ETIAS in 2026: what changes and when

ETIAS is not a visa and it does not extend a permitted stay. The EU says the system is scheduled to start in the last quarter of 2026, with the exact date to be announced before launch. Because an operational date can move, check the official source again close to travel.

EES is live, ETIAS is not

Two separate systems are involved, and it helps to keep them apart.

• The Entry/Exit System (EES) is the automated border record for non-EU nationals on a short stay. It covers 29 European countries and has been in full operation at every external border crossing since 10 April 2026, when the six-month rollout that began in October 2025 ended and manual passport stamping was abolished.
• ETIAS, the travel authorisation, is scheduled to follow in the last quarter of 2026.

The EU has described a transitional period after ETIAS begins. During that window a traveller who does not yet hold an authorisation should not be refused on that basis alone. ETIAS becomes a firm entry requirement once the transitional period ends. The EU has not published a single fixed mandatory date, so confirm the current position on the official timeline before you rely on it.

The fee, and the correction to it

The ETIAS fee is set at EUR 20. This is a rise from the EUR 7 written into the original 2018 legislation, made through Commission Delegated Regulation 2025/1411 and taking effect once ETIAS is operational. Applicants who are under 18 or over 70 are exempt from the fee. Treat any third-party site charging much more, or promising to "speed up" an application, with care.

Who needs it, and what it is

ETIAS is an entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling for a short stay to the 30 participating European countries. It is a travel authorisation, not a visa, and it is linked to your passport. An approved authorisation is valid for up to three years, or until the passport expires, whichever comes first, and one authorisation can cover several short trips within that period.

What ETIAS does not change

ETIAS does not add days to a stay, and it does not replace the 90/180-day short-stay limit. Those remain two different questions. Holding an authorisation does not extend how long you may stay, and a clean day count does not confirm that you meet the ETIAS or entry conditions. Once ETIAS starts, an eligible traveller may need to manage both at once.

For the ordinary short-stay count, start with the Schengen 90/180 rule and the EU short-stay calculator. To see whether a listed passport is expected to need an authorisation, the free ETIAS readiness checker gives a quick guide — then confirm the live rule with the EU's official ETIAS guidance rather than an old travel article.

How Flags helps

Flags is for the day-counting side, the part ETIAS does not touch. It records stays and plans a trip against the rolling 90/180 window that ETIAS travellers still have to respect. You can try the free browser calculator or use the Flags: Schengen Calculator app to keep a private record on your phone.

Flags does not apply for ETIAS, check an application, or replace official travel advice. Review and correct your travel history before you use any count to plan. Check the official ETIAS source before travel, because dates and requirements can change. Flags is a tool, not legal advice — the border officer has the final say.