ETIAS Europe: everything you need to know about the new travel authorization

For millions of travelers, there's about to be a new step required to visit Europe. If you’re from the US, UK, Canada, or nearly 60 other countries around the world, it will behoove you to know about it before you book your next vacation. It is called ETIAS, and most visa-free visitors will need it to visit. 

First: ETIAS is not live yet. Until it is, there’s no big change to European travel (other than EES, which is helpful to know about, but no prep work is required). This guide explains what exactly ETIAS is, who needs it, when it starts, how to apply, what it costs, and how it differs from an actual visa (for instance, Schengen travel insurance isn't required for the application). It also talks about some details that travelers need to pay particular attention to.

Latest news on ETIAS

What is ETIAS? Definition and how it works

ETIAS is short for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System. It’s a pre-travel authorization that is issued entirely online. It’s expected to go live in the coming months, or perhaps into 2027 based on the latest reports. Visa-exempt visitors (so, travelers who don’t require a visa to visit Europe) will need to get their trip pre-authorized before traveling to 30 different European countries. ETIAS is not a visa. It is online and takes about 10 minutes to apply for. There is a 20 euro (mandatory) fee, and then you receive authorization for up to three years before you have to reapply. 

Here is a look at what exactly is changing for visa-exempt travelers:

ETIAS meaning and definition

ETIAS is an acronym that stands for European Travel Information and Authorisation System. It’s a pre-travel screening designed specifically for citizens of countries that enjoy visa-free access to Europe. It’s built on the same idea as the ESTA in the US, the ETA in the UK, and the eTA in Canada. Before you travel, you have to fill in a short online form. The system then checks your details against European security and migration databases and clears you to travel or, in uncommon cases, does not. 

ETIAS approval is digitally linked to your passport, so there isn’t anything you need to receive in the mail or download and print out. Once you board your flight or pass through the border, gate agents and border officials will be able to scan your passport and see that your pre-travel authorization has been approved. 

Why did the EU create this authorization?

ETIAS screens visa-free travelers for any potential security threats, serious crime, and irregular migration risks. The Schengen visa process, which millions of travelers are required to go through to visit Europe, already screens its applicants. For visa-free travelers, a pre-screening hasn’t existed in Europe before. The US, Canada, Australia, and more recently, the UK, all have pre-travel screening processes for visa-exempt travelers. This means that if you’re French, for example, and want to visit the US, you need to get pre-authorized through a system called ESTA. 

The European Union has decided to create its own like system. 

What many ETIAS guides forget to mention is that ETIAS doesn’t guarantee entry into Europe, even though it is called a pre-authorization. While less common, border authorities can still deny you entry. 

Who needs ETIAS approval to enter Europe?

ETIAS applies to citizens of 59 countries/terriroties that can currently visit Europe sans visas. Among them are citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan, Mexico, and dozens of others. If you already need a Schengen visa, ETIAS does not apply to you. It doesn’t apply to EU/Schengen country citizens either.

Nationalities that must apply for ETIAS

If your passport currently lets you travel to the Schengen area without a visa, you will need ETIAS once the system launches. This means travelers from just shy of 60 countries will need to apply. Americans, Britons, Canadians, and Australians will all need ETIAS approval. So will New Zealanders, Japanese, South Koreans, Brazilians, and any other traveler who does not need a visa to visit Europe. 

Exemptions and special cases

There are a few situations and special cases where some travelers may be exempt from ETIAS. For example, dual citizens holding both an EU passport and a passport from another country do not have to apply for ETIAS (make sure you’re following the EU's guidance when it comes to which passport to travel on). Non-EU citizens with residence permits or long-stay visas also do not need to apply for ETIAS. Additionally, anyone who needs a visa to visit the Schengen Area doesn’t need ETIAS, since the visa process already screens them for relevant travel risks. 

One thing that’s easy to mix up is whether minors (those under the age of 18) or seniors (in this case, over 70) need to apply for ETIAS. While the application fee is waived for these travelers, ETIAS itself is still required. They still need ETIAS approval; they just aren’t required to pay the fee for it. 

When will ETIAS become mandatory? The official launch date

The European Union has not announced an official launch date for ETIAS. This page will be updated once the official date has been confirmed. According to the EU, the official date will be announced “several months prior to its launch.” 

ETIAS was originally expected to launch in 2021. As of 2026, it still has not gone into operation. This means that for travelers, no action is required at all at the moment. Once ETIAS does launch, there is expected to be a transitional period before it goes into full effect. An authorization system was originally proposed by the European Commission in 2016, and the name and regulation were adopted two years later in 2018. Q4 of 2026 was the latest target; the system was expected to follow around 6 months after the full implementation of the EU’s Entry/Exit System.

