EU ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is a pre-arrival authorization that visa-free travelers obtain before entering 30 European countries — the 29 Schengen states plus Cyprus Fact.
30 countries, one authorization
The Schengen area is a 29-country zone allowing border-free movement under the 1985 Schengen Agreement Fact. ETIAS also applies to Cyprus, a non-Schengen EU member, so one ETIAS grants entry eligibility to all 30 Fact.
€20, with a Q4 2026 target
The ETIAS fee is €20, and applicants under 18 and over 70 are exempt from the fee though they still must apply Fact. As checked on 3 September 2026, the official EU ETIAS site says operations will start in the last quarter of 2026. It also says no action is required now and that the exact date will be announced several months before launch Fact. Applications are not open.
Do not confuse it with the UK ETA
EU ETIAS and the UK ETA are separate systems. ETIAS is not open yet; after launch, covered travelers visiting both the UK and Schengen countries will need the relevant authorization for each Fact.
Sources
Official EU ETIAS site — current status and launch-date notice ›