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ETIAS explained

ETIAS will be an online travel authorisation for visitors who do not need a visa to enter 30 European countries. It has been announced for years: here is what the official site says today, and what is still unknown.

Last updated · Sources checked on

Status on 1 November 2026

Official rule

The official ETIAS website says: "ETIAS is currently not in operation and no applications for travel authorisations are collected at this point. The European Union will inform about the specific date for the start of ETIAS several months prior to its launch."

(source: official ETIAS website)

Not certain

Official news articles said in April 2025 that ETIAS was "expected to follow in the last quarter of 2026" (source: Revised timeline for the EES and ETIAS), and in April 2026 that UK nationals would need it "starting from the last quarter of this year" (source: UK nationals and ETIAS). On the day we checked, the official site still gave no start date. We cannot tell you when ETIAS will start: check the official site before you travel.

Official rule

There is only one official ETIAS website: europa.eu/etias.

(source: ETIAS timeline explained)

Our explanation

Since no applications are collected yet, a website that asks you to apply or pay for ETIAS today is not the official service.

Who will need ETIAS

Official rule

Nationals of 59 visa-exempt countries and territories (for example the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan, Brazil or Mexico) who visit any of these 30 European countries for a short stay: the 29 Schengen countries and Cyprus.

(source: ETIAS, who should apply; ETIAS timeline explained)

Official rule

UK nationals who are beneficiaries of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement and hold a residence document issued in the uniform format by one of the ETIAS countries are exempt. Documents issued by Ireland, and by Cyprus for travel to the other 29 countries, do not give this exemption.

(source: UK nationals and ETIAS)

How it will work

Official rule

  • You apply online (official website or app) and pay a fee of EUR 20; some travellers are exempt from the fee.
  • Most applications are processed within minutes; otherwise a decision comes within 4 days, which can be extended by up to 14 days if more information is requested, or up to 30 days if you are invited to an interview.
  • It is valid for 3 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. A new passport needs a new ETIAS.
  • It does not guarantee entry: border guards still check the entry conditions.
  • Your passport must be valid for 3 months after your planned departure (exceptions apply).
(source: What is ETIAS; official ETIAS website)

ETIAS and the 90/180 rule

Official rule

With ETIAS you can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Stays in Cyprus are calculated separately: they do not count towards the 90 days in the other countries, and the other way round.

(source: ETIAS FAQ; What is ETIAS)

Our explanation

ETIAS will not give you more days: it is a permission to travel, not a longer stay. Our 90/180 calculator counts the Schengen days; enter stays in Cyprus separately if you need to track them.

A gradual start

Official rule

After the launch, a transitional period of at least 6 months: travellers should apply, but those without ETIAS are not refused entry if they meet the other conditions. Then a grace period of at least 6 months: ETIAS is required, except for travellers coming for the first time since the end of the transitional period.

(source: ETIAS timeline explained; Revised timeline for the EES and ETIAS)

Other guides

The Schengen 90/180 rule explained

The official rule in plain words, the rolling window, the Commission's worked examples and common mistakes.

EES (Entry/Exit System) explained

What the EES records at the border, who it applies to, and what it changed since 10 April 2026.

The 183-day rule explained

Why "183 days" means different things in national tax rules and in tax treaties.

For information only. StayDayCheck is an independent site, not linked to the EU or any government. Results are estimates based on the dates you enter and on the official texts cited on each page. They are not legal, immigration or tax advice. Border guards and tax authorities make the decisions: when in doubt, ask them or a qualified professional.

Official sources

Sources checked on 1 November 2026.