Do I need an ETIAS or Schengen visa for the EU’s outermost regions?

Several countries in the European Union (EU) are not entirely located on the European continent. A number of member states have regions or territories located in other parts of the world.

For example, French Guiana is in South America, but has the status of “département” — the same as any of the other départements in metropolitan France. Likewise, the Canary Islands are a Comunidad Autónoma of Spain, despite being geographically part of Africa.

Regions that are politically part of Europe but located outside the continent may differ in visa policy to the rest of the country they belong to.

With the upcoming ETIAS visa waiver set to become an entry requirement for all Schengen countries, will it be needed to visit the EU’s outermost regions?

WHAT ARE THE EU’S OUTERMOST REGIONS?

The outermost regions of the EU are parts of European Union countries located outside the continent of Europe, which are still governed as part of the EU.

There are 9 locations that are classed as EU outermost regions:

French Guiana is located in South America; Guadeloupe and Saint-Martin in the Caribbean; Mayotte and Réunion in the Indian Ocean; and the Azores, Madeira, and the Canaries are all islands in the Atlantic Ocean.

All of these places are integral parts of EU countries and therefore, they are considered part of the European Union. EU laws apply in all of these regions and the euro is the currency.

WILL ETIAS BE REQUIRED FOR THE EU'S OUTERMOST REGIONS?

Yes, ETIAS will be required for some of the EU’s outermost regions.

The Atlantic islands of Spain and Portugal (the Canary Islands, Madeira, and the Azores) are all part of the Schengen Area.

The ETIAS visa waiver project is designed for passengers entering the Schengen Area, so logically, this would include the Atlantic islands. It is therefore almost certain that you will need to register with ETIAS to travel to the Canaries, Azores, or Madeira once the system is launched.

Other overseas regions and territories belonging to EU countries are not part of Schengen.

This means that the ETIAS will not be required to visit these regions. However, it has not yet been confirmed by EU authorities.

IS A SCHENGEN VISA REQUIRED FOR THE EU’S OUTERMOST REGIONS?

Foreign nationals that require a Schengen visa must apply for one to enter the Canary Islands, Madeira, or the Azores.

However, since France’s overseas departments and territories are outside of Schengen, short-term Schengen visas (C visas) cannot be used to visit them.

However, each overseas region or territory has their own visa for short-term visits rather than a Schengen one.

Current visa rules state that long-term (D) Schengen visas can be used by foreign residents of Schengen countries to travel to these locations.

WILL ETIAS BE REQUIRED FOR OVERSEAS FRANCE (MARTINIQUE, GUADELOUPE, LA RÉUNION, ETC.)?

No, travellers will be not able to use the ETIAS to visit French overseas regions.

France’s overseas départements and collectivities are not part of the Schengen Area. The Schengen visa policy for short-term visitors does not apply to them.

For example, visitors to Guadeloupe who are not visa-exempt must apply for a specific Guadeloupe visa from a French embassy.

This means that the ETIAS will not grant entry to these regions.

WILL ETIAS BE REQUIRED FOR THE CANARY ISLANDS?

Yes, the ETIAS will be required to travel to the Canary Islands.

The Canaries are included in the Schengen Area. Since the ETIAS visa waiver will be an entry requirement for Schengen, it is almost certain that it will be needed to travel to any of these islands.

The same applies to the Balearic Islands (also part of Spain).

The Canary Islands include the following, many of which are popular destinations:

WILL ETIAS BE REQUIRED FOR CEUTA AND MELILLA?

Yes, ETIAS will be required to visit Ceuta and Melilla.

These 2 autonomous cities are located on the North African coast, bordering Morocco. They are regarded as an integral part of Spain.

Like the rest of Spain, Ceuta and Melilla are officially part of the Schengen Area, as well as the EU. As such, the Schengen acquis apply.

Schengen visas are valid for entry to Ceuta and Melilla. Since the cities share the same visa policy as the rest of Spain, it is almost certain that the ETIAS will be required by visitors from visa waiver countries.

Most transport to and from Ceuta and Melilla by air and sea goes from mainland Spain. ETIAS will also be required for entry to mainland Spain regardless of the requirements of the autonomous cities.

WILL I NEED ETIAS TO LEAVE CEUTA AND MELILLA?

Unlike other parts of the Schengen Area, there are identity checks when travelling from Ceuta and Melilla to mainland Spain or other Schengen countries.

This is because of an agreement with Morocco that allows certain Moroccan nationals visa exemptions for the cities of Ceuta and Melilla only. However, these travellers are not visa-exempt for the rest of Schengen and must show a valid visa to travel onwards.

Once the ETIAS platform is launched, passengers travelling from Ceuta and Melilla to other parts of Spain or the Schengen Area will need the visa waiver.

WILL ETIAS BE REQUIRED FOR MADEIRA OR THE AZORES?

Yes, ETIAS will be required to visit Madeira. The electronic visa waiver will be required to enter any part of the Schengen Area and the Portuguese island is part of this bloc.

Passengers from visa-exempt countries will have to register online with the ETIAS before travelling to Madeira or the Azores, as is the case when visiting mainland Portugal.

DO I NEED ETIAS FOR OVERSEAS TERRITORIES OF EU COUNTRIES?

The ETIAS will not be required for most overseas territories of EU member states.

Territories belonging to European Union countries are not part of the Schengen Area or the EU.

They each have their own visas, which are issued by the embassies and consulates of the EU country responsible for them.

WHAT ARE THE EU’S OVERSEAS TERRITORIES?

Overseas territories are different from overseas regions and departments. They usually have greater autonomy.

Territories are not considered an integral part of the country. However, they are considered to belong to the European country, which is responsible for its defence and immigration policy.

EU overseas territories include the following French territories:

There are also 6 Dutch territories in the Caribbean:

Denmark has 2 territories outside of the EU and Schengen:

Norway has one overseas territory, which has no visa policy and only requires a passport to enter:

All of these EU overseas territories have their own visa policies. Schengen visas cannot be used there.