Going to Europe? Here's what you actually need to know about ETIAS.
No jargon, no fine print: what it is, whether you need it, what it costs and what they'll ask at the border.
require it
valid 3 years
Do I need it?
Two clicks and you'll know.
ETIAS in 30 seconds
ETIAS isn't a visa. It's a quick, cheap online travel authorization for people who visit Europe visa-free today. Think of it as Europe's version of the US ESTA.
What it costs. Free if you're under 18 or over 70.
How long it lasts, or until your passport expires if sooner.
Maximum stay within any 180-day period.
Start date: the EU will announce it several months ahead.
How ETIAS will work
Once it launches, it'll be 100% online and most people will get an answer within minutes.
Fill in the form
Passport details, contact info, education, job and a few security questions.
Pay €20
Online. Free if you're under 18 or over 70.
Get it by email
Usually within minutes; at most 96 hours unless they ask for more info.
Off you go!
It's linked to your passport for 3 years. At the border you're registered in the EES.
Who will need ETIAS?
Citizens of 59 countries and territories that visit Europe visa-free today: the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, most of Latin America… If your country needs a Schengen visa, you'll keep applying for the visa: ETIAS isn't for you.
Nationalities that will need it
Countries that will require it
ETIAS vs Schengen visa
They're very different things. Here's the difference at a glance.
ETIAS
- ✓100% online, no appointments or interviews (except rare cases)
- ✓€20 (free under 18 and over 70)
- ✓Decision usually within minutes
- ✓Valid for 3 years and multiple trips
- ✓For people who travel visa-free today
Schengen visa
- •Appointment at a consulate or visa center
- •Higher fee and more paperwork
- •Takes days or weeks
- •Usually issued for a specific trip or period
- •For visa-required nationalities (India, China, South Africa…)
When does ETIAS start?
Short answer: there's no date yet. ETIAS has been delayed for years and the EU says it'll announce the start date several months in advance. Here's the story so far:
The European Commission proposes ETIAS (November 2016).
Regulation (EU) 2018/1240 is adopted.
The planned date moves several times.
The EES (biometric register) starts on 12 October.
The EES is fully live from 10 April.
ETIAS still has no official date.
Watch out for sites that charge you
Nobody can process your ETIAS today. Once it launches, you'll apply on the official EU website or app, for €20.
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