Who needs ETIAS?
ETIAS will apply to visa-exempt travellers visiting 30 European countries for short stays. Here’s exactly who that means, and who can ignore ETIAS entirely.
Who it covers
Visa-exempt travellers
ETIAS applies to travellers from countries whose passport holders normally don’t need a visa for short stays in the Schengen area. That currently covers roughly 60 nationalities including:
- The United Kingdom 🇬🇧
- The United States 🇺🇸
- Canada 🇨🇦
- Australia 🇦🇺
- New Zealand 🇳🇿
- Japan 🇯🇵, South Korea 🇰🇷, Singapore 🇸🇬
- Most of South America and many Caribbean countries
Travellers from countries that already need a Schengen visa will continue to use the visa system; they do not apply for ETIAS.
Read by nationality
UK citizens
UK citizens are expected to need ETIAS for short stays in all participating European countries (Ireland is the only exception under the Common Travel Area). Read the full UK guide.
US citizens
Americans are expected to need ETIAS for short stays in all 30 ETIAS countries. Read the full US guide.
Canadian citizens
Canadians are expected to need ETIAS for short stays in all 30 ETIAS countries. Read the full Canadian guide.
Australian citizens
Australians are expected to need ETIAS for short stays in all 30 ETIAS countries. Read the full Australian guide.
Who does not need ETIAS?
- EU, EEA and Swiss passport holders.
- Travellers who already need a Schengen visa.
- Holders of an EU residence permit or long-stay national visa.
- UK citizens travelling to Ireland (Common Travel Area).
- Diplomatic and certain official-passport holders, per their bilateral arrangements.
Children and older travellers
Every traveller is expected to need their own ETIAS, including babies, children and older travellers. The official €20 fee is expected to be waived for under-18s and over-70s, but the authorisation itself still applies. More on ETIAS for children.
Residence permits and visas
If you already hold a Schengen visa, a national long-stay visa or an EU residence permit, you don’t need ETIAS; you travel on those documents.
Full list of ETIAS countries
ETIAS applies when you visit any of these 30 European countries for short stays:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
Popular ETIAS destinations
Country-specific guides for the most-searched destinations.
Get one email when ETIAS opens
Get one email when ETIAS applications open. No passport details. No payment before launch.
Who needs ETIAS: FAQs
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).
Do US citizens need ETIAS?
Once ETIAS becomes mandatory, US passport holders travelling for short stays (under 90 days) to ETIAS countries are expected to need an ETIAS authorisation. It will work in a similar way to ESTA, but it is a separate system for Europe.
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.
Is ETIAS a visa?
Technically no. ETIAS is a travel authorisation, not a visa. Many travellers search for “ETIAS visa” or “Europe visa waiver”. The closest comparison is the US ESTA system. You still need a valid passport, and ETIAS does not guarantee entry: border officers always make the final decision.
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.
Related pages
Get ready for ETIAS before it becomes mandatory
ETIAS is not live yet. Check whether you’re likely to need it and get one email when applications open.