Do I Need ETIAS? Europe Entry Requirement Checker

ETIAS, EES, Schengen visa, UK ETA — what's the difference?

ETIAS is a pre-travel authorisation for people who already travel to Europe visa-free, such as Americans, Canadians and Australians. It is not a visa. You fill in a short online form, pay €20, and it is linked to your passport for three years. It launches in Q4 2026.

EES, the Entry/Exit System, is separate and already live as of April 2026. It records your entry and exit at the border using your photo and fingerprints. You do nothing for it — border officers handle it.

A Schengen visa is the full visa that nationals of some countries need before travelling. If you need one of these, ETIAS does not apply to you.

The UK ETA is Britain's own version, separate from anything the EU runs. It costs £20, lasts two years, and has been required since 2025. Travellers heading to both London and Paris often need both an ETA and, from late 2026, an ETIAS.

When should I apply for ETIAS?

Once the portal opens, apply at least a few days before you travel. Most approvals come through within minutes, but some applications are held for extra checks that can take up to 30 days. If you travel to Europe often, apply as soon as it goes live — one authorisation covers three years of short trips.

A note on scams

The only official ETIAS site is travel-europe.europa.eu. Fraudulent sites already exist using EU logos and collecting card details for a system that isn't even open yet. When it launches, apply directly through the official portal and ignore any third party charging a markup.