Do I Need ETIAS? Checker and Cost
See what your passport will need for a short trip to Europe, and what ETIAS will cost your group.
ETIAS has not started yet and has no official start date. You cannot apply today, and you do not need it for trips before it launches.
Need a visa instead? Add up the cost with the Schengen visa fee calculator. Going to London too? The UK has its own ETA.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need ETIAS right now?
No. ETIAS has not started and you cannot apply yet. The EU has not set a start date; recent reports point to 2027, and the EU has promised several months of notice. Until then, visa-free travellers just need a valid passport.
Who will need ETIAS?
Citizens of the roughly 64 countries and territories that can visit Schengen without a visa, such as the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan and Brazil. EU citizens do not need it, and people who need a Schengen visa apply for the visa instead. It will cover the Schengen countries plus Cyprus (30 countries).
How much will ETIAS cost?
EUR 20 per person. Travellers under 18 or over 70 still need an ETIAS but pay nothing.
How long will ETIAS last?
3 years, or until the passport you used expires if that is sooner. You can make as many trips as you like, each within the 90 days in 180 rule.
How long will approval take?
Most applications are expected to be approved within minutes. The EU can take up to 4 days, or up to 14 days if it asks for more information and 30 days if it asks for an interview.
Are ETIAS websites selling applications legitimate?
Be careful. Since ETIAS is not open, any site taking ETIAS payments today is not the official service. When it opens, apply only on the official EU website or app.
Sources
- European Commission — ETIAS will cost EUR 20 (2025-07-17) (official)
- European Commission — Main differences between EES and ETIAS (2026-04-28) (official)
- EEAS — Information on ETIAS (validity, processing) (official)
- AFAR — Europe delays ETIAS until 2027 (2026-07-13, citing FT/eu-LISA) (independent guide)
- EUR-Lex — Reg. (EU) 2018/1806 consolidated 2021-01-01 (Annexes I & II) (official)
- EUR-Lex — Reg. (EU) 2023/850 (Kosovo) (official)
- European Commission — Visa policy (official)
Rules last checked: Fri, 16 October 2026. Rules change; if something looks out of date, trust the official source (the European Commission, the country's immigration authority or its consulate) over this page.