ETIAS is the electronic travel authorisation that visa-exempt non-European travellers, including US and UK citizens, will need to get before leaving to enter 30 European countries. It is not yet operational: according to the EU’s official site, no applications are being collected at this point, and the European Union will announce the launch date several months in advance. The fee will be €20. It should not be confused with the EES, the Schengen Entry/Exit System, which registers border crossings.
This guide explains who is covered by ETIAS, what it will cost, how long it will be valid and how to avoid the sites already selling it. The information comes from the EU’s official website travel-europe.europa.eu/etias, read on 12 November 2026, and from the UK government’s EES and ETIAS guidance on GOV.UK (last updated 10 April 2026).
The essentials on ETIAS
- Not yet in service: no applications are accepted for now; do not pay any site that claims to issue it.
- Who needs it: nationals of 59 visa-exempt countries and territories, including the United States and the United Kingdom, once it launches.
- Not required for: citizens of the European countries requiring ETIAS, or of Ireland.
- Fee: €20; applicants under 18 or over 70 are exempt, and the fee is non-refundable.
- Validity: 3 years or until the passport expires; stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
- Timing: most applications are processed within minutes; otherwise a decision within four days, extended by up to 14 days if documents are requested or up to 30 days if you are invited to an interview.
What is ETIAS?
ETIAS stands for European Travel Information and Authorisation System. It is not a visa: it is an electronic authorisation linked to your passport, comparable to the US ESTA, the Canadian eTA and the UK ETA. Once granted, it lets you enter as many times as you like for short stays, in principle up to 90 days in any 180-day period. It does not guarantee entry: the border guard still checks the entry conditions on arrival.
Who will need ETIAS?
ETIAS will apply to nationals of the countries and territories that are visa-exempt for a short stay, 59 according to the official list, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Israel. It will be required to enter 30 European countries:
US citizens
The EU’s official site lists the US among the visa-exempt countries whose nationals will need ETIAS (page on UK nationals, which refers to « 58 other countries such as the US, Canada and Australia »). US citizens will have to apply online once the system opens, with a valid passport and a payment card.
UK citizens
The EU’s official site says UK nationals will be required to have an ETIAS travel authorisation when travelling to Europe once it launches, and that it will be checked before you board a plane, cruise ship or train departing from the UK (for example, at Dover, border guards check ETIAS before boarding the ferry). UK nationals who are beneficiaries of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement and hold a residence document issued in the uniform format are exempt; documents issued by Ireland and Cyprus do not exempt their holders from ETIAS for travel to other countries. GOV.UK says that when ETIAS starts, UK passport holders without a visa or residence permit will need authorisation, which requires personal and trip details and a €20 fee.
Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and Czechia. Ireland is not one of them.
| Traveller | ETIAS? |
|---|---|
| Citizen of an EU country (and so of the countries requiring ETIAS) | No |
| National of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland or Ireland | No |
| Dual national with a European nationality | No, provided you travel with the European passport |
| US, Canadian, British, Australian or Japanese citizen (visa-exempt) | Yes, once the system has launched |
| UK national with a Withdrawal Agreement residence document in the uniform format | No (but not if the document was issued by Ireland or Cyprus, except for travel to Cyprus with a Cypriot document) |
| National of a country subject to a Schengen visa | No: a visa is needed (except special cases, such as certain school trips) |
ETIAS price, validity and processing time
- Price: €20 according to the official site; applicants under 18 or over 70 are exempt from paying, and the fee is non-refundable.
- Validity: three years, or until the passport expires if that comes first. A new passport means a new authorisation.
- Length of stay: a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period in the countries concerned; stays in Cyprus are calculated separately.
- Processing time: most applications will be processed within minutes; otherwise, an answer within four days, extended by up to 14 days if documents are requested or by up to 30 days if there is an interview. The EU strongly advises getting ETIAS before you buy tickets and book hotels.
- Application: on the official ETIAS website or in the official mobile app, once the system is open. You will need a valid travel document that does not expire in less than three months and is not older than 10 years, and a payment card. Applications for minors must be submitted by a person exercising parental authority or legal guardianship.
- No printout needed: check-in staff and border guards can see the authorisation in the system.
What happens when ETIAS launches?
According to the EU’s « ETIAS timeline explained » page, the launch will be followed by a transitional period of at least six months, during which travellers should already apply but will not be refused entry for lacking an authorisation if they meet the other entry conditions, then a grace period of at least six months during which ETIAS is required, except for people coming to Europe for the first time since the end of the transitional period. The EU says the system is expected to become operational in the last quarter of 2026, with the exact date to be announced; GOV.UK says it is expected in autumn 2026. When we read the official site on 12 November 2026, it still said ETIAS was not in operation.
ETIAS and EES: two different systems
ETIAS should not be confused with the EES (Entry/Exit System), which registers at the external borders the entries and exits of non-European travellers on short stays, with their biometric data (photo and fingerprints). ETIAS collects no biometric data. The EES needs no advance step, while ETIAS must be requested before you leave. Both apply to US and UK citizens. The travel-europe.europa.eu/ees site explains how the EES works; see also our EES guide.
Beware of sites already selling ETIAS
The official site is clear: ETIAS is not operational and no applications are being collected at the moment. The EU also says that there are dozens of unofficial ETIAS websites, that some of the information on them is simply wrong, that many illegally use the official EU logo and that others already collect travellers’ personal data. GOV.UK warns that websites selling ETIAS authorisations now are operating fraudulently. When the system launches, apply on the official EU website or in its app. Pass this advice on to friends and family planning a trip to Europe.
And for trips outside Europe?
Other countries have their own electronic authorisations: the ESTA for the United States (for UK citizens), the eTA for Canada, the ETA for the United Kingdom (for US citizens) or the ETA/eVisitor for Australia. Find them all in our travel formalities section.
Frequently asked questions
Do US and UK citizens need ETIAS?
Yes, once the system launches: nationals of the United Kingdom and the United States are among the visa-exempt nationals who will need to apply for ETIAS to enter the 30 European countries concerned.
When does ETIAS come into force?
The system is not yet operational. The EU says it will announce the exact launch date several months before it enters into service, and expects it in the last quarter of 2026.
How much does ETIAS cost?
€20 according to the EU’s official website; applicants under 18 or over 70 are exempt from paying, and the fee is non-refundable.
How long is ETIAS valid?
Three years, or until the passport expires if that comes first. It allows stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Do EU citizens need ETIAS?
No. Citizens of the European countries requiring ETIAS, and of Ireland, are exempt.
Can you already apply for ETIAS?
No. No applications are being collected for now; sites that offer to do so for a fee are not official.
Our sources
- European Union, travel-europe.europa.eu/etias: « What is ETIAS », « Who should apply », « What you need to apply », FAQ and news articles (« ETIAS will cost EUR 20 », « UK nationals and ETIAS », « ETIAS timeline explained », « Emergence of unofficial ETIAS websites »), read on 12 November 2026.
- UK government, EU Entry/Exit System (GOV.UK, last updated 10 April 2026), section on ETIAS.
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026.