ETIAS and its Impact on Grenada Citizenship

In 2022, the 26 countries that comprise the Schengen area will require that nationals of certain non-Schengen states obtain a kind of travel authorization in order to enter the zone. Known as the European Travel Information and Authorization System, ETIAS will only be eligible for nationals of countries that historically have not needed any kind of permit to enter the Schengen area. It is nationals of these countries—those which previously had visa-free access to the zone—who will soon be required to obtain an ETIAS to enter the Schengen area. The Caribbean country of Grenada is one of the countries that, going forward, will be subject to ETIAS. If you are someone who is looking to obtain Grenada citizenship through the country’s economic passport program, you may be wondering about ETIAS eligibility for Grenada. The following will provide answers to questions about how the new requirement will affect traveling to Europe with ETIAS for citizens of Grenada. Read on to learn the answers to key FAQs about ETIAS visa waiver requirements (“what countries do Grenada nationals need an ETIAS for?”), to discover how to apply for the ETIAS authorization for Grenada citizens, and for more ETIAS application advice.

What is the point of ETIAS?

• ETIAS was created with the goal of reducing potential external threats to the Schengen area by subjecting all travelers from outside the zone to a kind of security screening.
• In the absence of ETIAS, travelers from the United States, Canada, Grenada, and many other countries can enter the Schengen area without undergoing any kind of screening. Under this scenario, the Schengen area has essentially been powerless to prevent individuals from visa-free countries who might threaten the safety and security of the Schengen area from entering the zone. By forcing all individuals—even those from visa free states—to apply for permission to access the zone, the Schengen area regains some control over its external borders (i.e. who it allows in).

How will ETIAS affect Grenada citizenship?

• As anyone who is pursuing Grenada citizenship knows, Grenada passport holders have visa-free access or visa on arrival to over 140 countries around the world. A key benefit of the Grenada passport program has therefore always been the degree of access it provides to Europe. If you become a Grenada national through economic citizenship, you will receive a Grenada passport, and therefore be entitled to visa-free access to all 26 countries in the Schengen area, including France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.
• Some Grenada citizens may be worried that ETIAS will provide a barrier to global movement. However, traveling to Europe with ETIAS for citizens of Grenada should not be difficult. ETIAS is not a visa—the process for obtaining it is neither time consuming nor expensive. The vast majority of ETIAS applicants are approved—only those who would significantly threaten the security of the zone will be rejected. And once you are approved for ETIAS, you will not have to reapply for the authorization for another three years. For all of these reasons, ETIAS will not negatively affect the Grenada economic citizenship program, which will continue to effectively offer visa-free travel to the Schengen area via the Grenada passport.

What countries do Grenada nationals need an ETIAS for?

• The requirement of ETIAS for Grenadian citizens applies exclusively to the 26 countries in the European Schengen area, which has a collective visa policy. In 2022 therefore, nationals of Grenada will need an ETIAS in order to travel to the below states:
  • Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

When will Grenadians need ETIAS to travel to Europe?

• ETIAS for Grenadian citizens will become operational sometime in 2022 (probably closer to 2023). Until then, nationals of Grenada can continue to travel to the Schengen area without any kind of travel authorization.

How does ETIAS for Grenadian citizens work?

• ETIAS is a kind of travel authorization that allows holders to gain entry to the Schengen area. It works like this: Grenada citizens who are looking to travel to Europe will (pre-flight) apply for an ETIAS in a simple, short, and inexpensive online process.
• After entering your basic biographical/travel information into the online application system, your identity will be run through a variety of Schengen security systems. So long as you do not come up on any of these systems (i.e. you do not have a criminal history, have not previously committed immigration fraud, and/or you are not identified as a potential security threat by the Schengen security systems) you will receive your ETIAS.

Where do I apply for ETIAS authorization for Grenada citizens?

• Once the system is operational, you can obtain ETIAS online, through either an official APP or via the ETIAS website. You can therefore apply for ETIAS from the comfort of your own home—there is no in-person application requirement.

What are the ETIAS requirements for Grenadian citizens?

• The ETIAS visa waiver requirements are minimal, and include the following:
  • Internet to access ETIAS website/APP
  • Email for online registration
  • Valid passport
  • €7 EUR application fee

How much does ETIAS cost?

• ETIAS is projected to cost under €10 EUR—€7 EUR to be exact.
• Acceptable payment methods for ETIAS include credit and debit cards—because it is an entirely online application process, ETIAS will likely not accept cash.

What is the processing time for ETIAS?

• While applicants often wait weeks to receive traditional visas to the Schengen area, the ETIAS application process will take under 10 minutes for most applicants.
• Please note, if you have a criminal history or some other reason for showing up in the Schengen security system, your ETIAS application may take hours (or even days) to be approved—or even be denied altogether.

How do I apply for ETIAS for Grenadian citizens?

• Take the following steps to apply for ETIAS:
  • Access the ETIAS website/APP
  • Pay the ETIAS fee (€7 EUR).
  • Submit your biographical/travel information (includes information like your birthdate, Schengen area travel history, passport number, etc)
  • Await your decision (you should be approved for your ETIAS in fewer than 10 minutes. You will show your ETIAS to the relevant Schengen border agents to be granted entry to the zone.

Is ETIAS a visa?

• ETIAS is a travel authorization—not a visa. Visas tend to be expensive and require lengthy, in-person application processes that involve interviews and the submission of multiple physical documents and biometric information. Most Schengen visa applicants, for example, are required to apply in-person at country consulates or embassies. In contrast, the ETIAS requirements for Grenadian passport holders are minimal.
• Finally, ETIAS—unlike a visa—is not a physical document. Whereas visas are pasted into travel documents, ETIAS is electronic in form, meaning that you keep a record of your authorization on your computer/phone, rather than in your passport.

Where can I find additional ETIAS application advice?

To learn more about ETIAS eligibility for Grenada, and to find out how to obtain Grenada citizenship through the country’s CBI program, contact us here.