ETIAS has not started: what travellers should know
The live EU website is not accepting ETIAS applications. Check the official notice before paying anyone to arrange one.
ETIAS is not operating as of 8 September 2026, and the EU is not collecting applications. The live official ETIAS website says a start date will be announced several months before launch. It currently gives no confirmed launch date.
That matters if you have found an older guide promising a particular month in 2026. Do not pay an application service just because a search result says the system has started.
What ETIAS is intended to do
ETIAS is a travel authorisation for eligible visa-exempt visitors to participating European countries. It will not replace a Schengen visa for people who need one. Nor will it create permission to live or work in Europe.
The official eligibility page lists the passports and exemptions. Your residence document or family circumstances may matter, so use that list rather than assuming every non-European passport will need the same application.
The planned cost
The published application fee is €20. Applicants under 18 or above 70 are exempt from the fee, and some qualifying family members are also exempt. Being exempt from payment is not the same as being exempt from needing an authorisation once the system applies.
The application requirements explain the passport, personal information and payment details. Recheck these when applications actually open, especially if you are helping a child or relative.
What to do for a trip you are booking now
Check your passport, any existing visa requirement and your Schengen day allowance. Keep the official ETIAS page with your travel notes and look again before departure. There is no ETIAS application to submit today.
If a website claims it can issue one now, stop before entering passport or payment information. When the system opens, start from the official EU site so you can see the actual application process and fee.
Do not confuse ETIAS with the Entry/Exit System. EES records relevant short-stay travellers at the border and is already in operation. Our EES guide explains what that means for an airport or international train journey.