ETIAS is one of the biggest changes coming to European travel for British holidaymakers, but there’s an important point to understand before you apply: the system is not operating yet.
As of September 2026, applications are not being accepted.
The European Union currently expects the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, better known as ETIAS, to begin operating in the last quarter of 2026. An exact launch date has not yet been announced.
Once introduced, the new travel authorisation will affect millions of visa-exempt travellers, including most British citizens travelling to participating European countries for short stays.
The system has also changed considerably since it was first announced. Most notably, the application fee will now be €20 rather than the previously planned €7.
Here’s what UK travellers need to know about ETIAS, when it starts, how applications will work and what it means for future trips to Europe.
What Is ETIAS?
ETIAS stands for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System.
It will be an electronic travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers visiting 30 European countries for short stays.
It isn’t a visa.
Instead, eligible travellers will apply online before travelling. Once approved, the travel authorisation will be electronically linked to the passport used in the application.
An approved authorisation will generally allow eligible travellers to make multiple short visits to participating European countries.
The normal short-stay limit remains up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Importantly, having an approved travel authorisation won’t guarantee entry. Travellers will still need to meet the normal entry requirements when they reach the border.
When Does ETIAS Start?
This is where many older articles are now wrong.
The system was previously expected to launch in 2025, but that didn’t happen.
The European Commission currently says ETIAS is scheduled to start in the last quarter of 2026.
However, as of September 2026, the EU has not announced the exact start date and isn’t accepting applications.
That means UK travellers shouldn’t attempt to apply yet.
The official EU ETIAS website currently confirms whether applications are open and should be your primary source when the launch approaches.
Be particularly cautious of unofficial websites claiming that they can already issue a travel authorisation.
Will UK Travellers Need ETIAS?
For most British citizens travelling visa-free to participating European countries for a short stay, yes—once the system becomes applicable.
The authorisation is intended for nationals of visa-exempt countries who don’t normally need a short-stay visa.
Following Brexit, British citizens are generally treated as non-EU nationals when travelling to the Schengen Area.
If you’re travelling for a short holiday, city break, family visit or similar permitted purpose and currently travel without obtaining a visa, ETIAS is likely to become part of your pre-travel preparation.
Different rules can apply to people with residence rights, visas or other statuses, so don’t assume everybody travelling on a British passport will be treated identically.
Which Countries Will Require ETIAS?
The new travel authorisation will apply to travel to 30 European countries.
These include popular destinations for British travellers such as:
- France
- Spain
- Portugal
- Italy
- Greece
- Germany
- Netherlands
- Belgium
- Austria
- Croatia
- Malta
- Cyprus
- Norway
- Switzerland
- Iceland
The complete list is available through the official EU ETIAS information portal.
Don’t simply assume that “EU”, “Europe” and “Schengen” mean exactly the same thing when checking entry requirements.
Always check the rules for the particular country you’re visiting.
How Much Will ETIAS Cost?
The application fee will be €20.
This is a significant update from older information stating that the scheme would cost €7.
The European Commission increased the planned fee in 2025, and the €20 charge is now established in EU legislation.
Some applicants will be exempt from paying the fee.
Under the current rules, applicants under 18 or over 70 won’t have to pay the €20 application charge.
A fee exemption doesn’t necessarily mean the traveller is exempt from the travel-authorisation requirement itself.
Make sure you distinguish between being exempt from the fee and being exempt from the requirement.
How Do You Apply for ETIAS?
Once ETIAS becomes operational, applications will be made through the official website or mobile application.
You’ll complete an electronic application and provide information including personal and passport details.
You’ll then pay the application fee where applicable and submit the form electronically.
The EU says most applications should be processed within minutes.
However, that doesn’t mean every application will be instant.
If further checks are required, you may receive a decision within four days.
That period can be extended by up to 14 days if additional information or documentation is requested, or up to 30 days if you’re invited to an interview.
For that reason, don’t leave your application until you’re standing in the airport departure hall.
Apply well before your planned journey once applications officially open.
What Information Will You Need?
The precise application requirements should always be checked on the official website when you’re ready to apply.
You’ll need the travel document you intend to use for your journey and will provide personal information through the application.
The authorisation will be linked electronically to that passport.
It’s therefore extremely important that the details you enter match your travel document.
When your decision arrives, check your name, passport number and other information carefully.
The EU warns that mistakes in these details could prevent you from crossing the border.
How Long Will ETIAS Be Valid?
An approved ETIAS travel authorisation will normally be valid for three years or until the passport used for the application expires, whichever happens first.
That means you generally won’t need to submit a new application for every European holiday during the validity period.
However, if your passport expires and you obtain a new one, you’ll need a new authorisation because it is linked to the passport used when you applied.
This is worth remembering if your passport is approaching its expiry date.
Before travelling, you should also make sure your passport meets the entry requirements for your destination.
Our 10-year passport rule guide explains another important issue British travellers should check before visiting Europe.
Does ETIAS Guarantee Entry Into Europe?
No.
An approved ETIAS authorisation allows you to travel to the border, but it doesn’t automatically give you the right to enter.
Border authorities can still check whether you meet the relevant entry conditions.
You may need to demonstrate things such as the purpose of your trip and that you satisfy the requirements for your intended stay.
This is similar to other electronic travel-authorisation systems around the world: receiving authorisation before departure isn’t the same thing as being guaranteed admission at the border.
