The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) requires that the citizens of the states that benefit from a visa-free regime with the EU, including the citizens of the Republic of Moldova, have an electronic authorization before travelling to the Schengen area, IPN reports, quoting the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Daniel Vodă.

The travel authorization is mandatory for person aged between 18 and 70 and will cost €7. It will be valid for a period of three years or until the period of validity of the passport used to obtain the authorization expires.

The legal procedures to pass the ETIAS started in 2016 and the system is expected to be fully operational in November 2023.

For a period of six months from the date on which ETIAS starts operations, the use of ETIAS will be optional and the requirement to be in possession of a valid travel authorization will not apply.

Throughout this period, the Member States are obliged to inform third-country nationals subject to the travel authorization requirement crossing the external borders of the block to have a valid travel authorization from the date of the expiry of the six-month period. In Moldova’s case, the information campaign will also be conducted in Romanian.