UK to Italy ETIAS: what British travellers need to know
From Rome and Venice city breaks to the lakes, the Amalfi Coast and the islands, Italy is a long-standing favourite for UK travellers. Here is what ETIAS will mean for the trip.
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 Italy?
Yes. UK citizens travel to Italy as visa-exempt third-country nationals since Brexit, so once ETIAS is mandatory a British passport holder will need one for a holiday, a city break or a cruise that starts or ends in Italy. Italy is fully inside the scheme.
When will UK travellers need ETIAS for Italy?
Not yet. ETIAS is expected in the last quarter of 2026, with a transition window before it is strictly required at the border. Applications are not open today.
Rome, Venice, the lakes and the islands
The same rules apply across Italy: Rome, Florence, Milan and Venice, the Amalfi Coast and the lakes, and the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. A trip that combines Italy with France, Switzerland, Slovenia or Croatia is covered by one ETIAS, since they are all in the scheme.
City breaks, cruises and multi-country trips
If a cruise calls at Italian ports and you go ashore, normal ETIAS rules apply. For a cruise calling at several Schengen countries, a single ETIAS covers them all, but the time you spend ashore still counts toward the 90 days in any 180-day limit.
Passport validity and the 90/180 rule
Two passport rules matter for UK travellers to Italy. 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 Italy. 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.
Italy 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 flight or cruise booking and accommodation details.
- 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 Italy 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 Italy
ETIAS is not live yet. Check whether you’re likely to need it and get one email when applications open.