How to apply for ETIAS: a step-by-step guide
Once ETIAS launches in late 2026, visa-exempt travellers will need to apply online before heading to Europe. The good news: it's a short form, the fee is modest, and most approvals are automatic. Here's exactly what the process looks like, what to have ready, and the one mistake that costs people money.
Before you start: do you even need it?
ETIAS is only for visa-exempt travellers — nationalities that can currently enter the Schengen area without a visa (the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, Brazil, and dozens more). If your passport already requires a Schengen visa, ETIAS doesn't apply to you; you keep applying for a visa as before.
Not sure which group you're in? The ETIAS checker on this site gives you a one-click answer from your passport nationality.
What you'll need
Have these ready before you open the form — it makes the whole thing a few-minute job:
- Your travel document — the exact passport you'll carry to the border. Your ETIAS is tied to this specific passport.
- A payment card for the EUR 20 fee (debit or credit).
- Basic trip details and answers to a short questionnaire covering security, health, and travel-history questions.
- A working email address — your approval and authorisation number arrive there.
Step by step
1. Go to the official EU portal. Applications are submitted at travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en. Bookmark it. (More on why the official site matters below.)
2. Enter your passport and personal details. Name, date of birth, nationality, and passport number, exactly as they appear on your travel document. Typos here are the most common reason an application gets held up — double-check against the passport itself.
3. Answer the questionnaire. A short set of questions about security, health, and recent travel. For the vast majority of travellers these are quick yes/no answers.
4. Pay the EUR 20 fee. Travellers under 18 or over 70 are exempt from the fee but still complete the application. Everyone else pays the flat EUR 20.
5. Submit and wait for the decision. Most applications are approved automatically within minutes. A minority are flagged for manual review and can take longer — up to a few days, occasionally more — which is exactly why you shouldn't leave it to the airport.
6. Save your authorisation. Once approved, your ETIAS is linked electronically to your passport. Keep the confirmation and authorisation number with your travel documents, and bring the same passport you applied with to the border.
The one mistake to avoid: unofficial sites
Around every government travel-authorisation system, copycat websites spring up. They reproduce the form, charge a hefty markup on top of the real fee, and pocket the difference — sometimes EUR 60, EUR 80 or more for what officially costs EUR 20.
The rule is simple: the genuine ETIAS fee is EUR 20, and the only official site is travel-europe.europa.eu. If a site quotes a much higher price or has a different address, it's a reseller, not the EU. When in doubt, navigate to the official portal directly rather than clicking an ad or an email link.
After approval: what your ETIAS does (and doesn't do)
An approved ETIAS is valid for up to three years, or until your passport expires — whichever comes first, with multiple entries. Apply once and you're typically covered for years of short trips.
What it does not do is extend your stay. ETIAS doesn't change the 90/180 rule. With a valid ETIAS you can still only be in the Schengen area for "up to 90 days in any 180-day period." The authorisation gets you to the border; the rolling 90/180 window still limits how long you stay once you're inside.
So two separate things are worth doing before each trip:
- Make sure your ETIAS is valid (and matches your current passport).
- Check your day count. The calculator on this site tracks your 90/180 balance — mark your trips, slide the reference date, and see exactly how many days you have left.
When can you apply?
ETIAS starts operations in the last quarter of 2026. The EU will publish the precise date a few months in advance. There's a transitional period after launch during which travellers without an ETIAS aren't refused entry solely for lacking one — but that's a grace buffer, not a reason to skip it. Once the system is live, build "apply for ETIAS" into your pre-trip checklist alongside booking flights and insurance.
At a glance
| Step | Detail |
|---|---|
| Where | Official portal: travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en |
| Cost | EUR 20 (free under 18 / over 70) |
| Need | Passport, payment card, email, ~10 minutes |
| Time | Usually minutes; some reviews take days |
| Valid | Up to 3 years or passport expiry, multiple entry |
| Remember | It's not extra time — 90/180 still applies |
Important caveats
- All facts here are from official EU portals as of June 2026. The exact launch date, processing times, and form details will firm up nearer launch — confirm against travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en before applying.
- This article is informational, not legal advice. For your nationality's specific entry requirements, consult the destination country's official immigration authority.
- ETIAS covers short stays (up to 90/180). Long-stay (Type D) visas and residence permits are separate and outside ETIAS scope.