Aircraft operators flying into the European Union (EU) will have to contend with the new EU-LISA agency’s passenger screening process starting on October 6. The new portal for verifying the visa status of travelers entering the EU places more of the administrative burden for screening responsibilities and manually checking passports on operators. Flight support group Universal Weather and Aviation is urging aircraft operators to register an account now for EU-LISA.
According to Universal, the EU notice issued on Feb. 17, 2022, was not widely circulated. In advice issued this week, the company expressed concern that many business aircraft operators may not be aware of the requirements and their specific obligations. “We strongly advise you not to wait until the last minute to comply with this regulation,” the company said. “EU-LISA will be bombarded with submissions as we approach the deadline.”
While the process might appear to apply mainly to Part 135 flights, Universal expects it eventually will be required for Part 91 operations as well. It is recommending that Part 91 operators register for EU-LISA in anticipation of possible trips to the EU. Operators are required both to register for the platform and submit passenger data.
The launch of EU-LISA coincides with the delayed start of the EU’s new automated Entry/Exit System that will require operators to electronically verify the visa validity of third-country citizens traveling to one of the 29 Schengen countries. At some point in the second quarter of next year, the EU will launch the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which is similar in purpose to the long-standing U.S. Electronic System for Travel Authorization.
All visitors to the EU who do not require a visa for the trip will be required to apply for an ETIAS travel authorization prior to departure, which grants a visa waiver for a stay of up to 90 days. Currently, there are 60 countries that will be eligible for the ETIAS process, but this number could increase in the future, according to Universal.
The Schengen Area encompasses 26 of the 27 EU member states (except Cyprus), as well as non-EU states Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland. Bulgaria and Romania were the most recent states to join the group, which is intended to facilitate free movement of citizens across borders, according to Schengen.News.