ETIAS application form: how to apply when ETIAS opens
A plain-English guide to the ETIAS application form: what it will ask for, how much it will cost, and the options for getting help.
Before you apply
ETIAS at a glance
- Status
- Not live yet
- Expected launch
- Last quarter of 2026
- Applications open
- Not yet
- Official fee
- Expected €20
- Validity
- 3 years or until passport expiry
- Stay limit
- 90 days in any 180-day period
- Official application route
- Official EU ETIAS website / app when live
- Private help
- ETIAS Pro may offer optional support when applications open
Can I apply for ETIAS now?
No. The official ETIAS application form is not open yet, so no legitimate website can take an ETIAS application today. Any site claiming to “issue” ETIAS now should be treated as suspicious. At best it will collect your data and money and try to apply later on your behalf; at worst it is an outright scam. For the other claims doing the rounds, see our ETIAS myths page.
When will the ETIAS application form open?
The European Commission is currently pointing to a launch in the last quarter of 2026, with a transition window before ETIAS becomes mandatory at the border. Once the system opens, the application form is expected to be available online and via an official app, with most decisions issued within minutes.
The ETIAS form, field by field
A preview of what the official form is expected to ask. You cannot apply yet, and you should never enter passport details on a private site before launch.
1. Personal details
What it means: Full name, date and place of birth, sex and nationality.
Common mistake: Your name must match the passport exactly, including middle names.
2. Passport details
What it means: Passport number, country of issue and expiry date.
Common mistake: Enter the passport number exactly. Do not use a booking reference, visa number or national ID number.
3. Contact details
What it means: Email address, phone number and home address.
Common mistake: Use an inbox you check, since the decision arrives by email.
4. First country of arrival
What it means: The first ETIAS country you will enter on the trip.
Common mistake: This is your first entry point, not necessarily your main destination.
5. Travel and background questions
What it means: Trip purpose and questions on criminal, security and immigration history.
Common mistake: Answer accurately. Inaccurate answers are a ground for refusal.
6. Parent or guardian details (for minors)
What it means: An adult submits on a child's behalf using the child's passport.
Common mistake: Each child needs their own ETIAS, not a shared family one.
7. Payment
What it means: The official EU fee, expected to be €20, paid on submission.
Common mistake: Only the official EU site charges this. Before launch nobody can.
8. Confirmation and status
What it means: A decision, usually within minutes, linked to your passport.
Common mistake: Keep the approval reference with your passport for the trip.
Note: until the official system opens, you should not be entering passport numbers into any private ETIAS site. Visiting more than one country? See first country of entry for what to put.
What documents will I need?
A valid passport is the only document you’ll need to apply. ETIAS is linked to that single passport, so if you renew, you’ll need a new ETIAS.
How much will ETIAS cost?
The official ETIAS fee is expected to be €20. Travellers under 18 and over 70 are expected to be exempt from the fee but will still need to apply. Private services, including any future ETIAS Pro paid product, would charge an additional optional service fee on top of the official €20.
See ETIAS cost & service fees for the full breakdown.
How long will ETIAS last?
An approved ETIAS is expected to be valid for up to 3 years, or until the passport it is linked to expires, whichever comes first. It allows short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period across ETIAS countries.
Can someone apply for me?
Yes, the EU expects to allow a third party (a family member, friend or a commercial intermediary) to submit the form on someone else’s behalf, provided the traveller understands what is being submitted and any separate service fee. This is what makes a private support service legal: it never replaces the traveller’s authorisation, it just helps with the form.
Applying directly vs using private support
When ETIAS opens, the vast majority of travellers will apply directly through the official EU system at travel-europe.europa.eu/etias for €20. That is the simplest route, and we will always link to it.
A private support service might be worth it if you want help filling in the form correctly, managing a family or group of travellers, double-checking passport details, or you simply want someone to do the admin for you. It is always optional.
Official route vs optional private support
You, the traveller
Official EU route
Apply directly on the official EU site for the €20 fee. The simplest, lowest-cost option, and the one we point to by default.
