Important notice
- The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is currently not in operation and no applications for travel authorisations are collected at this point. ETIAS will start operations in the last quarter of 2026.
- Applicants will be able to apply via an official website and/or app for mobile devices prior to the start of operation of ETIAS and will have to pay a fee of €7.
- The date from which travellers will be able to apply will be published on this web site.
What is ETIAS
ETIAS is a new travel requirement for the visa-free travellers coming to 30 European countries. It is created to identify security, irregular migration or high epidemic risks, whilst at the same time facilitate crossing borders for the vast majority of travellers who do not pose such risks. The information gathered via ETIAS will allow, in full respect of fundamental rights and data protection principles, for advance verification of potential security, irregular migration of high epidemic risks.
The ETIAS travel authorisation will be a mandatory pre-condition for entry to the Schengen countries. It will be checked together with the travel documents by the border guards when crossing the EU border. This prior verification of visa exempt non-EU citizens will facilitate border checks, avoid bureaucracy and delays for travellers when presenting themselves at the borders, ensure a coordinated and harmonised risk assessment of third-country nationals, and substantially reduce the number of refusals of entry at border crossing points.
The European Agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice (eu-LISA) is responsible for developing the system.
Background
The European Commission first introduced the idea of a ETIAS in April 2016 in the Communication "Stronger and Smarter Information Systems for Borders and Security" and adopted the proposal on 16 November 2016. After negotiations with the European Parliament and the Council the ETIAS Regulation (EU) 2018/1240 was adopted on 12 September 2018 and entered into force on 9 October 2018.