(BRUSSELS) - People who do not need a visa to fly to the United States will have to answer questions about their health and past crimes under a new electronic system unveiled in Brussels Monday.

The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), unveiled at the US embassy ahead of a pilot test starting Friday, will be needed by all US-bound travellers from the 27 so-called visa waiver countries from January 12, 2009.

It will oblige people those from nations including 15 European Union states, Japan and Australia, to supply details, preferably three days prior to travel, which they usually fill out on flight cards before arrival at US airports.

They will be asked about communicable diseases or mental and physical disorders, drug abuse, whether they have been arrested for certain crimes or involved in spying, terrorist activities or genocide.

The permit, which lasts for two years, can be filled out by the person concerned, a relative or a travel agent, with the authorisation being granted, in most cases, almost immediately, US officials said.

The European Commission has said it is monitoring the scheme to make sure it is not a visa in disguise, and is due to hand down its verdict in November, around a month after the pilot programme is set to end.

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says it targets passengers who pose a risk to security and that by providing details before they fly out, legitimate travellers cut the risk of being turned back once they arrive.

"The ESTA is not a visa," said DHS security attache Jackie Bednarz, but she added: "We do recognise that it is an additional step" which will take "a couple of minutes" to complete.

"We think the ESTA will clearly help those persons who have any kind of a travel problem that is not known," she told reporters.

While seeking authorisation through the digital tool, which will be posted on the DHS website, is currently free, Bednarz warned that it might not stay that way.

"In the future, there may be a fee," she said, but declined to speculate about when or under what conditions.

She said entry could be refused for reasons ranging from a person's criminal record and activities considered a risk to US security, through to problems during a prior visit, like overstaying a visa or working illegally.

The travel authority will also apply to people entering the United States by ship, but is not needed if crossing a land border, by car for example.

ESTA forms can be found on https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov from Friday.

It will be needed by people from: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Britain, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

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