Step-by-Step ETIAS Application Guide for UK Travellers

Starting in late 2026, UK citizens must secure an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) before visiting most European countries for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

This guide breaks down the application process step-by-step, including key details for travellers heading to destinations such as France, Iceland, and Cyprus.

What is ETIAS and Who Needs to Apply?

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is a pre-travel authorisation that checks visa-exempt travellers before they enter Europe, and it applies to short stays in the Schengen zone.

It gives border authorities advance information about people arriving from outside the European Union so they can run checks in security databases before travel.

ETIAS is not a visa, and you do not take part in an interview or visit a consulate to obtain it. The authorisation is linked to your passport and is processed online through the official ETIAS website, which is the only platform used by the EU for applications.

You apply by completing an application form that asks for basic identity details, passport information and planned destination. The system works in a similar digital space to the Entry-Exit System (EES), which also records border movements for short-stay travellers across participating countries.

Who Needs to Apply for ETIAS?

You need to apply if you travel from the United Kingdom to any Schengen zone country for tourism, business, transit or short short-term study. 

The authorisation is required because UK citizens are classed as visa-exempt travellers, and the EU screens this group before arrival to support border management. 

This applies even if you already travel visa-free, as the authorisation does not replace your passport and does not change the 90-day limit within a 180-day period. 

The authorisation also does not guarantee entry because border staff still confirm that your travel document meets entry rules after landing.

You do not need to apply if you fall under a limited set of exemptions, such as being a UK national covered by the Withdrawal Agreement. This group keeps free-movement rights in their host EU state and does not need ETIAS when moving between European countries that recognise that status. 

Some travellers from the UK who hold residence permits issued by a Schengen zone country are also exempt, because they already meet immigration conditions set by that state. 

These exemptions follow the same structure used across the region and are checked at the border where the travel document is presented.

You must apply if you are a UK citizen entering for a short stay, even if you do not plan to remain in the country where you first arrive. The authorisation is electronic and stays active for multiple trips until it expires, subject to passport validity. 

The application fee is charged once per authorisation, although minors, seniors and eligible family members of EU nationals do not pay the fee. 

Your application is checked by automated systems that compare your details with security databases used by the EU to spot lost documents, identity fraud and alerts tied to border issues. 

The same systems operate alongside the EES, which already records entries and exits for non-EU travellers across participating borders.

You need the authorisation whether you arrive by air, land or sea, and the requirement applies across almost all European countries in the ETIAS scheme. The rules stay in place for weekend trips, cruises, flight transfers and visits that last only a few hours. 

Once approved, the authorisation covers travel across the region, including movement between states without internal border checks. Travellers from the UK visiting countries such as Switzerland, Croatia, Italy or others in the Schengen zone follow the same process. 

The authorisation also applies when travelling through airports for transit purposes, even if you do not leave the terminal.

Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for ETIAS

This guide explains each stage of the ETIAS travel authorisation process in a clear sequence so you know what to expect before you start. 

Each step is built around information published by the EU and helps you move from preparation to approval without confusion.

Step 1: Prepare the Required Documents

You need a UK passport that remains valid for at least three months beyond your return date, since border rules across the Schengen Area use that threshold for entry checks. 

The passport must meet international standards, and this includes a machine-readable section and a biometric chip, as carriers can reject documents that do not meet these conditions.

You also need a payment card to cover the 20 euro fee, which is charged once per application unless you qualify for an exemption. Exemptions apply to people under 18, people over 70 and eligible relatives of EU citizens, as set out in the EU’s own guidance.

Travellers from visa-exempt countries follow the same document rules. This matters for mixed-nationality families who may travel together to countries such as Portugal or Romania. 

Parents and legal guardians should gather the required details on behalf of children since minors cannot submit their own forms.

Step 2: Access the Official ETIAS Platform

Start the application through the official ETIAS website or the mobile app, both operated by eu-LISA. These are the only authorised platforms and that third-party sites do not issue the authorisation, even when they offer paid services.

Some unofficial sites copy the look of EU pages and charge extra fees for basic information. The EU advises applicants to avoid sharing passport data or payment details with such pages, since the ETIAS travel authorisation can only be issued through the official system. 

Check the URL yourself before entering any data to avoid problems later.

Step 3: Complete the ETIAS Application Form

The form asks for basic identity information, which includes your full name, date and place of birth, nationality and home address. You also provide a phone number and email, which the system uses for all updates tied to your valid ETIAS approval or refusal.

