What Is ETIAS? Europe’s Travel Authorisation Explained (2026 Status)

As of October 2026, ETIAS is not yet in operation. The EU is not collecting applications, there is no confirmed launch date, and the most likely window is 2027. ETIAS is not a visa — it is a cheap, online travel authorisation (the EU’s answer to the US ESTA) that visa-exempt visitors will need for short stays in 30 European countries. When it does start, the fee will be €20, children under 18 and adults over 70 are exempt from the fee, and it will link electronically to your passport. Until the EU opens the official portal, do not pay any site that offers to get you an ETIAS now — those are scams.

What is ETIAS?

ETIAS stands for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System. Once live, it will be a mandatory pre-travel authorisation for travellers who can currently enter the Schengen Area without a visa — citizens of countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Japan and around 59 others. You will apply online, answer some security and health questions, pay a small fee, and receive an authorisation tied to your passport before you fly.

It covers short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period across 30 European countries, for purposes like tourism, business or transit. It does not grant the right to work or to stay long-term, and it does not replace a visa for people who already need one.

Is ETIAS live yet?

No. For a long time the official line pointed to a late-2026 launch, but that target has been dropped. The EU’s own pages now state that ETIAS is not in operation and that no applications are being collected. Reporting through September and October 2026 points to 2027 as the working window, with no firm date confirmed. The EU has said it will announce the real start date several months before launch, and that there will be a transitional grace period after go-live. In short: there is nothing to apply for today, and nothing you need to do yet.

Who will need ETIAS?

You will need ETIAS if all of these are true: you are a national of a visa-exempt country, you are travelling to one of the participating European countries, and your trip is a short stay. If you already hold a Schengen visa or a residence permit for a participating country, you will not need ETIAS. If you are an EU citizen, you never need it.

Not sure whether your destination and nationality combination needs an authorisation? Our visa & entry checker lets you look up the current rules by destination.

How much will ETIAS cost?

The fee is €20, confirmed by the European Commission in July 2025 (it replaced the original €7 figure set back in 2018, so ignore any guide still quoting €7). Applicants under 18 and over 70 pay no fee but still have to complete an application. Payment will only ever be taken on the official EU ETIAS website or app once it opens.

How long will an ETIAS authorisation last?

An approved ETIAS is expected to be valid for up to three years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. Within that period you can make multiple trips, each still subject to the 90-in-180-days short-stay limit. If you renew your passport, you will need a new ETIAS.

ETIAS is not the same as the EES

Two EU border changes often get confused. The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an automated system that records non-EU travellers’ entries and exits with biometrics (fingerprints and a facial image) at the border; it began a phased rollout in late 2025. ETIAS is the separate pre-travel authorisation you apply for online before you leave home, and it is expected to follow EES. You will not do anything biometric for ETIAS — that happens at the border under EES.

Beware of ETIAS scam sites

Because the launch has been talked about for years, more than 150 websites already advertise “ETIAS” application services, some charging anywhere from €50 to over €170 for a document that does not yet exist. Travel bodies have warned holidaymakers not to use them. When ETIAS is real, the genuine fee is €20 and the only legitimate place to apply will be the official EU portal. Treat any other “apply now” offer as a red flag.

What should you do right now?

• Nothing urgent. There is no application to make and no fee to pay until the EU opens the system.
• Check your passport. Make sure it is valid well beyond your travel dates — this matters for every European trip regardless of ETIAS.
• Bookmark the official source and ignore third-party “ETIAS” sellers.
• Plan the rest of your trip. Sort data with a European eSIM and cover yourself with travel insurance — those you can do today.

For a side-by-side of the three big travel authorisations, see ETIAS vs ESTA vs UK ETA.