ETIAS for Guatemalan

European Travel Authorization For Guatemalan Citizens

In mid-2025, a new system for international travelers is coming: the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). ETIAS is not a visa, but rather a visa waiver, or electronic travel authorization. It is similar to the United States ESTA.

This movement will help improve Schengen border management and security for European countries such as France, Germany, and Italy. It will make international travel to European countries much safer for Guatemalan citizens and global travelers. 

ETIAS will soon become a standard entry requirement for all global visa-free travelers, regardless of how long you are staying in the Schengen area. This includes Guatemalan citizens and anyone traveling from Guatemala. In anticipation of this new system, here’s what you need to know and do to avoid any trouble when traveling.

What Guatemalens Need To Know About ETIAS

Soon, it will be mandatory for any Guatemalan nationals to apply for an ETIAS to visit any and all of the Schengen Area member countries. A separate visa waiver is not required for each country. ETIAS grants holders permission to visit all 22 EU member countries and 4 European Free Trade Agreement (EFTA) members, as well as some European microstates. Applicants will indicate the country of first entry on the ETIAS form. After they arrive in Europe, they can go to any of the nations to which the Schengen visa policy applies.

Guatemalan citizens can apply for an ETIAS authorization starting in mid-2025 to visit countries in the Schengen area. They will not need to apply for a special Schengen visa to visit Europe. Applicants will not need to visit an embassy or consulate before their trip. However, they can easily complete the simple online form from a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer. 

ETIAS will allow European Authorities to register all visa-exempt travelers. This will help prevent individuals that could represent a security threat from crossing Schengen borders. The European Travel Information and Authorization System will pre-screen applicants against multiple international security databases for safety. If they pass the screening procedures, the authorities will grant Guatemalans authorization to travel to the Schengen Area.

The ETIAS Travel Authorisation visa waiver will remain valid for up to 3 years. Guatemalan citizens can use the same waiver during this period to travel to the Schengen Area multiple times for tourism, business, transit, or medical purposes. Each visit can last up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Guatemalan nationals can also use their approved ETIAS waiver if they travel through the Schengen Area en route to a non-Schengen destination.

Japanese nationals will need ETIAS to cross an external Schengen border. Once inside the area, you can visit any of the Schengen countries for up to 90 days. You do NOT need a separate ETIAS for each country you will go to in the Schengen area. The same visa waiver is valid for up to three years across the entire travel zone. This means you can go on one trip to the area in 2023, then another in 2024, with the same ETIAS waiver.

Countries ETIAS Covers For Guatemalens

This includes all 22 EU member states in the Schengen agreement which are:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Luxembourg
• Netherlands
• Germany
• France
• Spain
• Portugal
• Sweden
• Finland
• Denmark
• Lithuania
• Latvia
• Estonia
• Poland
• Slovakia
• Hungary
• Slovenia
• Italy
• Greece
• Czech Republic
• Malta

ETIAS Required (Non-EU Member States)

• Iceland
• Liechtenstein
• Norway
• Switzerland

Micro-States de facto part of Schengen Area:

• Monaco
• San Marino
• Vatican City

ETIAS Required (Non-Schengen EU States)

• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Romania

Aside from the member states located in mainland Europe, Guatemalan ETIAS holders can also visit the overseas territories of some European Union countries outside of Schengen’s borders, such as:

• The Canary Islands in Spain
• Madeira, in Portugal
• The Azores, in Portugal

Guatemalans will also need an ETIAS waiver to visit these EU countries that are in the process of joining the Schengen Area: 

• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Romania

How To Apply For ETIAS From Guatemala

Soon, Guatemalan citizens can apply online for the ETIAS visa waiver. They will need these items to apply for ETIAS:

• Valid Guatemalan passport
• Email address to receive status updates
• Credit or debit card to pay the ETIAS fees

All documents will need to be in digital form to complete the electronic application form. Applicants will also need to provide basic personal and passport information, including:

• Full name
• Date and place of birth
• Passport number, issue date, and expiry date
• Contact details, including an email address

There will also be some health and security questions to verify if the applicant is eligible for visa-free travel from Guatemala to Europe. As ETIAS is a visa waiver, not a visa, they won’t need additional supporting documents in most cases. 

To finalize the application, Guatemalans will pay the ETIAS visa waiver fee online by credit or debit card. 

The European Authorities will then cross-check the information provided against security databases, improving border management and increasing security. They will process and approve most ETIAS applications from Guatemala quickly. Applicants will receive an email notification once the authorities approve their ETIAS application.

Traveling From Guatemala To Europe With An ETIAS Visa Waiver

Citizens of all ages, including children from Guatemala, who are visiting or transiting through the Schengen zone will need their own ETIAS travel authorization. Visa-exempt non-EU nationals cannot travel to the Schengen Area without registering once the system goes live in mid-2025

When the Guatemalan citizen’s passport scans at the external Schengen border, the ETIAS will activate and verify. 

Traveling to Europe from Guatemala has other restrictions, especially regarding the luggage travelers can take across borders. Under no circumstance should Guatemalans travel with explosives, firearms, or other threatening materials. It is also illegal to export and import large amounts of money across borders.