Travel Permit Rules*Planned: 3 years or until your passport expires.
⚠ ETIAS scam warning
ETIAS is not open. Nobody can apply for it yet. Any website taking an ETIAS payment today is not official.
When it opens, only apply on the official site: travel-europe.europa.eu (or the official app). The European Commission tells travellers to use the official site to avoid fraudulent third-party sites; UK travel trade body Abta has reported more than 150 scam ETIAS sites (trade press).
What we know
- Status: delayed with no date. The EU removed its earlier "last quarter of 2026" wording in mid-2026. The official site says ETIAS is not yet in operation and the start date will be announced several months in advance.
- Transition: after launch there is a 6-month transition period (and a grace period after that).
- Who will need it: visa-exempt visitors to 30 European countries, including citizens of the USA, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
- Fee: EUR 20 (≈ $23), free for under-18s, over-70s and qualifying family members of EU citizens.
- Stay: up to 90 days in any 180-day period (the normal Schengen rule).
- What is live now: the Entry/Exit System (EES), which registers your fingerprints and photo at the border. It is free and has nothing to apply for.
Sources
- 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 (April 2026 wording, since superseded)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. We update this page when the EU announces a date.
FAQ
Do I need ETIAS for my trip in 2026?
No. ETIAS is not running. You still go through the EES border registration.
How much will ETIAS cost?
EUR 20 on the official site. Sites charging $50–$100 or more are third parties.
Can I apply early?
No. There is no official application yet, so you can't apply early.
Get permit changes by email
A short email when an ETA, e-visa or arrival-card rule changes.