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Travel and borders · ETIAS · Schengen · Travel authorisation · EU border · Travel to Europe

ETIAS: start date, the €20 fee and what the EU has officially said so far

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Where it stands now · Developing

ETIAS is not running yet. The Commission says it is scheduled for the last quarter of 2026, with no exact date. The fee will be EUR 20.

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A boarding pass resting on a suitcase handle in an empty airport departure lounge, with a blurred flight information board behindIllustration
Illustration, not a photo of ETIAS or any EU border. Credit: Storyblocks. Illustration, not a photo/footage of the event. Credit: Storyblocks.

ETIAS is a travel authorisation that visa-free visitors will need before a short stay in 30 European countries. It is not in operation yet and no applications are being collected. The Commission says ETIAS is scheduled to start in the last quarter of 2026 and that it will confirm the exact date. The fee will be EUR 20, up from EUR 7, with applicants under 18 or over 70 exempt. An approved authorisation lasts 3 years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.

Latest update

First version: ETIAS status and expected start, the EUR 20 fee and who is exempt, validity, how to apply, and the law's history since 2016.

What changed in this version

Version 1, : Record created.

Key facts

  • The European Commission says ETIAS is not in operation and no applications are being collected. The EU will announce the start date several months before launch. [1]
  • The ETIAS fee has been set at EUR 20 instead of the earlier EUR 7. The Commission cites inflation since 2018 and new technical features. The new fee applies once ETIAS is operational. [1]
  • In January 2026 the Commission said ETIAS is scheduled to start in the last quarter of 2026, and that the EU will confirm the exact start date later in the year. [3]
  • Not everyone pays the fee. The Commission says certain groups are exempt, including people under 18 or over 70. [4]
  • An approved ETIAS is linked to your passport, so there is nothing to print. It lasts 3 years, or until that passport expires if that comes sooner. [3]
Timeline of ETIAS. 16 November 2016: Commission adopts the proposal. 12 September 2018: Regulation (EU) 2018/1240 adopted. 9 October 2018: law enters into force. 17 July 2025: Commission announces the EUR 20 fee, up from EUR 7. 12 October 2025: EU Entry/Exit System starts. Autumn 2026: UK guidance expects ETIAS to start. Last quarter of 2026: Commission says ETIAS is scheduled to start. Exact start date not yet set. Side panel: not open yet; fee EUR 20; under 18 or over 70 exempt; valid 3 years or until the passport expires; apply only on the official ETIAS website or app; for visa-free visitors to 30 European countries.
Graphic by Stories of Record, from the sources below. Every official ETIAS milestone so far, and the start date that has not been announced. Compiled by Stories of Record from European Commission and GOV.UK pages. Credit: Stories of Record (all rights reserved).

Timeline

  1. ETIAS follows the EU Entry/Exit System, which started on 12 October 2025. [2]
  2. When it announced the new fee on 17 July 2025, the Commission said the change would go through a two-month review by the Council and the European Parliament, which could be extended once. [4]
  3. EU lawmakers adopted Regulation (EU) 2018/1240, the ETIAS law, on 12 September 2018. It took effect on 9 October 2018. [1]
  4. The Commission proposed ETIAS on 16 November 2016. [1]

What is confirmed

  • ETIAS is a new entry requirement for visa-free travellers visiting 30 European countries for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. [1]
  • The UK government's guidance, last updated in April 2026, says the EU is expected to start ETIAS operations from autumn 2026 and that travellers need to take no action yet. [2]
  • Once ETIAS opens, you apply on the official ETIAS website or mobile app. You fill in a form with personal, passport and trip details and pay a one-off fee. The Commission says most applications are approved within minutes. [3]
  • You need the approval before you board or set off. Airlines and other carriers will check that you have it. [3]
  • Travellers who need a visa for these countries do not need ETIAS. The Commission's example is a citizen of India, who needs a visa instead. Both groups are recorded in the Entry/Exit System at the border. [3]
  • When it announced the new fee on 17 July 2025, the Commission said the change would go through a two-month review by the Council and the European Parliament, which could be extended once. [4]
  • Once ETIAS starts, travellers with a UK passport and no visa or residence permit will need an authorisation before entering the Schengen area. They will give personal and trip details and pay the fee. [2]
  • The UK government warns that any website selling ETIAS now is doing so fraudulently, and that travellers should apply only on the official EU website once applications open. [2]
  • Border guards will check the ETIAS authorisation together with the traveller's documents. The EU agency eu-LISA is building the system. [1]
  • The Commission proposed ETIAS on 16 November 2016. [1]
  • EU lawmakers adopted Regulation (EU) 2018/1240, the ETIAS law, on 12 September 2018. It took effect on 9 October 2018. [1]
  • ETIAS follows the EU Entry/Exit System, which started on 12 October 2025. [2]

What remains unconfirmed

No open questions are being tracked.

Why it matters

Visa-free travellers, including UK passport holders, will need ETIAS once it starts. Until the EU names a date, no one can apply. The UK government warns that any website selling ETIAS now is doing so fraudulently.

What happens next

  • The EU has said it will announce the ETIAS start date several months before launch. We will add the date here when it is announced. [1]

Questions

Can I apply for ETIAS now?

No. The European Commission says ETIAS is not in operation and no applications are being collected. The UK government says any website selling ETIAS now is doing so fraudulently.

When does ETIAS start?

The Commission says it is scheduled for the last quarter of 2026 and that the exact date will be confirmed. The UK government expects operations from autumn 2026.

How much will ETIAS cost, and who is exempt?

EUR 20, up from EUR 7. The Commission says people under 18 or over 70 are among those exempt from the fee.

How long does an ETIAS last?

3 years, or until the passport it is linked to expires, whichever comes first.

Where do I apply?

Only on the official ETIAS website or mobile app, once the system is running. Most applications are approved within minutes, according to the Commission.

Do UK passport holders need ETIAS?

Yes, once it starts, unless they already have a visa or residence permit for the Schengen area.

Is ETIAS the same as the Entry/Exit System?

No. The Entry/Exit System records visitors at the border and started on 12 October 2025. ETIAS is a separate authorisation you apply for before travelling.

Sources

  1. European Travel Information Authorisation System, European Commission (incl. Travel to Europe: ETIAS and EES)Official (government)
    Accessed 7 October 2026.
  2. EU Entry/Exit System, GOV.UKOfficial (government)
    Accessed 7 October 2026.
  3. EES vs ETIAS: Main differences to know for travellers, European Commission (incl. Travel to Europe: ETIAS and EES)Official (government)
    Accessed 7 October 2026.
  4. The European travel authorisation ETIAS will cost EUR 20, European Commission (incl. Travel to Europe: ETIAS and EES)Official (government)
    Accessed 7 October 2026.

People, places and organizations

organization
European Commission
organization
eu-LISA