ETIAS FOR TUVALUAN CITIZENS

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

Tuvalu and the European Union have a visa waiver agreement. This means that Tuvaluans can visit Europe for a short period of time without needing to apply for a visa.

Tuvaluans can enter Europe without a visa if they present their passport upon arrival for any of the following purposes:

  • Business
  • Leisure
  • Tourism
  • Health
  • Transit

Nonetheless, visa-exempt visitors, including those from Tonga, will face a new entry requirement in the near future. ETIAS will be operational beginning in November 2023. All visa-exempt non-EU nationals will be required to obtain a travel authorization.

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is a system being implemented by the European Union to improve internal security.

WHAT DO TUVALUANS NEED TO VISIT EUROPE?

Tuvaluan passport holders visiting European Schengen countries such as France, Spain, Italy, Greece, and Germany for a short period of time can apply for ETIAS beginning in November 2023.

The Tuvaluan ETIAS is valid for stays of up to 90 days per 180-day period and allows the holder multiple entries into Schengen countries.

Unlike most visas, which are country-specific, Tuvalian nationals can enter all Schengen member countries with a single online application:

DO TUVALUAN CITIZENS NEED AN ETIAS FOR EVERY EUROPEAN COUNTRY THEY VISIT?

ETIAS Required

ETIAS permits Tuvaluans 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

The Tuvaluan ETIAS is valid for visits to the Schengen Area for one or more of the following reasons:

  • Leisure
  • Tourism
  • Business
  • Health
  • Transit

Tuvaluan students and professionals can also use an ETIAS to attend conferences, short-term courses, or workshops in Europe. The only requirement in this case is that the academic stay is less than the 90 days allowed by ETIAS.

ETIAS BENEFITS FOR PASSPORT HOLDERS OF TUVALU

The ETIAS travel authorisation for citizens of Tuvalu offers holders multiple benefits:

  • The requirements to get an ETIAS from Tuvalu (see list below) are simple and straightforward
  • The integrated security systems implemented alongside the ETIAS will facilitate Schengen border crossing for Tuvaluan holders
  • The ETIAS will be processed faster than a visa
  • The electronic travel authorisation for Europe can be obtained entirely online
  • Obtaining an ETIAS from Tuvalu does not require an interview
  • The ETIAS grants Tuvaluan holders the right to spend up to 90 days per 180-day period inside the Schengen borders

ETIAS FOR TUVALUANS REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Tuvaluan nationals will need the following items to successfully complete the ETIAS online application:

  • A current, machine-readable Tuvaluan passport that remains valid beyond the intended stay in the Schengen Area
  • An email address the Tuvaluan citizen has access to in order to receive a notification when the ETIAS is granted
  • An online payment method, such as a valid credit or debit card to pay the ETIAS fees from Tuvalu

Once the Tuvaluan passport holder has gathered all of the above ETIAS requirements, they will be able to submit the visa waiver application from the comfort of their own home or office. The ETIAS application for Tuvaluans can be completed from any location with a secure internet connection.

ETIAS FOR EUROPE APPLICATION FROM TUVALU

Passport holders from Tuvalu who wish to apply for an ETIAS must complete a simple online form.

Once the traveller has the necessary documents, the Tuvalu ETIAS application takes only a few minutes to complete (see ETIAS requirements above for a list).

Tuvaluan applicants will be required to enter the following information on the ETIAS form:

  • Full name
  • Date of birth
  • Country of birth
  • Passport number
  • Passport country and date of issue
  • Passport expiry date
  • Intended arrival date to the Schengen Area
  • First intended country of arrival
  • Purpose of their visit to Europe

ETIAS FOR TUVALUAN CHILDREN

ETIAS will be a mandatory European entry requirement for Tuvaluans of all ages, including minors.

Tuvaluan children’s parents and guardians can apply for ETIAS authorization on their behalf. They must complete the form with the minor’s information.

Tuvaluan children can apply for ETIAS using their parent or guardian’s contact and payment information.

ETIAS APPLICATION RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TUVALUANS

Tuvaluan nationals should carefully review the information they enter in their ETIAS application to ensure that:

  • The citizen’s full name and date of birth coincides exactly with the way they are printed on the Tuvaluan passport
  • The passport number, date of issuance and expiration date are identical to the ones printed on the applicant’s passport
  • The citizen’s email address has no typing errors so that they can correctly receive notifications regarding their ETIAS application

Once the form is filled out and the Tuvaluan citizen has completed the payment of the ETIAS fees, the request will be processed.

Screening against multiple international security databases such as SIS, VIS, EURODAC, EUROPOL, and INTERPOL is part of the automated revision of the ETIAS data.

The majority of Tuvaluan ETIAS applications are expected to be approved automatically.

Nonetheless, the Tuvaluan applicant’s data may receive a hit from one or more of the security databases queried during the screening process in a few cases. A manual revision of the information and an ETIAS request may be required in this case.

The manual revision of an ETIAS from Tuvalu can cause the processing time to be extended. As a result, travellers should apply for their travel authorization well in advance of their trip.

ETIAS FOR TUVALUANS – FAQ

Tuvaluan citizens with an ETIAS travel authorization may conduct business in Schengen member countries for up to 90 days. The ETIAS allows Tuvaluans to conduct business or travel to all member countries.

Tuvaluans who want to work in Europe but aren’t sure which country to move to can use their ETIAS to visit all Schengen countries. When a Tuvaluan citizen finds a country that meets their needs and preferences, they must apply for a work visa at the embassy or consulate of that country.

Unlike the ETIAS, European work visas are country-specific. Working in the Schengen Area with a Tuvaluan passport and an ETIAS may result in the ETIAS being revoked, fines, and even deportation.

Tuvalu passport holders with a criminal record may still be able to travel to Europe. A Tuvaluan or third-country criminal record does not automatically mean that their ETIAS application will be denied.

The ETIAS seeks to keep people who have ties to serious crimes.

Applicants who have committed minor offences may still be considered eligible for an ETIAS from Tuvalu if they are not perceived as a threat to the well-being and security of Schengen member countries and their residents.

Individuals from Tuvalu with dual citizenship who wish to visit Europe will need to apply for an ETIAS if they comply with all the following conditions:

  • The Tuvaluan national’s second passport/nationality is from a non-Schengen country, ETIAS eligible country, or a visa-required country
  • The Tuvaluan traveller intends to visit the European Schengen member nations
  • The Tuvaluan individual will stay a maximum of 90 days
  • The purpose of the Tuvaluan national’s trip is either leisure, tourism, business, health or transit

The Tuvaluan citizen will have to choose one of their passports to apply for the ETIAS and make sure to travel on the same passport.

Once approved, the ETIAS will be electronically linked to a single passport, the one used in the application form.

The ETIAS cannot be transferred to a second passport, even if both are owned by the same person. Tuvaluans with an ETIAS on one passport who travel on their second passport may face difficulties at the border.

European Union border authorities will be unable to access the citizen’s ETIAS unless the citizen presents the passport for which the ETIAS was issued upon arrival.