How to apply for ETIAS, step by step

When the system becomes mandatory, you will apply online through the European Union’s official ETIAS portal. Be careful that you don’t apply through a third-party site. They are not official, even if they are less expensive or claim to offer assistance.

To apply, you’ll need to enter your passport information and a few personal details, answer a set of questions (including about your background), and pay the 20 euro fee (per person). In most cases, you’ll receive your authorization to travel within just a couple of minutes (to your email inbox). Start to finish, it should only take 10-20 minutes. Still, in some cases, it can take longer to receive an answer.

What you need before you start

Before you apply, you’ll need to have a couple of things at the ready. Make sure you have your passport in hand. Europe does have some passport requirements. To travel to a Schengen country, your passport needs to have been issued within the past 10 years and remain valid for at least 3 months beyond your return date. You’ll also need an email address (this is where you’ll be notified of approval), and a debit or credit card so you can pay the fee online. Since ETIAS isn’t live yet, the application platform isn’t either. This means that we don't know exactly what the platform will look like just yet.

Filling in the online ETIAS form

The form is expected to be relatively short. You’ll need to provide your name, date of birth, nationality, and passport number. The EU has also stated that you’ll need to answer a few questions about your background (such as any criminal history). The process is designed to be short and simple, but will still take a few minutes. 

It’s very important that you answer all of the questions honestly and accurately. The data will be stored by the European Union for three years.

ETIAS fee: how much does it cost?

ETIAS costs 20 euros per person. If you see anywhere that it costs 7, that is because 7 euros was the original price ETIAS was going to be. In July 2025, the European Commission decided to raise the fee from the original 7 euros to 20. Do keep in mind, though, that children under 18 and adults over 70 do not have to pay the fee (it is waived), but they do still need to apply. Once you get approval, it’s valid for three years, regardless of how many times you visit Europe. Once the three years are up (or if you get a new passport), you’ll need to reapply, and the fee will be 20 euros again. For context, the US’s ESTA fee (after all is said and done) is about $40. The UK’s ETA is 20 pounds. 20 euros is less than 20 USD.

Processing time: how long does it take?

Most applications will be approved instantly or within a couple of minutes. However, processing can take longer. If your application needs to be manually reviewed for whatever reason, a decision can take longer. While rare, in some cases it could take as long as 30 days. It’s important to apply for your ETIAS authorization well before you travel, just in case. 

ETIAS validity, length of stay and how to use it

An approved ETIAS is valid for three years or until your passport expires, whichever happens first. It allows you to enter Europe as many times as you’d like, but it doesn’t give you the right to stay as long as you want or to work. The rules are still the same. Citizens of countries with visa-waiver agreements can stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days without a visa. These 90 days are in any given 180-day period. 

Here’s a breakdown of what ETIAS allows:

If your passport is going to expire soon, know that ETIAS is tied to it. This means that if you get a new passport, even if the three-year validity of your ETIAS hasn’t yet expired, you will need to reapply and pay the fee all over again.

European countries that require ETIAS: the full list

ETIAS approval, once live, will be mandatory for 30 countries in Europe. This includes every member of the Schengen Zone and Cyprus.

The 30 are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, 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.

ETIAS will not be required for Ireland or the United Kingdom. While in the European Union, Ireland has opted out of joining the Schengen Area. The United Kingdom isn’t in the Schengen Area either, and it (famously) left the European Union (Brexit). 

ETIAS vs the Schengen visa: what's the real difference?

While you may see ETIAS referred to as a visa or “e-visa”, it is not. It is a pre-travel authorization. The EU requires many travelers to apply for visas to visit the Schengen Area. These visas are referred to as Schengen visas. The Schengen visa requirements are not changing, and ETIAS has no direct impact on Schengen visa applicants. 

The Schengen visa process is a much more intensive process, requiring a plethora of documentation, paper forms, and in-person appointments. It also costs more and takes several weeks. Today, the process is very manual. In the future, it will be online through the EU VAP.

ETIAS refusal and appeals: what if your application is rejected?

As said above, most applications will be approved quickly. However, rejections can happen. Applications can be flagged for security or migration purposes. If your ETIAS is denied, you will be told why via email, and you will also have the right to appeal. 

In the email you receive, you’ll be given instructions on which European country you should appeal to (should you choose to), and what the procedure is. 

If you do not want to appeal, you can always apply again.

ETIAS Europe FAQ: the most common questions on the authorization

The Official ETIAS Mobile Application

As of right now, there is no official ETIAS app.

Any app that currently exists that claims to be an ETIAS app is not an official app managed by the EU. This is important to know as ETIAS is managed and operated by the European Union, not a third party.

The EU has stated that a mobile application may be available once ETIAS is live, and that travelers can apply through either the website or the application.

Be cautious, because there may be other websites or mobile applications that promise to give you an ETIAS or complete the process for you. These websites and applications are not official and are not approved by or endorsed by the European Union at this time.