ETIAS status: cost, who needs it, how to apply

Delayed (no date)Official ✓ Partly verified

'Last quarter of 2026' wording removed mid-2026; official site: not in operation, date to be announced several months prior; 6-month transition after launch

Type: ETA · Last checked 2026-10-21

Key facts

Who needs itOfficial (snippet)

Visa-exempt nationals incl. USA, UK, Canada, Australia, NZ (once launched)

Who is exemptOfficial (snippet)

EU/Schengen nationals; fee-exempt: under 18, over 70, qualifying EU family members

FeeOfficial ✓

EUR 20 (planned; non-refundable)

Approx. USD

$23 (approximate; exchange rate not verified)

ValidityOfficial (snippet)

3 years or until passport expires (planned)

Max stay per visitOfficial ✓

90 days in any 180-day period

Processing timeOfficial (snippet)

minutes for most (planned per Commission); longer cases unverified

When to applyNot separately checked

not yet - no applications collected

Badges: Official ✓ = read on an official government page · Official (snippet) = official page text seen in a search result because the page blocked our checker · Not confirmed = we could not confirm it, so check the official site.

Do I need it? Quick check by passport

• United States: Not live yet
• United Kingdom: Not live yet
• EU country: Not needed
• Canada: Not live yet
• Australia: Not live yet

A starting point only, based on the official pages below. Dual nationals, residents and other passports: check the official site.

Official sources

• https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en
• https://travel-europe.europa.eu/en/etias/faq
• https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/news/main-differences-between-ees-and-etias-what-travellers-need-know-2026-04-28_en

What the sources say

• Statushttps://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en

  ETIAS is currently not in operation and no applications for travel authorisations are collected at this point. The European Union will inform about the specific date for the start of ETIAS several months prior to its launch.

• fee+stayhttps://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en

  Pay EUR 20 application fee ... Stay for up to 90 days

• Validityhttps://travel-europe.europa.eu/en/etias/faq

  Your ETIAS travel authorisation is valid for three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.

• Exempthttps://travel-europe.europa.eu/en/etias/faq

  Applicants who are under 18 or over 70 years of age are exempt from this payment.

• historyhttps://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/news/main-differences-between-ees-and-etias-what-travellers-need-know-2026-04-28_en

  ETIAS is scheduled to start in the last quarter of 2026. (April 2026 wording, since superseded)

• Scam warninghttps://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/news/main-differences-between-ees-and-etias-what-travellers-need-know-2026-04-28_en

  This helps avoid fraudulent third-party sites that may charge extra fees or misuse personal data.

Last checked 2026-10-21. Rules change: always confirm on the official site before you travel.