What is ETIAS? Everything to know about Europe's new travel authorization

You’ve booked your flights to Lisbon, and you’ve narrowed it down to a couple of apartments in the historic Alfama neighborhood. But then, you remember something you heard your coworker talking about. Europe as a new "e-visa" for Americans... so what does this mean for your trip? Your coworker was probably talking about ETIAS, a new pre-screening some travelers have to go through (not a visa). As of November 2026, it still isn't required.

Once it is, citizens of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and dozens of other visa-free countries will have to get ETIAS authorization before visiting 30 specific European countries. ETIAS authorization is not a visa (visas have specific requirements, like Schengen travel insurance). It’s an online security screening, and there is a fee that comes with it. It is slated to cost 20 euros per person but has a three-year validity period. Right now, there's nothing you need to do regarding ETIAS. A start date will be announced several months before it goes into effect, and then there will be a transitional period after that.

This page details what ETIAS is, when it might start, who is going to have to apply, and how the ETIAS application process will work.

Latest ETIAS updates

What you need to know about ETIAS

ETIAS will mean a couple of changes for visa-exempt travelers, but the changes won't happen until the new authorization is in effect.

What is ETIAS?

ETIAS is short for European Travel Information and Authorisation System. This is a brand-new system that the European Union developed as part of a greater push to strengthen the security of the Schengen area.

Instead of traveling on just a passport, some travelers who are visa-exempt will need to be pre-screened before visiting Schengen countries. This affects citizens of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and several other countries.

To apply, you will need to go to the official website or download the official application, answer a few questions, provide your information, and then pay the ETIAS fee. Once your information is submitted, ETIAS will check it against its own migration/security databases (such as Europol and Interpol). In most cases, approval will be granted in just a couple of minutes.

With all of the changes, it's natural to wonder what brought them on, but pre-travel screenings aren't actually a new concept. The US has had a similar program for several years, called ESTA (it was launched in 2009). Canada has eTA, and the UK launched its ETA screening in 2025.

The approval process will be 100% digital and online. Unlike a visa, there isn’t a physical component that you have to go pick up or wait to receive in the mail. There isn’t even anything you have to print out. Authorization will be electronically linked to the passport you applied with, so the gate agent when you’re at the airport, and the border officer at immigration, can scan your passport to see your status. 

Is ETIAS a visa?

Despite what you may see across different travel blogs and sites, ETIAS is not a visa. Some sites or individuals are, incorrectly, referring to it as an ETIAS visa or EU e-visa. Visa processes require multiple steps and documentation, including appointments, fingerprints, and an embassy official to make a final decision. ETIAS is a 15-minute online check, where no biometric data is taken. 

Why did the EU create it?

Schengen visa applicants have always gone through a screening before visiting. Visa-free visitors (who represent over a billion people worldwide) haven’t had any screening processes before visiting, just a check once they get to the border. ETIAS changes that, increasing the security of the entire Schengen area and helping to prevent irregular migration and public health risks. 

Does ETIAS authorization guarantee entry?

No, it doesn’t. A lot of ETIAS guides forget to mention this. When your ETIAS is approved, it allows you to board your flight. However, at arrival, the border officer can still decide whether or not to allow entry. This is the case for visa holders too.

When does ETIAS start?

While it’s not a satisfying answer, the truth is that nobody knows yet (publicly, anyhow). 

The most recent expected launch for ETIAS was Q4 of 2026, but the European Union removed this information from its official website mid-July 2026. The official page now says that:

ETIAS “is currently not in operation and no applications for travel authorizations are collected at this point.” 

The EU states that it will publish the date "several months prior to its launch". So, if you have a trip coming up soon, you don’t need to worry. Still, it doesn’t hurt to keep an eye out. We’ll also update this page as soon as the launch date or time period has been updated or announced. 

What happens once ETIAS launches?

Once ETIAS goes live, it will be a new requirement for designated travelers, and there will be a transitional period. This means that even if ETIAS is launched in 2027 (which hasn’t been officially confirmed), it won’t be strictly mandatory for some months after it goes into force.

Special cases you need to be aware of 

Every traveler needs their own ETIAS approval, even children, even babies. Parents or legal guardians can fill in the form for minors (the fee is waived for people under the age of 18).

Dual citizens with an EU passport and a visa-exempt passport (such as a US one) should travel on their EU passport. This is because EU dual citizens do not have to apply for ETIAS. 

If you live in a Schengen country (and aren't a citizen), you are exempt if you have a residence permit or national visa. Short-stay Schengen visa holders are also exempt. The visa process pre-screens travelers already.

ETIAS application requirements

There isn't a long list of requirements. You'll need a valid passport (which you've always needed to visit the Schengen area). It needs to have been issued in the last 10 years and remain valid for at least 3 months after your intended trip. 

You also need an email address and a debit or credit card to pay the fee online. That’s it. There aren’t any other supporting documents you’ll have to provide, like there are with Schengen visa requirements. 

How the ETIAS application will work

Once applications are accepted, you’ll apply via the official ETIAS mobile app or on the website. Official EU websites end in europa.eu. If a site is asking you for 60, 80, or any amount that isn’t 20 euros per person for “processing” or “express approval”, these are not official sites, and the EU warns against them. Any site trying to sell you ETIAS today isn't official, since ETIAS hasn't even gone into effect yet.

