Then there’s ETIAS (the European Traffic and Information Authorisation System) which is a precursor screening complement to the EES. It’s not running yet and isn’t going to be for some time, even though it claims a start date in later 2026. ETIAS is a pre-screening mechanism that digitally investigates travel applications for signs of criminal activity, visa violations and other unacceptable activities and then authorizes or denies applicants’ travel permission. Theoretically, once an applicant is approved and has paid the fee, he or she can proceed on to the EES for final processing through the kiosks in individual member countries. We say “theoretically,” because ETIAS has had many start dates delayed and, in the meantime, applicants have been sent right through to the activation EES stage. It’s sort of complicated, but this is Europe after all. As for the cost of the ETIAS process, it’s seven euros or its equivalent per person. Applicants older than 70 get it free. Together, these systems ensure that you limit your wandering to 90 allowable days in any 180-day period, and that total includes any or all 29 Schengen countries – not 90 days in Finland and another 90 in Portugal. You’re allowed up to 90 days out of each 180, and that clock runs from the time you check into the first country through to the one which you leave at the end of your trip. Up to now, Canadians have not needed any visas (only passports) to visit any Schengen country. Wondering if you really need to travel to Schengen? Here’s the lineup. European Union members of Schengen are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. Note: Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are not EU members, but are part of Schengen. For history buffs, in 1985 a handful of European nations met in the town of Schengen (Luxembourg) to sign a visa-free travel arrangement among themselves. Over the years, it has come to encompass most of the European Union. But it’s noteworthy that, although CSANews | WINTER 2025 | 25 Travel
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