ETIAS for Canadian citizens
Canadians already know how pre-travel authorisation works, because Canada runs one: every visa-exempt visitor flying into the country needs an eTA. ETIAS is Europe’s version of the same idea, this time with Canadian travellers on the applying end.
Quick answer
ETIAS at a glance
- Status
- Not live yet
- Expected launch
- 2027
- 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
Do Canadians need ETIAS for Europe?
Yes, once it becomes mandatory. Today a Canadian citizen can board a flight to Paris or Rome with nothing but a valid passport. That changes when ETIAS launches: every Canadian visiting the Schengen area for tourism, family visits or business will need an approved ETIAS linked to their passport before departure. Trips taken before launch need nothing at all.
How ETIAS compares to Canada’s eTA
Since 2016, visa-exempt visitors flying into Canada have needed an eTA: a short online form, a small fee, and an automated decision usually within minutes. ETIAS is the European equivalent with the roles reversed, and the application is expected to work in a similar spirit. The differences are in the detail, mainly price, validity and how much territory one approval covers.
Canada’s eTA vs ETIAS at a glance
| Feature | Canadian eTA | ETIAS |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | Government of Canada | European Union |
| Who needs it | Visa-exempt visitors flying to Canada | Visa-exempt visitors to Europe, including Canadians |
| Fee | CAD $7 | Expected €20 (free under 18 and over 70) |
| Validity | Up to 5 years or until passport expiry | Up to 3 years or until passport expiry |
| Covers | Canada only | 30 European countries |
| Stay limit | Up to 6 months per visit | 90 days in any 180-day period |
| Status | Live since 2016 | Not live yet, expected 2027 |
What ETIAS will cost Canadians
The official fee is expected to be €20, roughly CAD $30 at recent exchange rates and about four times what Canada charges for an eTA. Before that stings, note what it buys: one payment covers unlimited trips to 30 European countries for up to 3 years, or until your passport expires. Travellers under 18 and over 70 are expected to pay nothing, though they still need an approved ETIAS each.
Snowbirds: ETIAS does not buy a longer winter
Plenty of Canadians winter in Spain, Portugal or the south of France. ETIAS changes nothing about how long you can stay. The Schengen limit remains 90 days in any rolling 180-day period, and since the EES border system became fully operational on 10 April 2026, every entry and exit is logged digitally. A five-month winter on ETIAS alone is not possible. Staying longer than 90 days means applying for a national long-stay visa from the country you plan to settle into for the season.
Dual citizens: an EU passport beats ETIAS
Many Canadians also hold an EU citizenship through a parent or grandparent, often Italian, Irish, Portuguese or French. If that is you, travel to Europe on the EU passport and ETIAS never enters the picture, because EU citizens do not need it. Use the Canadian passport for the Canadian border and the EU one for Europe. ETIAS only matters when your sole passport is Canadian.
When does this start for Canadians?
ETIAS is expected to launch in 2027, with the exact date still to be confirmed, with a transition period before strict enforcement around six months after launch. Until launch nobody can apply, from Canada or anywhere else, and any site offering to sell one today is not legitimate. When applications open, the official route will be the EU’s own website and app.
What to do now
Two things. Check your passport first: it should be valid for at least three months beyond the day you plan to leave Europe, and because an ETIAS expires with the passport it is linked to, renewing a nearly-expired passport before applying saves you a second €20 later. Then, if you want a single heads-up when applications open, leave your email below.
Popular ETIAS destinations for Canadian travellers
Country-specific guides for the most-searched ETIAS destinations.
Get the ETIAS launch alert for Canadian travellers
Get one email when ETIAS applications open. No passport details. No payment before launch.
Common questions
I have a Canadian eTA. Do I need ETIAS as well?
Yes, if you are travelling to Europe. A Canadian eTA only authorises travel to Canada and carries no weight at a European border; the two systems are entirely separate. Worth knowing: Canadian citizens never hold an eTA themselves, since it exists for foreign visitors to Canada. The authorisation Canadians will need for Europe is ETIAS.
I am a dual Canadian-EU citizen. Do I need ETIAS?
No, as long as you enter Europe on your EU passport. EU citizens do not need ETIAS at all. If you travel on your Canadian passport instead, the requirement applies to that document, so use the EU passport for European trips.
Can snowbirds spend the whole winter in Spain or Portugal on ETIAS?
No. ETIAS only covers short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area, and the EES border system now records entries and exits digitally. A four or five-month winter needs a national long-stay visa from Spain or Portugal, which is a separate application with its own requirements.
How much will ETIAS cost compared with Canada’s eTA?
ETIAS is expected to cost €20, against CAD $7 for Canada’s eTA. It covers 30 countries rather than one and is expected to last up to 3 years or until your passport expires. Travellers under 18 and over 70 are expected to be exempt from the fee.
Is ETIAS Pro official?
No. ETIAS Pro is a private information and assistance service. We are not affiliated with the European Union, Frontex or any government. When ETIAS opens, you will be able to apply directly through the official EU ETIAS website or app.
Related pages
Be ready when ETIAS opens for Canadian travellers
ETIAS is not live yet. Check whether you’re likely to need it and get one email when applications open.