ETIAS Explained (2026): The €20 Travel Authorisation, Who Needs It, and When It Starts
ETIAS is the EU's answer to America's ESTA: an online authorisation that visa-exempt travellers will need before a short stay in 30 European countries. The fee was raised from €7 to €20 in July 2025, it is valid for three years, and the system is not yet running. This guide uses the European Commission's own notices and the EU's delegation guidance, not the look-alike websites that already sell "ETIAS applications".
Quick answer
ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is an entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals, similar to the US ESTA and the UK ETA. It is not a visa and covers only short stays in the 30 European countries that apply it. The fee is EUR 20, raised from EUR 7 by a Commission decision of 17 July 2025; travellers under 18 or over 70 are exempt from paying. An authorisation is valid for three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first, and the application is processed automatically, with a decision within minutes in most cases. The Commission expected ETIAS to start in the last quarter of 2026; the exact date is to be announced several months before operations begin. The separate Entry/Exit System (EES) began on 12 October 2025 with full implementation by 10 April 2026.
What ETIAS is
ETIAS is a pre-travel screening for people who do not need a visa to enter the Schengen area. You apply online before travelling, your data is checked against EU security databases, and you receive an authorisation linked to your passport. It is not a visa, it does not guarantee entry, and it only covers short-term stays in the 30 participating countries. The EU's delegation guidance describes it as an entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals similar to those already in place in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia.
The fee: €20, with two exemptions
On 17 July 2025 the Commission announced the new fee: EUR 20 instead of the previous EUR 7, to cover the operational costs of ETIAS, taking into account all its functionalities and inflation, and to bring it into line with comparable systems. The adjustment went through a two-month review period of the Council and the European Parliament, renewable once, and enters into effect as soon as ETIAS is operational. Individuals under 18 or over 70 are exempt from paying the fee.
Validity
An ETIAS travel authorisation is valid for three years or until your travel document expires, whichever date comes first. If your passport has two years left, your ETIAS is valid for two years. A new passport means a new ETIAS.
When it starts
As of the Commission's July 2025 notice, ETIAS was expected to be operational in the last quarter of 2026, with the system starting operations at the end of 2026. The EU's delegation guidance for US travellers, last updated July 2025, repeats the last-quarter-of-2026 schedule and says the exact date will be announced before the system enters into operation. Until that date, visa-exempt travellers need nothing beyond their passport. Treat any website that offers to "apply now" as unofficial: the application will be made on the official ETIAS website once operations begin.
ETIAS and EES are different systems
| EES (Entry/Exit System) | ETIAS | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Registers non-EU nationals' entries and exits at the external border, with photograph and fingerprints, replacing passport stamps | Pre-travel authorisation for visa-exempt nationals |
| Who | Non-EU nationals on short stays, visa-exempt and visa holders | Visa-exempt nationals only |
| Started | 12 October 2025, full implementation by 10 April 2026, at the external borders of 29 European countries | Not yet; expected last quarter of 2026 |
| Cost | Free | EUR 20 (free under 18 and over 70) |
How the application will work
- Online application with passport details and personal information, on the official ETIAS website.
- Automatic processing; the traveller receives a decision within minutes in most cases.
- Payment of EUR 20 unless exempt by age.
- The authorisation is linked electronically to the passport; carry the same passport you applied with.
For long-stay movers
ETIAS is for short stays. If you are moving to Europe on a national visa or residence permit, you do not use ETIAS for that country; you enter on the visa. The authorisation becomes relevant again when you travel visa-free as a tourist before your permit is issued, or if you hold a visa-exempt passport and visit other Schengen countries without a residence card from one of them.
Frequently asked questions
Is ETIAS a visa?
No. It is a travel authorisation for visa-exempt nationals, similar to the US ESTA, covering short stays only.
How much does ETIAS cost?
EUR 20, raised from EUR 7 by the Commission on 17 July 2025. Travellers under 18 or over 70 are exempt from the fee.
How long is ETIAS valid?
Three years or until the travel document expires, whichever comes first.
When does ETIAS start?
The Commission expected the last quarter of 2026. The exact date is to be announced before the system enters into operation; until then no authorisation is needed.
Do I need ETIAS if I have a Schengen visa?
No. ETIAS is only for nationals who are exempt from the visa requirement.