UK to France ETIAS: what British travellers need to know
France is the gateway most British travellers reach by Eurostar, ferry or the Channel Tunnel, as well as by air. Here is whether ETIAS applies, when, and how it fits with the way UK travellers actually get there.
Quick answer
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
Does a British passport holder need ETIAS for France?
Yes. Since Brexit, UK citizens are visa-exempt third-country nationals for travel to France, which is the group ETIAS covers. Once mandatory, a British passport holder will need an ETIAS for a Paris weekend, a ski trip, a Disneyland Paris visit or a business meeting. UK travellers do not need ETIAS for Ireland, but France is fully inside the scheme.
When will UK travellers need ETIAS for France?
Not yet. ETIAS is expected to launch in the last quarter of 2026, with a transition window before it becomes strictly required. Travel before launch does not require it, and applications cannot be made today.
Eurostar, the Channel Tunnel, ferries and driving
ETIAS is a pre-travel authorisation you obtain online, separate from the passport checks at St Pancras, Folkestone or the ferry ports. However you cross, by Eurostar to Paris, on Le Shuttle through the Channel Tunnel, by ferry to Calais or by air to Nice, you are expected to need an ETIAS once the system is mandatory. France is also a common transit route to Spain, Italy or Switzerland, and a single ETIAS covers the whole Schengen leg.
Paris, Disneyland Paris and the Alps
The same rules apply everywhere in mainland France. A city break in Paris, a family trip to Disneyland Paris and a ski season in Chamonix or Val d'Isère all sit under ETIAS once it is live, within the 90 days in any 180-day limit.
Passport validity and the 90/180 rule
Two passport rules matter for UK travellers to France. Your passport should have been issued less than 10 years before the date you enter, and it should still be valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area. Separately, the 90 days in any 180-day rule caps how long you can stay across all Schengen countries combined, not just France. ETIAS is linked to one passport and is expected to last up to 3 years, or until that passport expires.
What to do now
Nothing urgent. Check your passport against the two rules above for your travel dates, and renew it early if it is close to 10 years old. When ETIAS opens you will apply online for the expected €20 and most decisions should arrive within minutes. You can get one email from us the day it goes live.
France entry checklist for UK travellers
- A UK passport issued within the last 10 years and valid for at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area.
- An ETIAS authorisation once the system is live, one per traveller including children.
- Your travel booking, whether it is a flight, Eurostar, Le Shuttle or ferry reservation.
- Accommodation details and travel insurance for the trip.
- A rough tally of recent Schengen days, to stay within 90 in any 180.
Get the ETIAS launch alert for France trips
Get one email when ETIAS applications open. No passport details. No payment before launch.
Common questions
Do UK citizens need ETIAS?
Once ETIAS becomes mandatory, UK citizens travelling for short stays to participating European countries are expected to need an ETIAS authorisation linked to their British passport. They will not need ETIAS for Ireland (Common Travel Area).
What is the 90/180-day Schengen rule?
ETIAS-eligible travellers can stay in the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days within any rolling 180-day window. ETIAS does not extend that limit; it only authorises short stays within the existing rules.
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.
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.
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.
Related pages
Be ready for ETIAS before your next trip to France
ETIAS is not live yet. Check whether you’re likely to need it and get one email when applications open.