ETIAS - Coming 2026
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is a pre-travel authorisation that will be required for UK and other non-EU nationals visiting the Schengen Area.
Similar in concept to the USA's ESTA system, ETIAS is currently expected to launch in late 2026, after the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) is fully operational. The exact date will be confirmed by the EU authorities several months in advance. Until the system is live, no applications are possible and no authorisation is required.
Who will need an ETIAS?
ETIAS will apply to nationals of countries that do not require a visa to visit the Schengen Area. This includes British citizens. It will apply to all travellers, regardless of age, including children.
Nationals of EU member states and the other Schengen Area countries are not required to obtain an ETIAS, as it is only for non-EU visitors.
What countries does ETIAS cover?
ETIAS will apply when visiting any of the Schengen Area countries:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, 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 and Switzerland.
As with the EES, ETIAS does not apply to travel to the Republic of Ireland or Cyprus.
How will it work?
ETIAS will be applied for online before travel, much like the US ESTA process. Travellers will be asked to provide personal details, passport information and answer a short set of security screening questions. Once approved, the authorisation is linked digitally to the applicant's passport and does not need to be printed or carried separately.
An approved ETIAS will be valid for three years or until the passport it is linked to expires, whichever comes first. If a passport is renewed, a new ETIAS application will be required.
Once ETIAS is mandatory, it will not be possible to board a flight, ferry or train to a Schengen country without a valid authorisation. Carriers will be required to verify ETIAS status prior to departure.
How much will it cost?
The fee is €20 per person. The fee is waived for children under 18 and adults over 70, although they will still be required to complete an application.
What does this mean for school groups?
Group leaders should be aware that every member of their party - students and staff alike - who holds a non-EU passport will need their own individual ETIAS before travelling to Europe once the system is live. This applies to the group leader themselves as well as to any international students in the group.
We recommend that schools factor ETIAS applications into their pre-departure planning timeline once the system launches, in the same way that US-bound groups currently manage ESTA applications.
How to apply
Applications will be made through the official EU travel authorisation website: travel-europe.europa.eu/etias
Important: The official ETIAS website is not yet live and is not currently accepting applications. Any third-party website claiming to offer ETIAS applications before the official launch is unauthorised. TCBC strongly advises against using any such service.
What should schools do now?
Nothing is required at this stage. ETIAS is not yet in force and no applications can be made. Once a launch date is confirmed, TCBC will update this page and notify customers with upcoming bookings. In the meantime:
- Keep an eye on this page and the TCBC blog for updates
- Familiarise yourself with the process so you can brief parents and students in good time
Last updated: February 2026
