Updated
GL-E-02
Glossary · Statuses, passports, travel
ETIAS - travel authorisation for visa-free Europe
An electronic travel authorisation for Schengen for those who need no visa, for example holders of Caribbean, Argentine or UAE passports. The fee is €20 and it lasts 3 years. As of October 2026 the system has not launched; the EU will announce the date several months ahead.
01 / In 30 seconds
The short answer
- What it is
- An electronic travel authorisation for Europe for those who do not need a visa
- Who it applies to
- Visa-free travellers: Caribbean, Argentine, UAE, US passports and others
- How much it costs
- €20, free under 18 and over 70
- How long it is valid
- 3 years or until the passport expires
- When it starts
- Not launched as of October 2026; the EU will announce the date
02 / In plain words
What ETIAS means
ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is an electronic travel authorisation for Europe for people who do not need a visa. It is not a visa: you apply online in a few minutes, with no embassy and no interview. It will be required for trips to the 29 Schengen countries and Cyprus, 30 countries in total.
ETIAS applies to nationals of visa-free countries: for example, holders of Caribbean, Vanuatu, Argentine, UAE, US and UK passports. You apply on the official website or in the app, pay a €20 fee, and in most cases receive an answer within minutes. The authorisation is linked to your passport and is valid for 3 years or until the passport expires. It does not guarantee entry: the decision rests with the border officer.
As of October 2026 ETIAS is not yet running. The European Commission plans the launch and will announce the exact date separately. Right after the start there will be a transition period when travellers without an authorisation are still admitted. For anyone choosing a second passport for travel to Europe, the point is simple: visa-free access stays, with an online application added before the trip.
A simple example
A family with Grenada passports flies to Barcelona for a week. Once ETIAS is live, each adult fills in an online application and pays €20; children under 18 pay nothing. The answer arrives within minutes, and the authorisation covers every trip to Europe for the next 3 years. The airline checks it at boarding, and at the Spanish border the EES records their entry.
Where you will meet ETIAS
- A trip to Europe on a Caribbean passport
- Visa-free business trips
- A family holiday in Schengen or Cyprus
- Check-in for a flight to Europe
- A new passport needs a new authorisation
- Choosing a second passport for travel to Europe
03 / What it covers
What ETIAS requires and who it covers
What the application asks for
- Passport data
- Personal and contact details
- Education, job, travel plans
Who will need it
- Nationals of visa-free countries
- Stays of up to 90 days in 180
- 29 Schengen countries and Cyprus
Who does not need it
- Citizens of the EU, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein
- Holders of a Schengen residence permit
- Travellers entering on a visa
Fee and validity
- €20 per application
- Free under 18 and over 70
- 3 years or until the passport expires
04 / How it works
How to get ETIAS
Open the official website or app
Only the EU website or app, with no intermediaries adding a mark-up.
Fill in the form with passport data
Passport, contacts, education, job and travel plans.
Pay the €20 fee
No fee under 18 or over 70.
Application check, usually within minutes
Sometimes up to 4 days, up to 30 days if documents are requested.
Authorisation linked to the passport
No printing needed; valid for 3 years or until the passport expires.
05 / Key facts
Key facts
01
As of October 2026 ETIAS is not running; the EU will announce the launch date
02
The fee is €20, free for children under 18 and people over 70
03
The authorisation is valid for 3 years or until the passport expires
04
The airline checks the authorisation before boarding
05
Most applications are approved within minutes; some take up to 4 days, and up to 30 days if documents are requested
Common mistakes
- Applying through third-party sites that add a mark-up
- Applying on the day of departure
- Forgetting that a new passport needs a new authorisation
- Treating ETIAS as a visa or a right to live or work in Europe
- Paying for ETIAS now, before the system has launched
06 / Expert advice
How to prepare
Until ETIAS launches there is nothing to apply for, and any site charging for ETIAS now is an intermediary. After launch, apply only on the official EU website or app, and do it before you buy tickets. Check your passport expiry date: the authorisation is never valid longer than the document, and a new passport means a new application.
What we do for you. We take ETIAS into account when choosing a second passport for travel to Europe: visa-free access with an online authorisation works for trips, while living in Europe needs a residence permit. We will tell you when and where to apply after launch, with no unnecessary intermediaries.
Anna KovalevskayaLead lawyer for EU citizenship and residency, 12 years of practice
07 / Questions
Frequently asked questions
No. It is an electronic authorisation for people who do not need a visa. You apply online in a few minutes, with no embassy, fingerprints or interview.
As of October 2026 the system has not launched. The European Commission will announce the exact date separately. After the start there will be a transition period when entry is possible without an authorisation.
€20 per application. Children under 18 and people over 70 get it free.
3 years, or until the passport expires if that comes first. During that time you can travel as often as you like within the 90-days-in-180 rule.
Yes. Caribbean passports give visa-free entry to Schengen, so once the system launches their holders will need a valid ETIAS for their trips.
No. Holders of a Schengen residence permit or visa do not apply, and neither do EU citizens.
Yes, for example after past overstays or errors in the application. A refusal comes with a reason and can be appealed in the country that made the decision.
ETIAS is obtained online before the trip. The EES records entry and exit at the border; it has been running since 10 April 2026 and covers everyone travelling to Schengen for a short stay.
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