The European Commission has confirmed that ETIAS, the EU's online pre-travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors, will start operating in the final quarter of 2026, followed by a transition period during which it is recommended but not yet enforced at boarding. It is not a visa: travelers fill in a short online form, and most are approved within minutes, with the authorisation linked to the passport for up to three years. The only official portal is on the europa.eu domain — authorities warn that look-alike sites charging extra are not authorised.
At a glance
Visa-exempt visitors will need an online ETIAS authorisation before traveling to Europe once the system goes live in Q4 2026.
