What is ETIAS and who needs to apply for it?
ETIAS is a mandatory pre-travel authorization for visa-exempt nationalities visiting the Schengen Area. Learn who needs it, how to apply, and what it costs.
Updated
Quick answer: ETIAS is an upcoming pre-travel authorization for visa-exempt nationalities entering the Schengen Area. It is not running yet and is scheduled to start in the last quarter of 2026. It is not a visa. Citizens of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, and many other countries will need one. It will cost 20 euros and is valid for 3 years.
What is ETIAS?
ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) is an online pre-travel screening system for the Schengen Area. It is similar to the US ESTA or Canada's eTA. You apply online, answer a short questionnaire, and receive an authorization linked to your passport.
ETIAS is not a visa. It does not replace a Schengen visa for nationalities that currently need one. It only applies to travelers from countries that already enjoy visa-free access to the Schengen Area.
Who needs to apply for ETIAS?
You need ETIAS if you are a citizen of a country with existing visa-free access to the Schengen Area and you plan to visit for tourism, business, transit, or medical reasons. This includes nationals of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and over 50 more countries.
EU and Schengen Area citizens do not need ETIAS. Travelers who already hold a valid Schengen visa are also exempt.
How to apply for ETIAS
ETIAS is not collecting applications yet. Once it starts, applications will be submitted online through the official ETIAS portal. You need a valid biometric passport, an email address, a debit or credit card for the 20-euro fee, and answers to a standard security questionnaire. Most applications are approved within minutes, though complex cases can take up to 96 hours.
Key facts about ETIAS
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Cost | 20 euros (free under 18 and over 70) |
| Validity | 3 years or until passport expiry |
| Stays allowed | Up to 90 days in any 180-day period |
| Countries covered | 30 European countries: the 29 Schengen Area countries plus Cyprus |
| Processing time | Usually minutes, up to 96 hours |
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ETIAS - FAQ
There is no exact date yet. The European Commission says ETIAS is scheduled to begin in the last quarter of 2026 and that the start date will be announced several months in advance. Until then, visa-free visitors such as UK, US and Australian citizens travel to Schengen countries without it.
No. ETIAS is not running yet and the EU is not collecting any applications, so you can travel to the Schengen area today without it. If your passport is visa-exempt, you still register in the Entry/Exit System at the border, which has been fully operational since 10 April 2026. Ignore any website offering to sell you an ETIAS now.
Yes, once it starts. UK citizens can visit Schengen countries without a visa, which is exactly the group ETIAS covers, so they will need it for short stays in 30 European countries. It will cost 20 euros and last three years or until the passport expires. UK nationals covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, with documents proving that status, are exempt.
Yes, ETIAS will be an online-only application, but you cannot apply yet because the system has not launched. When it opens, apply only through the official EU ETIAS website or app, with your passport, an email address and a card for the fee. Unofficial sites taking money now are not issuing a real authorisation.
Australians do not apply for EES in advance. It is a border registration for all non-EU short-stay visitors, including Australian, UK and US citizens, recorded when you first cross a Schengen border. You can optionally pre-register your data in the EU's Travel to Europe app up to 72 hours before arriving. EES is separate from ETIAS.
ETIAS will cost 20 euros per application, not the 7 euros quoted in early reports. Applicants under 18 or over 70 will not pay the fee but will still need the authorisation. One approval will last three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first, and it covers repeated short trips within the 90-day limit.