Frequently asked questions

ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is a travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers visiting Europe for short stays. It is an electronic, mostly automated pre-screening linked to your passport — broadly the European equivalent of the US ESTA. It is not a visa.

ETIAS is expected to launch in the last quarter of 2026, with a transitional period before it becomes fully mandatory during 2027. Until it is officially in force, no application can be submitted — by anyone.

No. ETIAS is a travel authorisation, not a visa. It does not require a visit to a consulate or biometric appointment. It is tied to your passport and checked electronically when you travel.

An approved ETIAS is expected to be valid for up to 3 years, or until your passport expires — whichever comes first. It allows multiple entries for short stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

You will need an ETIAS if you are a citizen of a visa-exempt country (such as the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, Brazil or Japan) travelling to one of the 30 European countries for a short stay. Travellers who already hold a Schengen visa or residence permit generally will not need one.

You will need a valid biometric passport (valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure from Europe), a valid email address, and a payment method for the official fee. Most applicants only need to answer a short set of questions.

Yes. Each traveller needs their own ETIAS, including minors. Applicants under 18 and over 70 are expected to be exempt from the official fee, but still need an authorisation.

The official ETIAS government fee is €20 per adult applicant. Applicants under 18 or over 70 are expected to be exempt from this fee. This official fee is separate from any service fee charged by an assistance provider.

Our service fee covers guided assistance: a simplified questionnaire, a review of your information to reduce errors, multilingual guidance and written support. It is charged in addition to the €20 official fee and is entirely optional — you can apply yourself on the official EU portal.

No. ETIAS Requirements is a private, independent commercial company. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the European Union or any government. You can always apply directly on the official EU portal.

Because ETIAS is not in force yet. The official system does not accept applications until the EU regulation takes effect (expected late 2026 / 2027). You can join our waiting list now and we will notify you the moment applications open.

We provide written support by email. This keeps every answer accurate, clear and on record for you, and lets our multilingual team help travellers in different time zones.

Our service fee may be refundable depending on the stage of your request, as set out in our Refund Policy. Please note the official government fee is non-refundable once an application has been submitted to the authorities.

Approval is decided solely by the European authorities, not by us, so we cannot guarantee a positive outcome. Our Refund Policy explains what applies to our service fee if an authorisation is refused.