Do I need ETIAS to visit Europe?
ETIAS is the EU's coming travel authorization for visa-free visitors. Pick your passport below to see whether you'll need it, what it costs, and how long it lasts — then remember it doesn't change the 90/180-day limit.
What ETIAS is (and isn't)
As of June 2026, ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is an upcoming travel authorisation, not a visa. The EU describes it explicitly as "a new travel requirement for visa-free travellers" — it is not a Schengen visa, and it does not replace one.
Who needs it: Around 1.4 billion people from approximately 59 visa-exempt countries and territories will be required to obtain an ETIAS before traveling to 30 European countries for short stays. If you currently need a Schengen Type C visa, ETIAS does not apply to you — you still need the visa.
Launch timeline: ETIAS will start operations in the last quarter of 2026. The exact date will be announced by the EU several months before launch. A transitional period follows: for at least the first several months after launch, travelers who otherwise meet entry conditions will not be refused entry solely for lacking ETIAS. It becomes fully required after that transitional period ends.
Cost: EUR 20 per application. Applicants under 18 or over 70 years of age are exempt from the fee (they still need to obtain an ETIAS — they just pay nothing).
Validity: An approved ETIAS is valid for up to three years, or until your passport expires — whichever comes first. It covers multiple entries: with a valid ETIAS you may enter as often as you want for short-term stays.
The 90/180 rule still applies. ETIAS is an authorisation to travel that is checked before or at the border. It does not change the Schengen short-stay limit. With a valid ETIAS you can still stay for no more than 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. Use the 90/180 calculator to plan your days.
Note on the UK: Post-Brexit, British nationals are visa-exempt third-country nationals and will need ETIAS. This is a common point of confusion.
Source: EU ETIAS official site — as of June 2026.
Informational only, not legal advice. Confirm current rules on the official EU ETIAS site before you travel.