Once the former Czechoslovakia split in two, the two new countries (the Czech Republic and Slovakia) joined the EU. This means they will use the same system as the rest of Europe when the ETIAS travel authorization system comes into effect in a few years. time. Slovakia has not yet experienced the same severity of terrorist attacks as some other European countries, but has been affected by the unprecedented numbers of migrants and refugees arriving further south and east. These changes are the main reasons why ETIAS is introduced. It is expected that information obtained when applications are completed and submitted online in the future will be shared with all other Schengen actors so that visitors can be followed in the block.
What is Slovakia's relationship with the Schengen bloc?
Shortly after Slovakia's accession to the EU, she applied for and became a member of the Schengen bloc of 26 countries. What exactly concerns Schengen causes a lot of confusion for many non-Europeans and, indeed, even many Europeans do not really know what the Schengen Agreement is. The 26 Schengen countries, including Slovakia, have agreed to allow nationals of the other party to travel freely, live and work in one of the member countries.
The block also has uniform immigration rules that let you know who is allowed, how they are monitored and how long they can stay. Not all EU countries are in Schengen. Romania and Bulgaria, for example, are currently not in the Schengen zone although both will probably be in the near future. In addition, not all Schengen countries are in the EU. Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are examples of such countries.
Why visit Slovakia?
Slovakia is becoming a popular tourist destination, surrounded by Austria, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine and the Czech Republic. It is renowned for having more than just its fair share of castles and castles, more than any other country in Europe, although some on the list are hardly recognizable being piles of stones in the deep Slovak forest.
Most visitors spend time in the bustling capital of Slovakia, Bratislava, which, like many European capitals, has an old center with well-preserved buildings.
Slovakia has a large mountainous interior, the Carpathian Mountains and locals and visitors enjoy hiking on the many trails that crisscross this region. There are 9 national parks with speleology being a specialty in the limestone region of the High Tatras.
Will I need a Slovak ETIAS?
You do not need it yet because ETIAS has not yet come into effect as a requirement for travelers. It is expected that ETIAS will be formally introduced in early 2020. You will only be affected by ETIAS if you are a citizen of a visa-free country. These countries included Canada, the United States, Australia and Japan, as well as nearly 60 others. Of course, if you already hold a European passport or the Schengen area, your freedom to travel across Europe will not be affected.