By Fiona Brander, Compass travel columnist
I’m sure we all remember the amount of bureaucracy needed to travel during the pandemic… something we’d all rather forget.
Thankfully, things are a lot easier now.
However, the world is becoming more digitalised and, as a result, it’s essential to check exactly what you need to travel each time you fly. Do not leave it to chance and presume you know just because you have flown to that country before. Things change all the time.
Pre-flight immigration forms are now mandatory for some destinations. Most of the Caribbean and Central America now require these electronic forms to be completed prior to checking in for your flight. This includes Honduras; it is a one-and-a-half-hour flight from Cayman to La Ceiba and, to be honest, it takes about the same amount of time to complete the form. Some of these online documents can be a little confusing, so do it in advance and not in a mad panic at the airport.
Also, the newest nonstop flight with Cayman Airways to Barbados requires a pre-flight immigration form, so be prepared, and complete it a day or two before you fly.
Not completing these online forms before heading to the airport could lead to last-minute stress. Imagine frantically searching for the right website or trying to fill out the documents at the check-in desk using your phone. It is not the nicest way to start your holiday and, in the worst-case scenario, you might even run out of time and be denied boarding.
Some countries have a straightforward rule – no pre-completed digital form, no flying.
Farewell to paper
We will soon say goodbye to the era of scribbling on paper immigration forms during a flight and reminisce about the days when a friendly crew member handed us that document. From that moment, travellers divide into two distinct categories: those with pens and those without. I confess that I, too, share in this little ritual. Sometimes I have a trusty pen in hand and a hint of satisfaction in my preparation, while the stranger sat beside me, without a pen, gazing with a hopeful yet patient look, waiting for me to finish. Other times, it’s me in dire need, searching for the most valuable item on the entire plane – the Pen.
Completing these forms in advance in the comfort of your own home is much easier.
Your normal checklist should always have been to check passport and visa requirements but now you also need to see if there are any extra documents to complete prior to travel.
And because things can change, you are wise to check again nearer to the time of your departure.
Talking of completing documents, sometime in either 2024 or, more likely, 2025 (and could be even later now) anyone without an EU passport will require either an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) electronic waiver or a Schengen visa to enter the European Union. Basically, if you currently do NOT need any type of visa or waiver to fly to Europe, then once the new ETIAS scheme starts you will need something, either the ETIAS or a full visa or an EU passport. There is no actual start date for this yet; it was meant to be implemented in 2022 and, so far, has been postponed many times. But once it is a mandatory requirement, simply think of it like going to the US using the ESTA.
At some point, my guess is that you will need some sort of pre-approved documentation to fly to or via every country, be that a pre-flight immigration form and/or an electronic visa waiver or a full visa. The world is now digital, so paper forms will soon become a thing of the past.
Electronic waivers
For eligible passport holders, the following electronic travel authorisation waivers have been mandatory for years (but note that not everyone is eligible so make sure you check your own passport and visa requirements):
Australia was the first to bring in electronic travel authorisation for all visitors way back in 1996. It is still free but normally there is some administration fee. The ETA lasts three months. They also have a dedicated app.
The US made the ESTA mandatory from 12 Jan. 2009, costs US$21 and lasts two years. But do not go to Cuba or you will not be eligible for one.
Canada finally followed suit on 15 March 2016, and introduced the ETA waiver to fly to or via Canada. It costs CAD$7 and is valid up to five years.
New Zealand joined the bandwagon in October 2019 with their ETA waiver. It is cheaper to apply via their dedicated app.
India was ahead of the game and launched an e-Visa scheme on 27 Nov. 2014, which is similar but you need one for each visit.
In fact, there are many more countries that have these requirements and a quick Google search shows as many as 34 countries require some sort of electronic visa waiver or e-visa for visitors.
Always check and never presume what you need.
Plus, it is very easy to forget to renew your ESTA or ETA waiver so make sure you check yours is valid or you will be denied boarding. Remember: new passports equal new electronic waivers.
UK visas
The UK have also started their own scheme. Currently, if you are a national of Qatar ((from 15 Nov. 2023), or Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (from 22 Feb. 2024), you will need the new ETA visa waiver for the UK, but by the end of 2024 they aim to have added every country. What this means is eventually, unless you have a British or Irish passport, you will either need the ETA waiver or an actual visa to fly to or via the UK. More on this later. Watch this space…
The Irish passport will be the best to have for travel within the UK and Europe. They will not need any visa or electronic waiver for these countries.
Some countries have more requirements; for example, Italy and France want to see proof of accommodation and this means, if you are staying at a friend’s or family’s house, there are extra rules to follow. In the end, you may not get asked to show anything and just be waved on through immigration, but be prepared and make sure you know what you need to enter the country you are visiting or even flying through.
A good website to find out what documents are needed for travel is apply.joinsherpa.com.
Another great resource is the UK government website, www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. It is a full of helpful information, mostly geared, of course, to the UK passport holder but it can be useful no matter what nationality you are.
One more thing before I sign off: If you have a British overseas passport, it must say British citizen if you wish to get an ESTA for the US.
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