ETIAS FOR SINGAPORE CITIZENS

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

Singaporeans will soon need to apply for ETIAS in order to travel to the Schengen Area. ETIAS is a new visa-free entrance requirement for non-EU nationals, including Singaporeans. ETIAS will be completely operational by November 2023.

The European Union is implementing ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) to improve border management in the Schengen Area.

ETIAS Required

These are the countries that will require a valid ETIAS:

  • 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

WHAT DO SINGAPOREANS NEED TO DO BEFORE VISITING THE SCHENGEN ZONE?

Singaporeans do not require a visa to enter the Schengen Area for up to 90 days.

Singaporeans will soon be required to register with ETIAS in order to travel to Europe visa-free. The ETIAS criteria for Singaporeans are straightforward; candidates will need the following items to apply:

  • Singaporean passport
  • Current email address
  • Valid credit or debit card

Singapore passports must be valid for at least three months after the date of proposed departure from the Schengen Area. ETIAS is not a visa, and no paperwork must be submitted in person at an embassy. The application is entirely online.

VISITING THE SCHENGEN ZONE WITH ETIAS FOR SINGAPOREANS

When the ETIAS for Singaporeans is authorised, travellers will be notified via email. An ETIAS authorization is valid for three years (or until the passport expires) and enables numerous Schengen zone entry. Each stay cannot exceed 90 days in any 180-day period.

Singaporeans can visit any of the Schengen nations with the ETIAS visa waiver. This covers all 22 EU member nations, four EFTA members, and microstates that have open borders with Schengen countries. Singaporeans with an ETIAS will also be permitted to go to Special EU Members such as the Canary Islands and Madeira, which are located outside of the EU’s main boundaries.

ETIAS will also be necessary to travel to Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, and Romania, all of which are EU nations that are in the process of entering the Schengen Area.

When the ETIAS or the passport associated with the permission expires, Singaporeans must reapply for ETIAS, including paying the ETIAS charge.

CASES WHEN SINGAPOREANS WILL NEED A EUROPEAN VISA INSTEAD OF AN ETIAS

Visitors from Singapore who intend to work in Europe, remain for more than 90 days, or visit Europe for purposes other than those covered under the ETIAS, such as study, must apply for a Singaporean visa. Citizens must apply for this visa in person at the appropriate national embassy or consulate.

Singaporeans will need to provide identifying paperwork and other information throughout the application procedure in order for the nation to issue their visa. The following documents must be submitted by the citizen:

  • A Singaporean passport with 2 blank pages and over 3 months validity prior to travel
  • A completed visa application form
  • A recent passport photo of the applicant, that shows their full face and that is taken against a white background

In addition to these processes, the applicant must additionally provide:

  • Payment of the visa fees
  • Reservations for round trip flights or onward travel
  • Proof of sufficient financial means for living in the Schengen area
  • Evidence of valid health insurance for your prospective country of residence

The duration of the visa issued will vary based on the Singaporean’s personal condition.

TRAVELLING FROM SINGAPORE TO EUROPE VISA-FREE UNDER BILATERAL AGREEMENTS

Due to bilateral agreements currently in existence, Singaporeans can visit select European countries for longer than 90 days.

Bilateral agreements are reciprocal agreements concluded between two countries. They are therefore country-specific. If a Singaporean citizen wishes to enter more than one European country visa-free, they must apply for the ETIAS visa waiver before departing.

The following is a list of bilateral agreements between Singapore and European nations.

Singaporean passports of any sort that match the validity requirements can be used to enter:

  • Denmark (up to 3 extra months)
  • Liechtenstein (up to 3 extra months)
  • Norway (up to 3 extra months)
  • Switzerland (up to 3 extra months)

Ordinary passport holders can visit:

  • Czech Republic (up to 3 extra months)
  • Greece (up to 2 extra weeks)
  • Spain (up to 3 extra months)
  • France (up to 3 extra months)
  • Hungary (up to 1 extra month)

Those with diplomatic, service, or official passports are permitted to enter:

  • Czech Republic (up to 3 extra months)
  • Greece (up to 2 extra weeks)
  • Austria (up to 3 extra months)

Singaporeans may stay in these nations for a longer period of time than specified above. However, depending on their circumstances, they will need to apply for ETIAS or an appropriate visa.

All of the bilateral visa waiver agreements mentioned between Singapore and EU Member States are subject to the following conditions: Singaporeans can only stay in that specific country during their application, and citizens of Singapore are only allowed to leave the European Union through that country when using a reciprocal arrangement of this type.

The validity of these mutual accords may alter depending on the circumstances and talks of Singapore and the EU nations.

ETIAS APPLICATION FOR CITIZENS OF SINGAPORE

Tourists from Singapore who desire to visit the Schengen area must apply for an ETIAS visa waiver by filling out an online application form. The first step in filling out this application will be to supply personal information. The ETIAS applicant must submit the right information about themselves:

  • First name
  • Last name
  • Gender
  • Date of birth
  • Nation of birth
  • The applicant’s current address

After submitting their personal information, the applicant must supply information regarding their passport. The online application form will request the following information:

  • Their national citizenship
  • A Singaporean passport number
  • The issue date of their passport
  • Their passport’s expiry date

ETIAS FOR SINGAPOREANS SECURITY QUESTIONS AND SCREENING

In the last step of the procedure, the user will be asked a series of personal, job, and security questions to check that they meet the ETIAS application requirements. They will have to:

  • Select the country they are going to enter the Schengen zone from
  • Confirm and provide evidence of relationship with any family members who are EU citizen or EU resident that the applicant will be visiting with their ETIAS
  • Provide information about their education background
  • Give details of their work status
  • Answer whether they have travelled to conflict zones previously
  • Detail whether they possess a criminal record in Singapore
  • Submit information on previous travel to the European continent and Schengen area

Once their application has been reviewed and validated, it will be emailed to the email address they provided during the application process.

Most Singaporeans will get their European visa waiver application granted shortly after submitting it. Applicants will be contacted through email.

The ETIAS’s primary goal is to reinforce Europe’s borders while expediting the procedure for travellers. As a consequence, the applicant’s information is cross-checked against multiple security databases. Among these systems are:

  • VIS
  • SIS
  • EURODAC
  • EUROPOL DATA
  • TDAWN (INTERPOL)
  • SLTD (INTERPOL)

ENTERING THE SCHENGEN AREA FROM SINGAPORE WITH ETIAS

Travelers should be aware that ETIAS does not guarantee entrance into Europe. The national border guards have the last word on whether they are allowed to enter the Schengen Area.

Border guards may ask travellers upon arrival if they have proof of the following:

  • Sufficient funds for the duration of your vacation or business trip to Europe
  • Valid health insurance for the Schengen area
  • Return tickets to Singapore or proof of onward travel from Europe

The vast majority of ETIAS holders will pass through Schengen external border security without incident.

ETIAS FOR SINGAPOREANS – FAQ

Once the system is operational, Singaporeans will be unable to study in Europe with an ETIAS visa waiver. This is due to the fact that ETIAS is only approved for tourist, transportation, and commercial purposes. Instead, the applicant should acquire a valid national or student visa for their intended location.

Singaporeans travelling to the European Union with an ETIAS will be unable to work in their destination countries. To work in a Schengen country, Singaporeans must first get a work visa from the country in which they desire to work.

No, the ETIAS is a visa waiver rather than a complete visa for Singaporeans. It is intended to improve EU security and ease the procedure of accessing all European Schengen nations for tourists and business travellers from visa-free countries.