EES · ETIAS — Last checked 5 November 2026

ETIAS: Europe’s travel authorisation, fully explained

ETIAS will be an online pre-travel check for visitors who do not need a visa. It is not live yet. Here is what is known, what is still open, and what you can do today.

2027?expected start, not confirmed
€20planned fee
3 yrsvalidity
30countries

What ETIAS is

ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is a pre-travel security check for people who can visit Europe without a visa. It is similar to the ESTA for the United States or the ETA for the United Kingdom.

ETIAS is not a visa. It does not replace the border check and does not guarantee entry: at the border, EES still registers you and an officer can still ask questions.

Status: when does ETIAS start?

There is no official start date. The earlier target of the last quarter of 2026 was removed from the official website in mid-July 2026; 2027 is now the working expectation. The EU says it will announce the date several months in advance. After the start, ETIAS is optional for at least six months (transition period), followed by at least six months in which it is required but first-time visitors can still enter without one (grace period).

Who will need ETIAS

You will need ETIAS if

  • You are a national of a visa-exempt country, such as the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, Korea, Mexico or Brazil
  • You visit one of the 30 ETIAS countries for a short stay (up to 90 days in any 180)
  • You travel for tourism, business, family visits, short studies or transit

You will not need ETIAS if

  • You are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen
  • You need a Schengen visa (then you apply for a visa as before)
  • You hold an EU residence permit or long-stay visa
  • You are a national of Andorra, Monaco or San Marino, or hold a Vatican passport

Where ETIAS will apply

ETIAS is planned for 30 countries: the 29 countries that use EES plus Cyprus. Ireland is not included.

How the application will work

  1. 1Official site or appApply only via the official EU website or app, once ETIAS is live. Official addresses end in europa.eu.
  2. 2Fill in the formPassport details, personal and contact details, education and job, your first intended country of stay, and a few security and background questions.
  3. 3Pay the feeThe planned fee is €20. Applicants under 18 or over 70 are expected to pay nothing.
  4. 4Automatic checkYour answers are checked against EU and international security databases.
  5. 5Decision by emailMost decisions are expected within minutes. Your authorisation is linked to your passport, so travel with the same passport.

How long a decision takes

Minutesmost applications, according to EU plans
Up to 4 daysif a manual check is needed
Up to 14 daysif you are asked for more information
Up to 30 daysif you are invited to an interview

Apply well before you book non-refundable travel, especially for your first trip.

Validity and use

  • Valid for three years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first
  • Valid for unlimited trips within that period, each up to the 90/180-day limit
  • A new passport means a new ETIAS application
  • Airlines, ferries and coach companies will check your ETIAS before boarding

What if ETIAS is refused?

If your application is refused, you receive the reasons and information on how to appeal. An appeal is handled in the country that made the decision. You can also still apply for a regular Schengen visa.

Watch out for scam and lookalike sites

Commercial websites already offer “ETIAS applications” with high service fees, while ETIAS does not exist yet. Never pay any site for ETIAS today. Once it is live, only apply via the official EU website or app.

EES and ETIAS side by side

EESETIAS
What it isDigital border register of entries and exitsOnline travel authorisation before you travel
StatusLive since 10 April 2026Not live, expected 2027
WhoAll non-EU short-stay visitorsOnly visa-exempt nationals
Where you do itAt the border, on arrivalOnline, before departure
CostFree€20 planned (under 18 and over 70 free)
ValidRecord kept 3 years3 years or until your passport expires

Timeline ETIAS

  1. 2027
    ETIAS Expected

    ETIAS launch expected (not confirmed)

    After launch: at least 6 months where ETIAS is optional, then at least 6 months of grace before it is strictly required.

  2. 19 October 2026
    ETIAS Not started

    Still no official start date

    No applications are being collected. The EU says it will announce the date several months before launch.

  3. approx. July 2026
    ETIAS Changed

    “Last quarter of 2026” target dropped

    Several outlets report that the official ETIAS site no longer mentions a 2026 start. Reports point to EES issues as the reason.

FAQ

Can I apply for ETIAS now?

No. ETIAS is not live and no applications are accepted. Any site taking money for ETIAS today is not the EU.

When will ETIAS start?

There is no official date. 2027 is expected but not confirmed. The EU will announce it several months in advance.

How much will ETIAS cost?

The planned fee is €20. Under-18s and over-70s are expected to pay nothing.

Is ETIAS a visa?

No. It is a travel authorisation for people who can already travel visa-free. It does not replace the border check.

Do UK citizens need ETIAS?

Yes, once it launches. UK citizens are visa-exempt non-EU visitors.

Does ETIAS replace EES?

No. They work together: ETIAS before you travel, EES at the border.

Sources

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