Non-EU nationals exempt from visa requirements will have to get an authorisation before travelling to the EU, under new rules backed by European Parliament on Thursday.

The Regulation on European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias)  was passed with 494 votes in favour, 115 against and 30 abstentions. Following Parliament’s green light, the legislation will have to be formally adopted by the Council of Ministers and then published in the Official Journal.

According to the information released on the official website of the European Parliament, citizens with visa-free countries with the EU will be obliged to pass electronic authorization. For it they should use the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). ETIAS will be enacted in 2021. Authorisation will cost €7 and will be valid for up to three years. It will be free for under 18s and over 70s.

People coming from countries that don’t need a visa to visit the EU will have to fill in an electronic form before travelling with travel documentation and personal data, such as name, date and place of birth, gender and nationality. There will also be background questions about issues such as previous criminal records and their presence in conflict zones. This will allow authorities to asses if someone could pose a risk well before they arrive at the Schengen border. If they do, they could be refused entry.

According members of European Parliament, the systemic screening should not cause regular travellers any problems.  “It will be an easy process… just an online check, which they can do prior to travelling to the EU” –  Kinga Gál, the Hungarian EPP member .