There will be a few short steps in the process:

• Open the official ETIAS website or app, create an account as prompted, and start a new application.
• Fill in the form with your personal and passport details.
• Answer the background questions.
• Pay the 20 euro fee by card.
• Wait for the decision by email, usually within minutes.

The ETIAS application form

The ETIAS application form will ask you for your full name, date and place of birth, your nationality, home address, email, and phone number. There will be a section to put your passport details and share more about your background (highest level of education, occupation, etc.) As part of the screening, you'll be asked about some more personal history too, such as specific areas you may have visited, or any criminal history.

The answers that you provide are then checked against EU security and information systems such as the SIS, VIS, and EES, as well as Europol and Interpol databases. Your information is kept and stored until your ETIAS expires (after 3 years), or your passport expires (whichever one happens first). If your ETIAS is refused, the information is kept for 5 years. 

How long does it take to get ETIAS?

The process is designed to be quick. This means that most travelers should be approved in just a couple of minutes (and be notified by email). There are some cases where a decision can take longer. For example, if the system flags something, your application will be passed along for manual review. When this happens, the decision will be made within 96 hours, unless more information is needed. While it won't be that common, it is possible that they will need additional information from you. If that's the case, it could take up to 14 days for a decision. Additionally, officials can request an interview. For applicants who need to attend an interview, the decision can take up to 30 days. So, as you can see, it's a good idea to apply early just in case.

How much does ETIAS cost?

Once it's in effect, ETIAS will be €20 per person and valid for 3 years (or until your passport expires, whichever happens first). The price has increased from the original proposal. It was initially planned to be 7 euros per person, which is why you might see that number in other guides or articles. However, in July 2025, the European Commission raised the fee to help cover administrative costs and be more in line with other systems around the globe. For context, the ESTA (in the US) is about $40 per person. If you're under the age of 18 or over 70, the fee is waived, but you do still need to get approval before traveling.

How long is ETIAS valid and how long can you stay?

Approved ETIAS travel authorizations are valid for three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. During that time, you can travel to Europe as regularly as you like (the 90/180 day rule still applies, though).

If your passport is going to expire in the next year or two, keep in mind that your ETIAS will expire with it. Every time you get a new passport, you will need to reapply for ETIAS the next time you plan to visit the Schengen area.

There is one interesting thing – Cyprus. Cyprus isn’t a member of the Schengen area, so you’ll need to follow its rules around how long you can stay without a visa – and time spent in Cyprus doesn’t count towards your Schengen allowance. This is the case today, even.

Where will ETIAS be required?

30 countries will require specific travelers to get screened. They include the 29 members of the Schengen area and Cyprus (which is an EU country, but not yet a Schengen one). The following countries will require it: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

You do not need ETIAS for Ireland. It is in the EU, but it isn’t in the Schengen area. The UK left the EU a few years ago, and also isn’t in the Schengen area. It has its own ETA procedure. This means that if you are planning a trip where you are going to visit Paris and London on the same trip, once ETIAS is live, they’ll require two separate authorizations (ETIAS and ETA). Western Balkan countries like Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia will not have ETIAS; Turkey neither.

ETIAS vs Schengen visas: what's the difference?

ETIAS is going to exist alongside Schengen visas, and won't actually impact Schengen visa requirements at all. There are two types of non-EU travelers: those who require a visa and those who don't. The nationalities that require a visa will still need one, and ETIAS won't apply to them. The nationalities that don't require a visa for short stays still will not need one, but now they will need ETIAS approval.

While ETIAS isn’t changing the visa process, it is going to go through a major shift. The EU is currently building a centralized, online platform, the EU Visa Application Platform. It’s set to launch in the coming years. Until then, the process is still as it is today – in person and on paper. 

ETIAS and EES: two systems not to confuse

Because they were both introduced around the same time, and they both are acronyms starting with E, they can be easy to mix up. They are two separate things, and neither one of them is a visa. 

The Entry/Exit System is the Schengen area’s new border process, and it’s already live. The first time you cross an external Schengen border, an officer or self-service kiosk will take your photo and fingerprints. After that, every time you enter and exit the Schengen area, it’s automatically logged digitally. This means your “90 days” are counted digitally for you, and the information is automatically collected by European authorities. EES isn’t a permission; it isn’t something you need to apply for or even prepare for. You simply follow the instructions at the airport. 

You can learn more about the system in our EES Guide. 

What if your ETIAS application is refused?

Refusals should be relatively uncommon. If it does happen, the email that you receive will explain why and give you information about your next steps, which may be appealing the decision if you feel it was unjustly made. When you appeal, it will be handled by the country that made the decision. Another option that you have, depending on the reason for the refusal, is to reapply. This could make sense for those who were denied due to an accidental typo in their name or passport number, just as an example.

Do you need travel insurance with ETIAS?

ETIAS doesn’t have supporting document requirements like visa applications do (other than a passport and payment method). This means you won’t have to provide proof of insurance when you apply for your ETIAS. As a non-EU visitor, know that you aren’t covered by the European public health systems from country to country. The US, UK, and Canadian governments all strongly advise travelers to get travel medical insurance. The EU recommends it too.

ETIAS FAQ