Pre-travel authorisation
ETIAS Explained: Travel Authorisation for the Schengen Area
The online pre-clearance that visa-exempt travellers will need before visiting Schengen — what it is, when it arrives, and how it differs from a visa.
The basics
What Is ETIAS?
ETIAS is a pre-travel authorisation for the Schengen Area — a quick online pre-clearance, not a visa.
If you can currently visit the Schengen Area for a short stay without a visa, ETIAS will add one step before you travel: an online application that is electronically linked to your passport. It is a security pre-screening for visa-exempt travellers.
ETIAS does not replace the 90/180 short-stay rule and it does not give you the rights of a full visa. It simply confirms, before you set off, that you are cleared to travel.
The timeline
When Does ETIAS Launch?
ETIAS is rolling out after EES. The launch is phased, with a transition designed to give travellers time to adjust.
Expected Q4 2026
ETIAS launches
ETIAS is expected to go live in the last quarter of 2026. Exact dates may move, so confirm with the official EU portal before you travel.
~6-month transition
Transitional period
A transitional period of roughly six months is expected after launch, during which travellers get used to the new requirement.
Around 2027
Becomes mandatory
After the transitional period and a further grace period, ETIAS is expected to become a mandatory requirement around 2027.
The essentials
Who Needs ETIAS, and What It Costs
Who needs it
Visa-exempt non-EU nationals — travellers who can currently enter the Schengen Area for short stays without a visa. If you already hold a Schengen visa, you do not need a separate ETIAS.
Fee & validity
Expected to cost around €7 and to be valid for three years (or until your passport expires). It can be used for multiple short trips within that period.
ETIAS clears you to travel — it doesn't count your days
NomadSync tracks the 90/180 rolling window across every Schengen country so you never accidentally overstay.
Clearing up confusion
ETIAS vs a Visa
ETIAS is frequently called a “visa,” but it is not one. The differences matter.
ETIAS
- Applied for online before travel
- For travellers who are already visa-exempt
- Low fee, valid for multiple trips over several years
- Still bound by the 90/180 short-stay rule
A Schengen visa
- Applied for at a consulate or embassy
- Required by nationals who are not visa-exempt
- Higher fee and a more involved application
- Issued for a specific stay or purpose
Two different systems
ETIAS vs EES
ETIAS and EES are easy to mix up, but they happen at different moments. ETIAS comes first — an online authorisation you obtain before you travel. EES comes at the border — the biometric system that records your actual entry and exit and keeps score of your 90/180 days.
Read the full EES guideStill 90/180
ETIAS Doesn't Change Your 90 Days
Holding ETIAS does not give you extra time. You can still spend a maximum of 90 days in any rolling 180-day period across the whole Schengen Area. ETIAS only confirms you are cleared to travel — it is your job to stay within the day limit.
Calculate your 90/180 daysQuestions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ETIAS?
ETIAS is a pre-travel authorisation for the Schengen Area, not a visa. Visa-exempt travellers will apply online before their trip, and the authorisation will be electronically linked to their passport. It is a security pre-screening, similar in concept to systems used by other countries for visa-free visitors.
Is ETIAS a visa?
No. ETIAS is explicitly a travel authorisation, not a visa. It does not grant the same rights as a Schengen visa and does not change the 90/180 short-stay rule. It is a lighter, mostly online pre-clearance for people who are already visa-exempt.
When does ETIAS launch?
ETIAS is expected to launch in the last quarter of 2026 (Q4 2026). It will be followed by a transitional period of around six months and then a grace period, becoming a mandatory requirement around 2027. Exact dates may shift, so always confirm with the official EU portal before you travel.
Who needs ETIAS?
ETIAS will be required for visa-exempt non-EU nationals — travellers who can currently enter the Schengen Area for short stays without a visa. People who already hold a Schengen visa do not need a separate ETIAS authorisation.
How much does ETIAS cost and how long is it valid?
ETIAS is expected to cost around €7 and to be valid for three years (or until your passport expires, whichever comes first). Within its validity, it can be used for multiple short trips, each still subject to the 90/180 rule.
What is the difference between ETIAS and EES?
ETIAS is a pre-travel authorisation you obtain online before you travel. EES is a biometric border system that records your actual entries and exits when you cross the border, and keeps score of your 90/180 days. ETIAS comes first (before the trip); EES happens at the border itself.
Sorted your ETIAS? Now track your days.
ETIAS clears you to travel, but you still have to stay within 90 days. NomadSync keeps your 90/180 running total accurate across every Schengen country.