Cyprus issues new obligations for carriers under European Entry-Exit and Travel Authorisation Systems

Eda Zenic -

The Shipping Deputy Ministry of Cyprus issued Circular No. 17/2024 on June 21, 2024, to inform carriers about their obligations under the European Entry-Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).

Key Points:

European Entry-Exit System (EES):

  1. The EES will be an automated IT system for registering entry and exit data of travelers from third countries in the Schengen Area, replacing passport stamping. It will start in Autumn 2024.
  2. Carriers must verify the validity of visas before departure to prevent passenger refusal at border controls.
  3. Cyprus will join the EES once it meets the necessary conditions for applying the Schengen rules.

European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS):

  1. ETIAS will be an automated IT system to register visa-exempt travelers from third countries. It will start in the first half of 2025.
  2. Carriers must verify that visa-exempt travelers have valid ETIAS authorization within 48 hours before departure, using an electronic interface provided by the EU.
  3. Carriers need to register with the EU agency eu-LISA to use the verification system.

Penalties: Carriers may face penalties if they transport travelers without the required EES or ETIAS documentation.

For more information, carriers can refer to the attached FAQ document from FRONTEX.