Optional private support
Use a service like ETIAS Pro for help with the form or a family group, for a separate, clearly disclosed fee.
The official EU ETIAS system
Every ETIAS is issued by the EU. Private support never replaces it, it only helps with the application.
Why travellers may use ETIAS Pro after launch
When ETIAS opens, many travellers will apply directly through the EU system. That is the lowest-cost route. ETIAS Pro is being built for people who want extra help: families, group organisers, travellers on tight timelines, anyone with a confusing passport history, or anyone who wants details checked before submission.
Guided application
A step-by-step version of the official form, in plain English.
Family and group support
Manage several travellers in one place, without losing track.
Passport checks
Flag a passport that expires too soon before you submit.
Mistake prevention
Catch the small errors that cause delays, like a mistyped number.
Launch and renewal reminders
A nudge when it is time to apply, and again before it expires.
Plain-English help
Straight answers on manual processing, refusals and next steps.
Status tracking
One place to see where each traveller's application stands.
Optional human review
A real person checks the details before submission, where offered.
The official €20 EU fee is always paid to the EU. Any ETIAS Pro service fee would be separate, clearly shown, and entirely optional. We never take ETIAS applications or payment before the official system is live.
Until then, we collect only an email address, so we can email you once on the day ETIAS opens. There is no charge, and no passport details, before launch.
What happens after you submit
When ETIAS is live, most applications are expected to be approved within minutes. Some are referred for manual review, which can take longer and may ask for more information. If an application is refused, the notice should explain why and how to appeal. See ETIAS refused for the detail.
Common ETIAS application mistakes
- Entering a name that does not exactly match the passport.
- Typing the passport number wrong, or using a booking reference instead.
- Using a passport that expires within a few months of the trip.
- Forgetting that each traveller, including children, needs their own application.
- Answering background questions carelessly, when accuracy is what matters.
Check your ETIAS readiness
A quick, private check of whether you are likely to need ETIAS and what to sort before it opens. It runs in your browser and is not an application.
ETIAS readiness check
Join the launch list for the ETIAS application
Get one email when ETIAS applications open. No passport details. No payment before launch.
ETIAS application FAQs
Can I apply for ETIAS now?
No. The official ETIAS system is not open yet, so it is not possible for anyone to apply. Any website claiming to issue ETIAS today is not legitimate.
Is ETIAS live yet?
No. ETIAS is not live yet. It is expected to start in the last quarter of 2026. Until then, no traveller can or should apply for ETIAS.
How much will ETIAS cost?
The official ETIAS fee is expected to be €20. Travellers under 18 and over 70 are expected to be exempt from the fee, though they will still need an ETIAS. Private services may charge a separate, optional service fee for help with the application.
How long will ETIAS last?
An approved ETIAS is expected to be valid for up to 3 years, or until the passport it is linked to expires, whichever comes first. It allows short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period within ETIAS countries.
Do children need ETIAS?
Yes, each traveller, including minors and infants, is expected to need their own ETIAS authorisation. Travellers under 18 and over 70 are expected to be exempt from the official €20 fee but still need to apply.
What if my passport expires before my ETIAS does?
ETIAS is expected to be linked to a single passport. If that passport expires, your ETIAS expires with it. After renewing your passport, you will need to apply for a new ETIAS using the new passport details.
Can I apply directly through the EU?
Yes. When the official ETIAS system opens, every traveller will be able to apply directly through the official EU website or app at travel-europe.europa.eu/etias. Using a private service is always optional.
Why might I use a private ETIAS support service?
Some travellers prefer help with form-filling, managing multiple family applications, reminders for renewal, or a second pair of eyes on details like passport expiry. A private service is optional, and travellers should expect to pay both the official €20 fee and any separate service fee.
Related pages
Be ready the day the ETIAS application opens
ETIAS is not live yet. Check whether you’re likely to need it and get one email when applications open.