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ETIAS won't be implemented until 2026
The latest news from the European Commission confirms that the release date for the ETIAS electronic visa waiver system has been pushed back to 2026. This is relevant for Canadians planning a trip to Europe. Canadian passport holders will need to apply for ETIAS once the system goes live. The la...
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Can I enter the EU with a criminal record?
A criminal record can be a cause for worry when crossing borders. It is natural to have concerns about being asked difficult questions or even being denied entry into the country regarding this matter. Nevertheless, don't panic! If you are travelling to Europe with a criminal record it will pr...
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What is EES and how does it relate to ETIAS?
Things are moving fast when it comes to new European migration and visa policies. As Canadian travellers may already know, the ETIAS visa waiver program is expected to come into effect in 2026. The system is being implemented to simplify and streamline entry to travellers who do not require...
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Remote work in Europe for Canadian digital nomads
Are you a remote worker looking for a change of scenery? You could be eligible for a European digital nomad visa. With the rise in popularity of remote work, countries across Europe have expanded their visa systems. Canadian citizens are eligible for many of Europe’s digital nomad visa schemes....
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Biometric passports for Canadians visiting Europe
Biometric passports are becoming more and more common for international travel. These modern documents employ digital technology to provide greater security and efficiency when crossing international borders. Canada is one of several countries that now issue biometric passports. Also known as e...
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EU 'Lie Detector' System and other AI Border Control Measures
In recent years, the European Union has stepped up the fight to protect its borders from terrorism and other security risks, approving measures that utilise AI tech such as the shared ETIAS Visa Waiver for Schengen Area countries. Now, to continue the progress made, the EU is trailing artificial ...
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How does border control in the Schengen Area work?
The EU’s Schengen zone is well known for permitting visa-free travel across many different European nations. However, despite the free-travel area comprising over 25 countries, there are still border controls to the Schengen Area itself. Entering and exiting the Schengen zone is carefully monit...
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Countries Canadian passport holders can visit visa-free
The Canadian passport is one of the strongest passports in the world. Canadian citizens can travel to many countries without applying for a visa, for a limited time. Canadians need to register online to visit some places without a visa. Electronic travel authorizations are used across the...
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Top 5 European countries visited by Canadians
We all know that Canadians love to travel but which European countries do Canadians visit most? Thankfully Statistics Canada has provided and published data that answers just that. Its findings detail the top destinations for Canadian travellers. Though the countries Canadians visit most change...
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Schengen Information Security: SIS, VIS & EURODAC
The future of travel to Europe is set to change when the European parliament introduces the ETIAS visa waiver for Europe, which is expected to be implemented in 2026. The primary motive in introducing ETIAS is to pre-register visa-exempt citizens travelling to the Schengen Area. This is to ...
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How to visit EU overseas territories with ETIAS
Several countries in the European Union (EU) have regions or territories located in different parts of the world. Most of these are islands or archipelagos that were former colonies. This is why Canadians visiting parts of the Caribbean or Africa may find themselves paying in euros and dealing ...
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Europe itineraries for Canadian tourists: explore Europe by car, train, and plane
A trip to Europe is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and is on the bucket list of many Canadian tourists. The continent has more sights to see than can fit into just one trip. However, with short distances between locations (in comparison to Canada) one can still see a lot of Europe’s most popu...
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EU expansion: which countries could join the European Union?
There are several reasons why a country may wish to be part of the European Union. One of the main benefits of being part of the European Union is the single market: EU citizens can live or work in any EU country and sell goods without restrictions. In addition, as a union of 27 nations, the EU...
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What is the ETIAS watchlist and how will it keep Europe safe?
The ETIAS watchlist will be an important part of the new travel authorisation framework. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System is being introduced to increase security across the Schengen Area and countries in process of joining Schengen by pre-screening third-country national...
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Visiting Europe’s microstates from Canada
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is an upcoming requirement for Canadians to visit any and all of the countries within the Schengen Area, including countries in process of joining the Schengen acquis such as Cyprus. However, Europe is home to a number of microstat...
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Serbia and Albania Sign Deal to Create Mini Schengen Zone
The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, and Edi Rama, the Prime Minister of Albania, have signed an online deal to allow freedom of movement between the 2 countries. The deal will allow citizens of both countries to cross borders using only their national ID cards, eliminating the need to p...
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Top European cities for Canadian travellers
Millions of Canadian tourists cross the Atlantic each year to explore Europe. France, Italy, and Spain repeatedly appear on the list of top countries visited by Canadians, but which are the best cities for Canadian sightseers? The answer to this question depends on what the individual is search...
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The importance of visiting Europe with travel insurance
Insurance is not a mandatory requirement to obtain an ETIAS visa waiver and visit the Schengen area, Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Romania. However, plenty of countries around the world ask foreigners to get insured before they travel as part of their visa policy. This is because there are plenty of ad...
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How ETIAS handles Canadian travellers' personal information
Canadians planning a trip to Europe from 2026 need to be prepared for the launch of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). Whilst Canadian citizens will continue to enjoy visa-free privileges, they will also need to apply for ETIAS, the new visa waiver for Europe. Once...