Travel in Europe with an ETIAS authorization

What is ETIAS?

ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is an electronic travel authorization system set up by the European Union. Its aim is to reinforce security at the Schengen area’s external borders by assessing, before departure, the potential risks associated with travellers who do not require a Schengen visa to enter Europe.

Contrary to what its name might suggest, an ETIAS is not a visa. It is an advance authorization, similar to the American ESTA system, which complements the visa waiver system without replacing it. Nationals of eligible countries will continue to travel without a visa, but will need to obtain this electronic authorization before boarding. For a full presentation of the system, see our What is ETIAS page.

How to obtain an ETIAS in 3 steps

How do I apply for ETIAS?

The ETIAS application procedure will take place entirely online. To obtain an ETIAS, the applicant must log on to the official ETIAS website and complete the ETIAS form. This process will only take a few minutes once the applicant is in possession of all his/her travel information.

The questions on the ETIAS form will cover several categories of information:

• Identity information – including dual nationality;
• Information about your passport for Europe;
• Information about the planned trip;
• Questions about medical and criminal history.

All questions must be answered truthfully and accurately. Any misrepresentation may result in refusal of the ETIAS.

Payment and processing

To finalize his application, the traveler will have to pay for the ETIAS. Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as a free ETIAS authorization for most travelers. The ETIAS fee has been set to cover the administrative costs of the program. Payment by credit card will trigger automatic processing of the application.

In most cases, the answer will reach the applicant by e-mail within a few minutes. For some applications, ETIAS status will be pending – this does not mean that the application will be refused. The EU is committed to a maximum processing time of 30 days for all applications.

Before you leave

When planning your trip, you can check your ETIAS before boarding to make sure it’s valid. It is advisable to have printed your ETIAS before going to the airport, even if the document is electronic and linked to your passport.

The ETIAS will make it possible to travel in Europe for both tourism and business. It will also be possible to transit Europe with an ETIAS. Each traveler, including children, will need their own authorization – parents will need to apply for an ETIAS for minors for each child, regardless of age.

Countries accessible with an ETIAS

All Schengen countries are covered by ETIAS. This includes all major European tourist destinations, as well as several non-EU Schengen countries such as Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.

ETIAS France ETIAS Spain ETIAS Italy ETIAS Germany ETIAS Netherlands ETIAS Belgium ETIAS Portugal ETIAS Greece ETIAS Poland ETIAS Sweden ETIAS Norway ETIAS Denmark

ETIAS by nationality

Nationals of many countries already benefit from a visa waiver for the Schengen area. As soon as ETIAS becomes compulsory, these travelers will have to obtain this prior authorization before leaving. See our dedicated pages for each nationality:

Americans Canadians British Australians Japanese Brazilians Ukrainians All countries →

Explore ETIAS topics

Further information

To help you prepare for your trip to Europe, take a look at our guides to Schengen visas for nationals who do not have access to ETIAS, as well as our pages on the passport required for travel to Europe and checking the validity of your ETIAS before departure.

There are various ETIAS information sites, independent of the European Union. For example, etias.com is a private portal which is regularly updated and can provide additional information. For official inquiries, visit the official ETIAS website.

You can also consult our ETIAS or Schengen visa comparison page to better understand which scheme applies to your situation, or our page dedicated to ETIAS fees and fee waiver cases.