What are the advantages of ETIAS?
Programs like the ETIAS visa waiver promote tourism, which contributes to economy growth. For example, the U.S. Travel Associate estimates that foreign visitors to the U.S. spend an average of $4,400 while visiting, and in 2012 alone, tourists spent almost $130 billion.
It is of the upmost importance to provide defend against terrorism and other potential security threats that may arise during travel. Visa waiver programs are one way that individual countries can participate in the global fight against illegal activities taking place around the world.
Member of a visa waiver program share data as well as information on travelers who may pose a security threat, which helps detect terrorists more easily. Many countries worldwide (including the European Union with ETIAS) are implementing their own visa waiver programs.
What is the Most Famous Visa Waiver Program In the World?
One of the most well-known visa waiver programs is the one currently used in the United States. Under this program, citizens of 38 different countries who are interested in traveling to the United States for business or tourism purposes may apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ESTA) by filling out a simple application in only a few minutes.
After completing the ESTA application and receiving approval, visitors are permitted to stay for up to 90 days. First introduced in the late 1980s, the U.S. visa waiver program is widely regarded as a success, as it contributed to the regeneration of the tourism industry after it fell in the early 2000s and has promoted border security.
Applicable to citizens of 52 countries, the Canadian ETA allows visitors to stay as long as 6 months. It provides opportunities for economic growth, and the Canadian government hopes it will reduce the number of unwelcome foreign nationals in the country. The program began in March of 2016 and provides multiple-entry authorization that is valid for three years or until the traveler’s passport expires, whichever comes first.
While these are the two most popular programs, many other countries of their own visa waiver programs (a.k.a. eVisas), including Australia, Kenya, Vietnam, Turkey, and India.
Visa waiver for travel to Europe
The EU is the latest region to launch it’s visa-free program, which will go into effect by the end of 2025. ETIAS applicants will pay a nominal fee for travel to Europe and must complete the ETIAS application before visiting a European country in the Schengen Area. This will tighten controls, increase security, and strengthen the fight against terrorism.
The modern world is subject to security threats and terrorism. Systems must balance safety and the promotion of travel. One of the main advantages of ETIAS is that visa waiver programs contribute to tourism and therefore economic growth.
