ETIAS — the European Travel Information and Authorisation System — will eventually be a pre-travel check for people who currently visit the Schengen Area without a visa. It is an online authorisation tied to your passport, similar in purpose to the United States' ESTA. It is not open today.
As of 29 October 2026: ETIAS is not in operation. The EU is not collecting applications and has not announced a start date. The previous “last quarter of 2026” target was withdrawn from official pages. Do not pay any website that claims to sell you an ETIAS now. When a date is published, it will appear on the official ETIAS site several months in advance.
Key facts
- Who (later): nationals of visa-exempt countries (US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, and around 60 others) travelling for short stays.
- Start: not announced. Nothing to apply for today.
- Planned cost: EUR 20; applicants under 18 or over 70 will not pay the fee once the system opens.
- Planned validity: 3 years or until passport expiry, whichever comes first.
- Not a visa, not a guarantee of entry, and not extra days — the 90/180 rule still applies.
- A transitional period, then a grace period, is written into the regulation. Neither period has started.
Who needs ETIAS
You need ETIAS if all of the following are true:
- You hold a passport from a country whose nationals do not need a Schengen visa for short stays.
- You are travelling for tourism, business, family visits, or transit for up to 90 days in any 180.
- You do not already hold a Schengen visa, a long-stay national visa, or an EU/EEA/Swiss residence permit.
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not need ETIAS. Nor do their family members holding a residence card. If you need a Schengen visa today, you will continue to use the visa process, not ETIAS.
What it costs and how long it lasts
The application fee will be EUR 20. Applicants aged under 18 or over 70 will be exempt from the fee but will still need the authorisation. Once granted, ETIAS will be valid for three years, or until your passport expires — so if your passport has only 18 months left, your ETIAS will expire then too, and you will need to apply again with the new passport.
Within its validity, ETIAS allows unlimited entries. Each entry is still subject to the 90/180 count. If you change passports, you must obtain a new ETIAS linked to the new document even if the old one has time left.
How you will apply (when it opens)
Skip this section until the EU publishes a start date. The steps below are how the system is designed to work. They are not available yet.
- Use the official website or app only. There will be a single official ETIAS portal. Third-party sites already advertise markups for a service that does not exist.
- Have your passport ready. You will enter document number, issue and expiry dates, and personal details exactly as printed.
- Answer the background questions (criminal history, prior immigration issues, recent conflict-zone travel).
- Pay the fee by card.
- Wait for the decision. The EU says most decisions should arrive within minutes. Processing can take up to four days and may extend to 14 days if more information is requested or 30 days if an interview is required, so apply before committing to non-refundable travel.
- Check the result is linked to the correct passport. You do not need to print anything, but keeping a copy is sensible.
What ETIAS does not do
- It does not extend your stay. 90 days in any 180 is unchanged.
- It does not guarantee entry. A border officer can still refuse you if other conditions (funds, purpose, return ticket) are not met.
- It does not replace a visa for nationalities that need one, or for long stays and work.
- It is not transferable between passports or people.
Before you apply, make sure the trip you are planning actually fits inside your remaining 90/180 allowance — ETIAS approval says nothing about your day count. The calculator on this site checks that in seconds.
Confirm your 90/180 allowance
ETIAS approval doesn't tell you your day count — this does.Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for ETIAS today?
No. As of 29 October 2026 the EU is not collecting applications and has not announced a start date. Ignore any site that asks you to pay for ETIAS now.
Is ETIAS a visa?
No. It is a travel authorisation — no consulate appointment, no biometrics, granted electronically, usually within minutes, once the system is open.
Do I need ETIAS if I already hold a Schengen visa or residence permit?
No. Holders of a valid Schengen visa or an EU residence permit are exempt. ETIAS is for travellers who are visa-exempt for short stays.
Does ETIAS let me stay longer than 90 days?
No. It allows multiple visits within its validity, but each visit is still capped at 90 days in any 180.