Once the ETIAS form has been submitted, the system response should be received within minutes. But what happens if we do not receive the approval communication immediately? which should be the usual.  Now we are not sure what is happening and we start to get worried. You must be patient because it can be due to different reasons.

All the ETIAS communications are received to our personal email address. This is why it is of crucial importance that our email address is correctly written in our ETIAS application. Also, we do have to take into consideration that the communications may end up in the junk folder by error as sometimes happens with emails that are somewhat different or automated.

So, if you have done these two actions: 1. checked your email is correctly spelled in your application, 2. checked that the response communication isn´t in the junk folder, then you can start to think that there could be another reason why the ETIAS team response is not getting to you.

All applications are typically responded within a few minutes communicating the approval, but there could be some that will take longer and the communication will come in within the next 96 hours advising if the authorization has been granted, refused of if they need to receive additional information or documentation from you. If this is the case, then you will have the next 10 days to provide it. If the extra information is sufficient, you will then be notified within the next 96 hours whether your application has been approved or not.

If the additional information is NOT sufficient then the next step is having an interview either in the closest Consulate to your home or online. The ETIAS team will send you an invitation in order to meet with this requirement, so you will agree on the details directly with them. The final decision will be made within 48 hours after the interview took place.

This possible situation, makes a good planning in time of our trip to the Schengen space and the online approval of our travel permit, VERY VERY important.