ETIAS Application form

This guide to the ETIAS application process will help you prepare for the new European travel authorisation. At etiasvisa.com, we provide travellers with the information they need for a successful application.

ETIAS REGISTRATION FORM

Travellers from visa-exempt third countries will need to complete the ETIAS registration form to travel to Europe.

The European Parliament passed the ETIAS regulation on July 5, 2018. Since then, eu-LISA and European authorities have been developing the new travel authorisation system.

Information provided on the ETIAS application form will be cross-checked against security databases. Anyone who presents a high epidemic or security risk can be detected and prevented from travelling to Europe.

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System will improve border management and make the Schengen Area even safer.

ETIAS registration is expected to be available from 2026 .

The ETIAS application form will be online and quick to complete.

Over 95% of ETIAS applications will be approved almost immediately. The ETIAS travel authorisation will be valid for 3 consecutive years and multiple short stays in Europe.

The ETIAS registration process will be similar to other travel authorisation systems across the world. Basic personal information and passport details will be required, fingerprints and other biometric data will not be collected.

International databases including Interpol and Europol and the Schengen Information System will be involved in cross-checking data.

VISA-EXEMPT TRAVELLERS NEED TO COMPLETE THE ETIAS APPLICATION FORM

ETIAS is not a visa, it is an electronic travel authorisation, also known as a visa waiver.

Non-EU citizens from visa-waiver countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States will need to apply.

International carriers (airlines, coaches, and sea carriers) will verify passengers hold a valid ETIAS before boarding. It will also be checked at the external Schengen border.

With ETIAS, eligible travellers can visit the Schengen Area for up to 90 days per 180-day period for tourism, business, or short-term study. To stay for longer than 3 months, or for other purposes, a visa application must be submitted.

DO BRITISH CITIZENS NEED TO COMPLETE THE ETIAS APPLICATION FORM?

British citizens will need to apply for ETIAS. UK passport holders are no longer EU citizens and freedom of movement does not apply. British nationals are subject to the same European entry conditions as other third-country nationals.

"ETIAS will work for all current and future visa-free third countries. It does not single out any country or region..." said Dimitris Avramopoulos, Home Affairs Commissioner.

UK citizens benefiting from the Withdrawal Agreement are exempt from the ETIAS application requirement.

QUESTIONS ON THE ETIAS APPLICATION FORM

Like other visa waivers, including the US ESTA system the EU application form will require personal details such as full name, date of birth, contact and passport.

Applicants from the visa waiver countries will have to provide the following information when applying for an ETIAS:

APPLYING FOR ETIAS IF YOU DO NOT HAVE CONFIRMED TRAVEL PLANS

If you do not have confirmed travel plans, you can still apply for ETIAS.

You need to state which European country you will enter first however, once you have your authorisation, you can travel to any of the ETIAS countries.

DECLARING FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE EU CITIZENS

In addition to providing the basic information listed above, applicants must declare if any of their family members:

ETIAS APPLICATION FORM SECURITY QUESTIONS

To help make Europe even safer for residents and visitors, visa-exempt visitors will need to provide security information. ETIAS applicants may be asked questions about:

This information is cross-checked against Schengen security systems. Applicants with a minor criminal record for past offences may still be granted ETIAS, provided they are not considered a threat to European security.

Anyone considered a high epidemic or security risk will not be able to travel to Europe with ETIAS.

Thanks to ETIAS, all third-country visitors will be prescreened for security risks, not just those requiring a visa. This will strengthen Schengen borders and improve safety.

ETIAS APPLICATION FORM REJECTION AND APPEALS

Travellers must answer all security questions honestly. If the system receives an alert or a flag, the ETIAS application will be reviewed manually and will be individually assessed.

If an application has been refused, additional documentation might be requested from the applicant. The traveller will have 96 hours to provide it, and the national authority of the respective Schengen member country will have four weeks to make a decision. In case of denial, the applicant has the right to appeal.

It is possible to apply for ETIAS on behalf of another traveller. The traveller and the person submitting the application need to sign a declaration authorising them to make the request.

Travellers and third parties should keep a signed copy of this document.

CAN WE APPLY FOR ETIAS AS A GROUP OR FAMILY?

It is not possible to apply for ETIAS as a group, or include family members in an application. Each traveller in a group or family needs to make a separate application—ETIAS is linked to the individual passport.

CAN I APPLY FOR MY ETIAS WITH ETIASVISA.COM?

No, you cannot apply for your ETIAS with etiasvisa.com. This is an informative site designed to help travellers get ready for the upcoming entry requirement. This site is not operated by or associated with the European Union.

You can apply for ETIAS starting 2026 .