In September 2018, the Council and the European Parliament formally adopted the EU legislation introducing a European Travel Information and Authorisation System. According to this, some 1.4 billion people from over 60 visa-exempt countries are required to have a travel authorisation to enter 30 European countries for a short stay. It is expected that the ETIAS will be operational from mid-2025.

As Belgium is one of the 30 European countries that require visa-exempt travellers to have an ETIAS travel authorisation, work is underway to prepare for it and an important milestone has been reached today. The House of Representatives, during the plenary session, has approved by a majority the ETIAS law that establishes the Belgian ETIAS National Unit.

Given the multiple objectives and diverse expertise covered by the ETIAS system, the National Unit will be part of the National Travel Targeting Center and will consist of two sections: one within the National Crisis Center (NCCN), and the other within the Immigration Office. The ETIAS National Unit will become operational in 2025, with an effective date yet to be specified at EU level.

The law specifies the processes described in the ETIAS regulation, such as risk assessment, watchlist management, or consultation for enforcement purposes. It also establishes rules for the protection of personal data and provides for the designation of a data protection delegate. Finally, the law provides for an appeal procedure against decisions of the ETIAS National Unit, which can be brought before the Council for Alien Law Litigation.

For further information, please read the press release from the National Crisis Center. You can also find additional information on ETIAS on this page.