What Is ETIAS, Europe’s New Waiver Program?

Do you need a visa for Europe? Not really, but beginning sometime in 2024, American travelers will need to complete an online application with ETIAS before traveling to Europe. The application will require a small fee and be approved within minutes for most travelers.

Starting sometime in 2024, Americans, Canadians, and residents of dozens of other countries will be required to pre-register (using a system called ETIAS) before they arrive in Europe. While this may sound like a major hassle, it's just one more little hoop you'll need to jump through on your way to Europe: You'll submit an online application before your trip, pay a small fee, and travel on.

Here are some answers to commonly asked questions about ETIAS. Keep in mind that as of summer 2023, many details are still not known. Keep an eye on official sources, to get the latest details closer to your trip.

What is ETIAS?

ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) is a visa waiver program that requires international travelers from a designated list of countries (including the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand) to pre-register before arriving in Europe's Schengen zone (for more on which countries are affected, see below). It's easy to think of ETIAS as a "visa," but officially it's a "visa waiver" — registering travelers who don't require a visa to enter the country.

How does ETIAS work?

Once ETIAS is in effect, you'll submit an online application before your trip to Europe, and pay a fee of €7 (about $8 USD). Once approved, you'll be sent a registration number. According to the official site, most applications will be approved "within minutes," but if there are questions about your application, it could be delayed by days or weeks until things are cleared up.

When will ETIAS go into effect?

ETIAS begins sometime in 2024. While it's unclear exactly when, it seems likely ETIAS will go into effect in the second half of the year. Authorities have announced a 3- to 6-month grace period upon implementation, during which they might waive the requirement for arriving travelers who missed this new regulation. (First announced in 2016, ETIAS was originally slated to begin in 2021. However, implementation was repeatedly delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.)

How long does ETIAS approval last?

Here's some good news: Once your ETIAS application is approved, you can use it to enter Europe as many times as you like over a period of three years (or until your passport expires) — provided you don't exceed the existing Schengen limit of 90 days out of any 180-day period.

Why does ETIAS exist?

ETIAS is an effort to better track the border security of international visitors entering the Schengen zone. While this is new to Europe, many other popular travel destinations already have visa or visa-waiver requirements similar to ETIAS. For example, US travelers to Australia or New Zealand must submit an online visa application similar to the ETIAS process. And since 2009, Europeans visiting the United States have been required to register through the Department of Homeland Security's Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). Europe's ETIAS appears to be closely modeled after ESTA, effectively treating American travelers in Europe the way that European travelers are treated upon arrival in the US.

Which countries are a part of the ETIAS requirement?

All members of the Schengen Agreement are taking part in ETIAS. This includes all 27 EU members (including Italy, France, Germany, Spain, and Greece), plus non-EU members of the EEC (such as Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland) — but not the United Kingdom, which left the EU with Brexit. Effectively, the ETIAS area covers all of Europe except Great Britain and some countries on the eastern edge of Europe, including Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania, Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia (which will not require ETIAS registration — though some of these places have their own visa requirements or travel restrictions).

This makes me nervous about my trip. How can I make sure not to screw this up?

ETIAS is not worth stressing about — but it's smart to be aware of it, if you're heading to Europe in 2024.

First, keep an eye on official updates to know exactly when it goes into effect. Once that date is established, you'll want to submit your application on the ETIAS website in advance of your trip. It's unclear how far ahead you'll need to do this, especially because it's a new system. While it appears that you'll be able to apply with fairly short-notice, if you want to avoid delays or other potential headaches, you can register as soon as the system is up and running and your travel plans are set.

How will this affect European travel in 2024 and beyond?

Ultimately, ETIAS will become just one more small, manageable step to take before traveling to Europe. The real challenge will be making sure that travelers are aware that this brand-new requirement exists. It's likely that airlines will take the lead in making sure their passengers know about ETIAS — upon booking, upon checking in, and upon arriving at the airport — so that hopefully, by the time the plane boards, everyone will have taken care of this step.

Upon arrival, each country is setting up its own entry-exit system (EES). Some may use automated kiosks where you'll punch in your registration number; others will make it part of the manual passport check. So the degree to which ETIAS complicates or delays entry could vary quite a bit from place to place.

How can I find out the latest?

Here are two good resources where you can find updates about the launch date and requirements: ETIAS and the EU's ETIAS information.