ETIAS launch tracker
Not live yet
ETIAS is not operational. You cannot apply yet, and no exact start date has been announced.
Officially expected to start operating in the last quarter of 2026. The EU will announce the exact date ahead of launch, and this page will update.
ETIAS will be a pre-travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers (like US, UK, Canadian and Australian citizens) visiting 30 European countries — the 29 Schengen countries plus Cyprus. It's an online application, not a visa.
- Fee
- €20
- Set by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/1411. Some travellers will be exempt from the fee.
- Validity
- 3 years — or until the travel document used in the application expires, whichever comes first
Applications are not open. Any site offering to submit or 'pre-register' an ETIAS application today is not official — the EU's own travel site is the only authoritative channel.
Sources for this page
- launchStatus=announced; 'ETIAS will start operations in the last quarter of 2026'; no exact date published — EEAS — Coming visa-free to Europe (official EU)
- feeEUR=20 — Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/1411 of 16 July 2025 (CELEX:32025R1411), amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1240
- feeEUR=20 confirmed in the consolidated regulation text: 'A travel authorisation fee of EUR 20 shall be paid by the applicant for each application' (Art. 18(1) as amended) — Regulation (EU) 2018/1240, consolidated version of 12 June 2026 (CELEX 02018R1240-20260612), Art. 18(1)
- Fee waived for applicants under 18 or above 70 years of age at the time of the application (Art. 18(2), verbatim) — Regulation (EU) 2018/1240, consolidated version of 12 June 2026 (CELEX 02018R1240-20260612), Art. 18(2)
- CONFLICT NOTE: the EEAS page still displays the superseded EUR 7 fee; the delegated regulation is the controlling text and wins per Accuracy Policy §3.8 — EEAS page (stale on this point)
- validityYears=3, or until the travel document used in the application expires, whichever comes first — EEAS — Coming visa-free to Europe
- Applies to visa-exempt nationals travelling to 30 participating European countries (29 Schengen + Cyprus) — EEAS — Coming visa-free to Europe
Checked against official sources on 2026-07-13.