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Home / Guides / ETIAS
Reference · 5 min read

ETIAS — €7 online auth
for visa-exempt travellers.

A short online form before short trips to Schengen. Mandatory for UK, US, Canadian, Australian, Japanese and 60+ other visa-exempt nationals — but not for Schengen visa applicants.

ETIAS launch pending

ETIAS — the €7 travel authorisation for visa-exempt nationals (UK, US, Canada, etc.) — has been postponed several times. The European Commission expects ETIAS to start around six months after EES is fully operational. Until ETIAS launches, visa-exempt travellers do not need to apply for one.

What is ETIAS?

ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is a pre-travel security check for visa-exempt nationals visiting the Schengen Area for short stays. It's not a visa — think of it as the EU's equivalent of the US ESTA.

You complete a short form online, your details are screened against EU security databases, and an authorisation is linked to your passport. Without it, airlines won't board you for flights to Schengen.

Who needs one

Anyone holding a passport from a visa-exempt country travelling to Schengen for tourism, business, family visit or transit, including:

  • UK 🇬🇧
  • USA 🇺🇸
  • Canada 🇨🇦
  • Australia 🇦🇺
  • Japan 🇯🇵
  • South Korea 🇰🇷
  • Brazil 🇧🇷
  • Plus 57+ other visa-exempt countries listed in our who-needs-a-visa guide.
Important

Schengen visa applicants do not need ETIAS. Your visa is your travel authorisation.

How to apply

  1. Visit the official ETIAS portal (travel-europe.europa.eu) — never a third-party clone.
  2. Fill the form — passport details, contact, occupation, travel plans, security questions. About 10–15 minutes.
  3. Pay €7 by card (free for under-18s and over-70s).
  4. Approval is usually within minutes. Some applications get manual review and take up to 96 hours.

Cost & validity

ItemDetail
Fee€7 (free for under-18 and over-70)
Validity3 years from approval, or until your passport expires
Stay limit90 days in any 180-day period (same as visa-exempt rules)
Multiple entryYes — one ETIAS covers any number of trips within validity

ETIAS vs Schengen visa — when do you need which?

ETIAS

If you're visa-exempt

Short trips, no visa needed. ETIAS does the security pre-check.

Schengen visa (Type C)

If you're visa-required

90 days in 180. Includes ETIAS-equivalent screening — no separate ETIAS needed.

See visa types →

FAQ

I have a UK passport — do I need ETIAS for a weekend in Paris?

Yes, once ETIAS is in force. Without it your airline won't board you. €7 valid 3 years.

Can I apply through any country's ETIAS portal?

It's a single EU-wide system, not country-specific. Use the official EU portal only — never third-party "ETIAS service" sites.

What if my application is refused?

You can appeal within 30 days. If denied, your option is to apply for a Schengen visa instead — slower and €90 fee, but a different review pathway.

Does ETIAS apply to Ireland?

No. Ireland is not in Schengen and operates its own immigration system.

Need a Schengen visa instead?

If you're visa-required (Indian, Pakistani, Nigerian, etc.), ETIAS doesn't apply. Our wizard prepares the Type C visa file in about 20 minutes.

Start your application →