ETIAS for UK travellers: start date, EUR 20 fee, validity

The short answer

ETIAS, the EU’s travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors, is not in operation yet: the official EU site says no applications are collected at this point. The EU has announced that it will start in the last quarter of 2026 and says it will give the exact start date several months before launch. When it starts, British citizens will need one to visit any of 30 European countries for a short stay. It will cost EUR 20 and be valid for three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.

What is in force today and what is not

The EU says no action is required from travellers at this point, and that once ETIAS starts you will apply on the official ETIAS website or the official ETIAS mobile app.

Who must apply

The EU’s FAQ answers the UK question directly: UK nationals, including British overseas citizens, British protected persons and British subjects, are required to have a valid ETIAS travel authorisation to travel to any of the 30 European countries requiring ETIAS for a short stay, unless they are beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement. ETIAS covers nationals of 59 visa-exempt countries and territories; besides the UK, the EU names the US, Canada and Australia.

You do not need ETIAS if:

• you hold the nationality of a country requiring ETIAS or of Ireland (you must then travel on that country’s passport);
• you are a Withdrawal Agreement beneficiary holding a residence document in the uniform format from a country requiring ETIAS.

The Withdrawal Agreement exemption has two exceptions, according to the EU’s page for UK nationals. A Withdrawal Agreement document issued by Ireland does not exempt you: you need ETIAS for all 30 countries. A document issued by Cyprus exempts you for Cyprus only, not for the other 29.

Each traveller needs their own authorisation. The EU’s page on travel by land says each person in a car, including children, must have their own ETIAS, and its UK page gives the example of a parent and two children who must each get one before a ferry from Dover.

Cost, validity and how long a decision takes

The fee is EUR 20. The EU says applicants under 18 or over 70 are exempt from paying, and so are family members of EU nationals who qualify for family-member status. The fee is non-refundable. The official site warns that other websites offering to apply for you may charge additional fees on top of the EUR 20.

An ETIAS is linked to the passport you apply with. It is valid for three years or until that passport expires, whichever comes first; if you get a new passport, you need a new ETIAS. You can enter as often as you want for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and you must hold a valid ETIAS for your entire stay. It does not guarantee entry: border guards still check that you meet the entry conditions, including the passport rules in passport validity for Europe.

On processing, the EU’s FAQ says most applications are processed within minutes, or at the latest within 96 hours. If you are asked for more information you have 10 more days to provide it, and an interview can add up to 30 days. The EU advises getting the authorisation before you buy tickets or book hotels.

Where it will be checked

The EU’s UK page says the authorisation will be checked before you board your plane or cruise to Europe. For trains departing from the UK, border guards will check your ETIAS before boarding; the EU’s example is a passenger at London St Pancras. For ferries from Dover, border authorities check before boarding. If you drive, the check happens at the border crossing point.

The phased start

The EU’s “ETIAS timeline explained” page describes two phases after launch:

1. Transitional period of at least six months: travellers should apply, but those without an ETIAS will not be refused entry if they meet all other entry conditions.
2. Grace period of at least six months: an ETIAS is required. The only exception is a traveller entering for the first time since the transitional period ended, who may enter without one if they meet all other conditions.

ETIAS and EES are different things

ETIAS is an online authorisation you apply for before you travel; the EU says no biometric data is collected with ETIAS. The EES is the border register that takes your fingerprints and photo when you arrive, and it already runs. Read the EES guide for that part. For problems on the day itself, see flight delay compensation, and before packing, liquids in hand luggage.

Before you travel

Check the official EU ETIAS site for the announced start date before any trip planned for late 2026 or after. The EU says there is only one official ETIAS website: europa.eu/etias.