How Long Can You Stay?
The new system doesn’t increase the amount of time a British tourist can spend in the Schengen Area.
For normal short stays, the limit is generally 90 days in any 180-day period.
A travel authorisation may remain valid for several years, but that doesn’t mean you can stay continuously in Europe for three years.
Its validity and the permitted duration of an individual stay are two different things.
If you’re planning to work, study or remain for longer periods, different immigration or visa requirements may apply.
What Happens If Your Application Is Refused?
Not every application is guaranteed to be approved.
If your application is refused, you’ll receive information explaining the reason for the decision.
The notification will also contain information about your right to appeal, the relevant authority and the applicable time limit.
Don’t immediately submit repeated applications containing the same incorrect information.
Read the decision carefully and follow the official procedure.
One of the best ways to reduce avoidable problems is simply to make sure the information in your original application is accurate.
Is ETIAS a Visa?
No. ETIAS is not a visa.
This distinction is important.
The scheme is designed for eligible travellers who are currently able to visit participating European countries without obtaining a short-stay visa.
If you’re a national who requires a visa for your intended journey, this authorisation doesn’t replace that visa.
Likewise, it isn’t a residence permit or permission to live or work indefinitely in Europe.
It’s a travel authorisation for eligible visa-exempt travellers making qualifying short stays.
ETIAS vs EES: What’s the Difference?
ETIAS and the Entry/Exit System (EES) are frequently confused, but they’re different systems.
EES is already operating.
It began a progressive rollout in October 2025 and became fully operational across the participating external Schengen borders on 10 April 2026.
EES records information about non-EU nationals making short stays, including passport details, facial images, fingerprints and entry and exit information.
You don’t submit an ETIAS-style application for EES before every trip.
ETIAS, by contrast, is the travel authorisation that eligible visa-exempt travellers will apply for before departure once the system launches.
An easy way to remember the distinction is:
EES records your border crossing; the travel authorisation is arranged before you reach the border.
Will ETIAS Make Border Checks Faster?
ETIAS is intended to allow authorities to assess visa-exempt travellers before they arrive, but travellers shouldn’t assume it means they’ll simply walk through the border without checks.
You’ll still need to present your passport and satisfy the relevant entry conditions.
EES has also changed border procedures for many non-EU travellers by digitally recording entry and exit information and biometric data.
Allow enough time for border formalities, particularly during busy travel periods.
Do Children Need ETIAS?
Under the planned rules, children who fall within the ETIAS requirement will still need an authorisation.
However, applicants under 18 are exempt from paying the €20 application fee.
Parents and guardians should therefore include the new requirement in their pre-travel checks for children rather than assuming that being exempt from the fee means no authorisation is required.
Always check the official requirements before travelling because individual circumstances can differ.
What About Travellers Over 70?
Travellers over 70 are also exempt from the €20 application fee under the current rules.
Again, the fee exemption isn’t necessarily an exemption from needing the travel authorisation.
If the traveller falls within the requirement, they should still obtain the necessary authorisation once the system becomes applicable.
Beware of Unofficial ETIAS Websites
The delay to ETIAS has created plenty of confusion, which makes it particularly important to use official information.
As of September 2026, applications are not being accepted.
The EU says applications will be available through its official website and mobile application once the system goes live.
Avoid websites suggesting that paying them now will secure an official authorisation before applications have opened.
When the scheme launches, start with the official European Union ETIAS website.
Third-party intermediaries may offer application services in future, but using an intermediary isn’t the same as applying directly through the official EU system and may involve additional service charges.
When Should You Apply?
Once applications open, don’t assume that “most applications are processed within minutes” means you should wait until the day you travel.
Some applications can take considerably longer if additional information or an interview is required.
The EU specifically advises travellers to apply well in advance of their planned journey.
Once your authorisation is approved, check the confirmation carefully and make sure the details correspond with your passport.
If you’re planning several European trips during the authorisation’s validity, you generally won’t need a new application for each one, provided the authorisation and associated passport remain valid and you continue to meet the relevant conditions.
What Should UK Travellers Do Now?
If you’re travelling before ETIAS becomes operational, you cannot and do not need to apply yet.
Instead:
- Check that your passport meets your destination’s requirements.
- Check the latest entry rules for every country you’re visiting.
- Be aware that EES is already operational.
- Monitor the official website for the confirmed launch date.
- Don’t pay unofficial websites claiming to provide a current authorisation.
- Arrange appropriate travel insurance.
- Check current GOV.UK foreign travel advice before departure.
Once the EU announces the exact launch arrangements, travellers should check whether the requirement applies to their particular journey.
TravelHype Verdict: Don’t Apply for ETIAS Yet
The most important ETIAS advice for UK travellers right now is simple: don’t try to apply yet.
The system is currently scheduled to start in the final quarter of 2026, but as of September 2026 the exact launch date hasn’t been announced and applications aren’t being collected.
When ETIAS does begin, eligible British travellers will be able to apply electronically. The application will cost €20 for travellers who aren’t exempt from the fee, and an approved authorisation will generally remain valid for three years or until the associated passport expires.
Most applications are expected to be processed within minutes, but some can take considerably longer, so applying well before departure will be important.
Bookmark the official EU ETIAS website rather than relying on outdated articles or unofficial application websites.
And while you’re preparing for your European trip, you can find flights, search for hotels and compare car hire with TravelHype.
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