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.
Schengen visa applicants do not need ETIAS. Your visa is your travel authorisation.
How it will work
ETIAS has not started. Nothing below can be done yet — it is what the process will look like once it opens, expected 2027. No website can issue an ETIAS today.
- Visit the official ETIAS portal (
travel-europe.europa.eu) — never a third-party clone. - Fill the form — passport details, contact, occupation, travel plans, security questions. About 10–15 minutes.
- Pay €20 by card (free for those under 18 and over 70).
- Approval is expected within minutes for most applicants, with manual review taking up to 96 hours.
Cost & validity
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fee | €20 (free for those under 18 and over 70) |
| Validity | 3 years from approval, or until your passport expires |
| Stay limit | 90 days in any 180-day period (same as visa-exempt rules) |
| Multiple entry | Yes — one ETIAS covers any number of trips within validity |
ETIAS vs Schengen visa — when do you need which?
If you're visa-exempt
Short trips, no visa needed. ETIAS does the security pre-check.
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. €20 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 →