ETIAS September 2026 Update: It Is Not Open Yet, Cost and Scam Warning

Updated: August 20, 2026

If you are travelling to Europe later in 2026, you may have seen websites telling you to “apply for ETIAS now.” Do not. The European Union’s official ETIAS site says the system is not yet operational and no applications are being collected as of September 7.

When ETIAS is expected

The EU says ETIAS is planned to start in the last quarter of 2026 and that the specific launch date will be announced officially. Until that happens, travellers should not submit an application to a third-party site pretending the authorization is already live.

What ETIAS will cost

The official ETIAS site lists a €20 application fee. Some applicants, including people under 18 or over 70, are expected to be exempt from the fee, although they may still need the authorization if they are otherwise covered.

What ETIAS is, and what it is not

• It is a pre-travel authorization for visa-exempt travellers to participating European countries.
• It is linked to the traveller’s passport.
• It is not a visa.
• It does not replace the Schengen 90-days-in-180 rule.

The scam-resistant way to prepare

Bookmark the official EU site now. If your trip is late in 2026, check that official page again before departure. Do not pay a site simply because it ranks above the government result or uses urgent language.

Quick questions

Can I apply for ETIAS today?

No. The official EU site says ETIAS is currently not operational and applications are not being collected.

How long will ETIAS be valid?

The EU says an authorization will generally be valid for up to three years or until the linked passport expires, whichever comes first.

The lovely part

The nicest travel admin is the kind you only do once. For now, the correct ETIAS task is simply knowing where the official website is and not giving money to anyone else.

Keep exploring our Passports & Visas guides for more current travel stuff.