What Is ETIAS and When Does It Start?

ETIAS is the planned European travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors to 30 European countries, similar in spirit to the US ESTA. As of late September 2026 it is not operational: the official EU site states that no applications are being collected, and no launch date is currently published. If a site sells you an "ETIAS application" today, it is selling you nothing.

What Is ETIAS and When Does It Start?: questions people actually ask

Can I apply for ETIAS now?

No. The official EU position is that ETIAS is not operational and no applications are collected — any site accepting them now is not processing an ETIAS.

How much will ETIAS cost?

The planned fee is around the €20 mark for adults, with exemptions planned for minors and over-70s — but the final mechanics are confirmed at launch, so treat published figures as provisional.

Will ETIAS replace my passport checks?

No. Your passport is still checked at the border; ETIAS is an advance clearance layered on top of visa-free travel.

What ETIAS will be when it exists

A pre-travel authorisation linked to your passport, applied for online, valid for multiple short stays over its validity period. It is for nationalities who currently visit Europe without a visa — Americans, Britons, Canadians, Australians and dozens more. It will be required before boarding, not applied for at the border, and it is not a visa: refusal cases are expected to be a small minority.

Why the launch has slipped

ETIAS depends on the Entry/Exit System (EES), the biometric border register that replaced passport stamps for non-EU nationals — it has been fully operational since 10 April 2026, so first-time arrivals at major airports now register fingerprints and a facial image at kiosks or staffed lanes, with the associated Travel to Europe app able to pre-register data up to 72 hours before crossing. ETIAS itself, however, has slipped repeatedly; the EU removed the previous late-2026 target from its official guidance, and the standing advice is that a specific start date will be announced shortly before applications begin. Expect a transition period with generous grace rules when it does start — that has been the pattern for every comparable system.

What should travellers do right now?

Nothing, for ETIAS — there is no application to make, and third-party sites charging for one are collecting money for a service that does not exist. The practical homework is different: check that your passport meets the standard validity rule for the countries you visit (many require months of validity beyond your trip), and if you travel to the UK, remember the UK runs its own ETA scheme already in force.

What Is ETIAS and When Does It Start?