The Schengen rules require all air carriers carrying passengers across the external Schengen border to verify, before boarding, that passengers have the travel documents and visas necessary for their entry. [231] Carriers transporting third-country nationals without the correct travel documents are liable to fines and must return entry impediments to the point of departure. [232] The objective of this measure is to prevent illegal immigration. Since immigrants have the right to apply for asylum during border control at EU ports of entry, while these applications must be made personally in the country where asylum status is claimed, this measure prevents potential asylum seekers from entering the Schengen area (unless they have already obtained a Schengen visa or are not subject to the visa requirement). Only the European territory of the Netherlands is part of the Schengen area. Six Dutch territories located in the Caribbean are located outside the area. Three of these areas – Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (together called the BES Islands) are particular municipalities in the interior of the Netherlands. The other three – Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten – are autonomous countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. All islands retain their status as overseas countries and territories and are therefore not part of the European Union.
The six territories have a visa system separate from the European part of the Netherlands and people travelling between these islands and the Schengen area are subject to full border controls, with a passport also required for EU/Schengen citizens, including Dutch (national identity cards are not accepted). [93] Authorisations are issued with a validity period of between one and five years and allow residence in the border area for a maximum period of three months. Estonia, bordering Russia and Latvia with Finland to the north, enjoys a humid continental climate with large temperature differences during the summer and winter months, making it an ideal tourist destination throughout the year. As a member of the European Union, Estonia will therefore implement the authorisation to travel to Europe from the end of 2022. Ten local transportation agreements came into effect until June 2017 [Update]. Estonia`s path to the European Union was quick and simple: a referendum on EU membership was held on 14 September 2003 and just over two-thirds of voters voted `yes`. Estonia formally joined the EU on 1 May 2004. As a member of the European Union, Estonia is also part of the Schengen area of open borders.
Travellers who board flights between Schengen countries but who come from a third country outside the area must be subject to Schengen entry controls upon arrival in the Schengen area. This is explained by the fact that the route starts outside the Schengen area and the authorities of the final destination would not be able to distinguish between passengers arriving at the point of departure and those who have boarded at the centre. . . .