ETIAS guides
Answers about requirements, passports and travel to Europe.
What is ETIAS?
ETIAS is the pre-travel authorisation visa-exempt visitors will need for 30 European countries. What it is, what it is not, and where it stands today.
Read the guide →Who will need ETIAS?
The 59 visa-exempt nationalities that will need ETIAS, passport conditions, overseas territories and who is exempt. Interactive check and full table.
Read the guide →ETIAS start date: where things stand
There is no official ETIAS start date. Dated timeline of every announcement and delay, the transitional and grace periods, and how the date will be announced.
Read the guide →How much will ETIAS cost?
ETIAS will cost €20, up from the €7 first planned. Who is exempt (under 18, over 70, EU family members), what intermediaries add, and refunds.
Read the guide →How applying for ETIAS will work
How the ETIAS application will work once it opens: where to apply, what the form asks, processing times (minutes to 30 days) and when to apply before a trip.
Read the guide →ETIAS special cases
ETIAS rules for children, dual nationals, residence permit holders, EU family members, airport transit, a new passport, a criminal record and second-home owners.
Read the guide →What to do if your ETIAS is refused
What happens if an ETIAS application is refused: the grounds set by EU law, the email you receive, appealing in the country that decided, and alternatives.
Read the guide →The 30 European countries that will require ETIAS
The 30 countries that will require ETIAS: Schengen area plus Cyprus. Special cases of Cyprus, Ireland, microstates and overseas territories explained.
Read the guide →EES, the Entry/Exit System: what happens at the border
The Entry/Exit System has been fully operational since April 2026. Who is registered, what data is taken, children, data retention and the 90/180 rule.
Read the guide →ETIAS or EES: what is the difference?
ETIAS and EES are often confused: one is an online authorisation before travel, the other a biometric record at the border. Side-by-side comparison.
Read the guide →How to spot an unofficial ETIAS website
Many sites already sell ETIAS applications although the system is not running. How to recognise an unofficial ETIAS site, and what to do if you have paid one.
Read the guide →Check my passport
Will you need ETIAS? The answer for your nationality.
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