European Travel Information and Authorisation System

ETIAS Area
The Schengen Area
Map of Europe
  Schengen Area
  Schengen Area (air and maritime borders only)
  Countries with open borders but not part of the Schengen Area or the EU
  Member of the EU committed by treaty to join the Schengen Area, but not yet a member
Policy of European Union
TypeElectronic travel authorisation system area
Expected implementationMid 2025
Applicable countries
30 countries
+4 countries and 1 territory indirectly
Dimitris Avramopoulos at the press conference in Brussels for the proposal for ETIAS

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is a planned electronic authorisation system of the European Union for visa-exempt visitors travelling to the Schengen Area (including EFTA countries), as well as Cyprus. ETIAS is planned to cost €7 for 3 years validity or until the expiry of the passport, whichever is sooner.[1] As of August 2024, the ETIAS is planned to come into force by May 2025 with a planned six-month transition period.[2][3][4][5][6]

According to the European Commission, it is planned to be implemented "for the identification of security, irregular migration or high epidemic risks posed by visa-exempt visitors."[7] It is not a visa,[8] and it does not guarantee entry.[9] As a supplement to the ETIAS, the Entry/Exit System will be implemented from 10 November 2024, ending the usage of physical passport stamps and thereafter electronically registering travellers' border crossings.[10]

ETIAS was first proposed by the European Commission in 2016[11] and was formally established by Regulation (EU) 2018/1240 of the European Parliament and of the European Council of 12 September 2018.[12][13] Due to various reasons, including difficulties in integrating different member states' national systems into a central database, the implementation date has been repeatedly delayed from January 2021.[14][15]

ETIAS is similar to other electronic travel authorisation systems, such as the United States Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)[16] and the United Kingdom Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).


Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).

  1. ^ "Security union: A European Travel Information and Authorisation System – Questions & answers". European Commission. 5 July 2018. Archived from the original on 31 December 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  2. ^ Simpson, Jack (20 August 2024). "UK citizens travelling to EU next summer will have to pay €7 visa-waiver charge". The Guardian.
  3. ^ Calder, Simon (20 December 2023). "New border system for entering the EU finally gets 2024 launch date". The Independent.
  4. ^ "European Union's delayed 'entry and exit' system set to launch later in 2024". Osborne Clarke. 21 February 2024.
  5. ^ "European Entry and Exit System to begin from October: 10 key points for smooth travel". The Times of India. 2 June 2024.
  6. ^ Topham, Gwyn (26 May 2024). "Why travelling on Eurostar from the UK is about to become much trickier". The Guardian. London.
  7. ^ "Schengen, borders and visa". Europa. 23 November 2022. Archived from the original on 4 August 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Precisiones acerca de ETIAS, el registro de viaje a Europa que aplicará a partir de 2023 | EEAS". Europa. Archived from the original on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  9. ^ Chung, Christine (3 August 2023). "The E.U.'s New ETIAS Entry Requirement Is Coming. Someday". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 4 August 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  10. ^ Fatima, Zahira; Aikman, Ian (21 August 2024). "What is the EU visa waiver scheme and how will it work?". BBC News.
  11. ^ "Communication from the commission to the European Parliament and the Council, Stronger and Smarter Information Systems for Borders and Security". Europa. 6 April 2016. Archived from the original on 11 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  12. ^ "Official Journal of the European Union, L 236, Volume 61, English Edition". Europa. 19 September 2018. Archived from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  13. ^ "Security union: A European Travel Information and Authorisation System – Questions & answers". Europa. 5 July 2018. Archived from the original on 31 December 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  14. ^ Calder, Simon (20 December 2023). "New border system for entering the EU finally gets 2024 launch date". The Independent.
  15. ^ Januzi, Shkura (21 June 2024). "1.4 Billion People Will Have to Apply for an ETIAS Authorisation Before Travelling to EU by Mid-2025". Schengen News.
  16. ^ "US citizens will need to register to visit parts of Europe starting in 2021". CNN. 9 March 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2021.