What is ETIAS 2023?

ETIAS will be a largely automated IT system created to identify security, irregular migration or high epidemic risks posed by visa-exempt visitors travelling to the Schengen States, whilst at the same time facilitate crossing borders for the vast majority of travellers who do not pose such risks.



ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) was originally proposed to launch in 2023, but the timeline has been pushed back multiple times. As of 2026, ETIAS is the new mandatory travel authorization for visa-exempt travelers (including citizens of the U.S., Canada, and the UK) entering 30 European countries in the Schengen Area. It is not a visa, but rather a pre-travel security screening similar to the U.S. ESTA. The system is currently expected to become fully operational in the last quarter of 2026. Once active, travelers will need to apply online before their trip, providing basic personal data and answering security questions. The authorization will cost €7 (for those aged 18 to 70) and will be valid for three years or until the passport expires. Until the official launch date is announced by the European Commission, travelers do not need to take any action and can continue to enter Europe with just a valid passport as they do today.

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The EU plans to operate ETIAS with a $7 fee. Applications will be entirely electronic and require filling out a form full of critical information on the official EU site's ETIAS page. This process should only take minutes, and should see approvals and papers minutes later once payments go through.

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Your ETIAS travel authorisation is valid for three years or until the travel document you used in your application expires - whichever comes first. It is for short-term stays: a valid ETIAS travel authorisation entitles you to stay in the European countries requiring ETIAS for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

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4. What questions will be on the ETIAS?
  • Personal information: name, date of birth, place of birth, gender, and contact details.
  • Passport information: passport number, expiration date, and country of issuance.
  • Travel information: point of entry to the Schengen Area, intended length of stay, and accommodation details.


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It is expected that the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will be operational from mid-2025.

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Decisions on whether the ETIAS will be granted are made on a case-by-case basis. As ETIAS is in place to prevent terrorism and serious crime in Europe, only those individuals deemed a threat will go on to have their request denied. Travelers with minor convictions should not be deterred from applying for ETIAS.

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Introduction. The European Union has recently revised the introduction of the ETIAS. It will now be launched in 2025, which is a push-back from the previously planned 2020, 2022 and 2023 launches. ETIAS stands for EU Travel Information & Authorisation System.

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Beginning in November 2023, U.S. visitors to the European Union will be required to pay a seven-euro charge (about $7.13), and must apply for approval before they arrive via a website or app.

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When applying for an ETIAS travel authorisation, travellers will need to provide their personal information, including address, passport details, current occupation, and information about past travel to conflict zones or criminal convictions. No biometric data, such as fingerprints, is collected with ETIAS.

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There will also be multiple traveller data-points that will be shared between the Schengen zone which it is hoped will improve the future security of the bloc. ETIAS will be required for eligible travellers entering Spain starting in early 2025.

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