-free countries visiting the Schengen zone. It will allow them to travel to European countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

By pre-screening travellers for potential risks, the ETIAS will help to improve security in the Schengen Area. International visitors to Europe will be safer than ever before.

PALAUAN TRAVELLERS NEED AN ETIAS VISA WAIVER TO ENTER:

ETIAS Required

ETIAS permits Palauans 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

DO CITIZENS OF PALAU NEED A VISA FOR EUROPE?

Travelers from Palau do not need a visa to enter any country in the Schengen Area if they meet the following criteria:

  • They are carrying a passport that will be valid for at least 3 months after their visit
  • They do not intend to stay longer than 90 days
  • They are traveling for tourism or business purposes
  • They are not going to do paid work or study in Europe

Palauan nationals who wish to work or study in a European country must obtain the necessary visas and/or permits. Those who plan to stay in the Schengen area for more than 90 days must apply for a visa.

This will be the case even after the ETIAS is launched. Palauans visiting Schengen member countries for tourism or business will be able to stay visa-free for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Nonetheless, they will be required to register with ETIAS as an additional requirement.

ETIAS REGISTRATION FOR CITIZENS OF PALAU

ETIAS is a travel authorization system, similar to ESTA in the United States or eTA in Canada. Registering with ETIAS is easier than applying for a visa.

The first step for Palau travellers is to fill out an online ETIAS application form. This procedure is quick and easy, and there is no need to visit an embassy.

Until the ETIAS is implemented, the only documentation required for Palauans to travel to Europe’s Schengen Area is a valid passport.

However, it is important to remember that not all European countries are part of the Schengen Agreement. Various countries in Europe, such as the United Kingdom, Ireland and Serbia maintain their own border control and immigration policies, including separate visa systems.

Palauan nationals travelling to Europe should check whether the country they will be visiting is part of the Schengen zone before booking their trip and ensure they apply for the correct documentation for that country.

HOW CAN PALAUANS APPLY FOR ETIAS FROM NOVEMBER 2023?

Palau nationals can apply for ETIAS beginning in November 2023 by registering their information in an online form. They will be asked for personal information, contact information, and their travel plans, as well as some security-related questions.

The following personal information is required in the application:

  • Full name
  • Date of birth
  • Location/country of birth
  • Nationality
  • Passport number
  • Date of passport issue
  • Date of passport expiry

The following contact information must be included in the ETIAS registration:

  • Current residential address
  • Contact phone number
  • Active email address

The Palauan applicant must also provide travel plans while in Europe. This includes specifying which European country in the Schengen Area they will first arrive in.

There are also security-related questions that the applicant must answer. These include criminal records, employment history, and previous travel, particularly to Europe or conflict zones around the world.

The ETIAS application form must be filled out completely and truthfully.

DOCUMENTS NEEDED TO APPLY FOR ETIAS FROM PALAU

For the ETIAS application to be successful, the Palauan traveler must have the following to hand while completing the form:

  • A valid passport that will not expire until after the intended visit
  • A method of payment (credit or debit card)
  • A current email address so that the approved document can be sent

If all of these ETIAS requirements are met, the application is likely to be approved.

HOW LONG CAN PALAU NATIONALS STAY IN EUROPE WITH ETIAS?

After registering with ETIAS, Palauans can travel to Europe without a visa. To do so, they will only need a valid passport and confirmation of their approved ETIAS. However, there is a time limit on how long foreign nationals can stay in the Schengen Area.

Palauans may enter the Schengen Area and stay in or travel around any of its member countries for a maximum of three months within a 180-day period.

These 90 days are not required to be consecutive. The traveller may make multiple visits within 180 days as long as the total number of days spent in Schengen countries during all visits does not exceed 90.

For example, the visitor may stay for 30 days in France, leave the Schengen Area for 2 months, then travel to Germany and stay for up to 60 days.

If a Palauan spends 90 consecutive days in the Schengen Area with ETIAS and then leaves the area, they will have to wait a further 90 days before they can apply for another ETIAS. Palauans who wish to spend more time in a European country will need to visit an embassy and apply for a visa and/or residency permit.

Once the ETIAS is approved, it is valid for 3 years and can be used for multiple visits over this period.

ETIAS FOR PALAUANS – FAQ

From late 2023, Palauans travelling to Schengen countries in Europe can register their information with ETIAS prior to their trip. The eu-LISA system encrypts and securely stores this data, which can only be accessed by authorised border control personnel.

Each Palauan applicant’s information will be checked against international databases to screen for security risks.

ETIAS will be denied if an applicant is found to have a history of serious criminal activity or to have provided false information on their application.

This prevents security risks from reaching the Schengen border, making travel safer for travellers with an approved ETIAS, as well as for Europe and its citizens.

Obtaining the ETIAS visa waiver permits Palauan citizens to visit all of the countries that make up the Schengen Area.

There are several key benefits that the ETIAS brings to travelers heading to Europe:

  • Improved security means travelling to Europe is safer, giving visitors peace of mind
  • Once ETIAS is approved, it will be valid for 3 years
  • ETIAS holders will be able to check and edit their information online

ETIAS will also benefit the Schengen member states and their citizens and residents by increasing security checks and preventing potential risks. It will help the open borders area to monitor who is coming in and out and reduce the number of people overstaying their permitted time in Europe as well as illegal immigration.

It will also help authorities to crack down on international crime keeping Europe a safe place for travelers.

Palauan nationals who successfully apply for ETIAS may enter any of the member countries of the Schengen Area. This includes 22 EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

ETIAS will also be required to visit Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyrpus and Romania which are EU countries in the process of joining the Schengen Area.

The United Kingdom has never been part of the Schengen Area having opted out of the Schengen Agreement. It maintains its own border security, immigration control, and visa policy.

However, Palauans who wish to visit the UK do not need to apply for a British visa for visits up to 6 months in duration. According to British visa policy, Palau is on the list of countries whose citizens are visa-exempt. This means that Palau nationals may visit the UK for a maximum of 6 months with only a valid passport.

The exception to this is if they enter the United Kingdom via the land border with the Republic of Ireland, in which case they may only stay for a maximum of 3 months without a visa.

The UK’s immigration and visa policies may change. It is important to keep up to date by checking the current British visa requirements before travelling to the UK.