Add your passport number and the name of the Schengen Area country you plan to enter first, such as Spain or Belgium. You also answer short security questions about past criminal convictions, previous travel to conflict areas or past refusals of entry, which are checked against security databases used by the EU.

Parents or legal guardians must complete and submit the form for minors. Each traveller uses a separate form, and there is no option to file a joint request. 

People who have a Schengen visa do not need to complete this form, since the visa already covers security screening.

Step 4: Pay the ETIAS Fee

The system guides you to the payment section once the form is complete. You pay the 20 euro processing fee with any standard online method, and the charge is made only after the form passes basic validation checks.

The exemptions listed earlier apply automatically when you enter the traveller’s age or verify family status with an EU citizen. The fee is not refunded if the request is refused.

Make sure the payment screen is part of the official platform before entering card details.

Step 5: Wait for Processing and Confirmation

Most applications are processed within minutes. Some applications take up to four days, and the delay may be longer if national authorities ask for more documents or schedule an interview.

You’ll receive an email with your ETIAS application number once the form is submitted. A second message confirms the decision, so check your inbox and spam folders if you do not see an update within the usual timeframe. 

The system stores the authorisation electronically and does not send a physical document.

Step 6: Verify Your ETIAS Authorisation

Check that your details match your passport exactly. The name, passport number and nationality must be identical, since carriers can deny boarding if the details do not align with the information stored in the ETIAS system.

The authorisation is linked to your passport, so you do not need a printed copy at the airport, even for trips to Bulgaria and Germany. Some travellers save a digital screenshot as a quick reference in case they need to check dates. 

A valid ETIAS is required each time you enter the Schengen Area, and border staff can view it through their internal systems.

After You Receive Your ETIAS

Your authorisation stays valid for three years or until your passport expires, whichever happens first, as stated in the EU’s official material on ETIAS.

This rule applies to all travellers, which means the authorisation cannot outlast the document it is linked to, even if that period is shorter than three years.

ETIAS works only with the passport you used in the application, and this is important for anyone who renews their document or switches to a biometric passport. 

If you change your passport, you need a new authorisation, since the system stores the data against a single passport number.

Your authorisation lets you enter Malta, the Netherlands, Norway or any other participating state for short stays under the 90 days in 180 days rule. 

This period is calculated across the full Schengen Area and is tracked digitally through border systems that count the days you spend inside the region.

You can cross the border as many times as you want within this period, and trips can be taken back to back as long as the 180 day count is not exceeded. This structure supports multi-country trips, including travel between states that do not operate internal border checks.

ETIAS does not guarantee entry into member states. On arrival, border guards verify that your passport matches the authorisation stored in the system and check that you meet entry conditions.

Border guards also confirm your travel purpose and may ask you for basic information such as your itinerary and planned accommodation. These checks form part of border security across the region and apply to all non-EU travellers, even when they hold valid authorisations.

The decision to grant entry takes place at the border and is tied to rules used by each country. The ETIAS system gives authorities your information in advance, but the final decision remains with border staff who enforce local and regional entry laws.

A record of your entry and exit is stored each time you cross the external border of the Schengen Area. This digital process is part of the EU’s wider border control systems and helps manage travel flows from non-EU nationals coming from visa-exempt countries.

ETIAS allows repeated visits to countries such as Greece during its valid period. You can also take short trips to one country or travel onward to other states without applying again, as long as your passport remains current.

The authorisation stays active in the background for its full duration. You do not receive reminders during use, so it helps to track the expiry date yourself to avoid travel issues on later trips.

Applying for ETIAS on Behalf of Others

You can ask a family member, legal guardian or commercial travel agency to apply for you if you cannot submit the form yourself. This process is allowed as long as the third party submits the request through the official system and follows the same steps as any other applicant.

The arrangement must be backed by a signed declaration of representation. This document states that you agree to have someone else submit your information and confirms that they are acting with your permission. 

Each traveller needs a separate declaration, even when multiple family members apply at the same time.

The declaration protects you by creating a record of who handled your information and why. It prevents confusion during later checks and ensures that border authorities can link your travel authorisation to the correct person. 

You and the representative should each keep a copy so there is no dispute over who submitted the request.

Your own email address must be used in the application, even when a representative completes the form. 

That email becomes the channel for all communication about your ETIAS status, including approval notices, requests for corrections, expiry alerts and any issues tied to your identity details. 

If the representative uses their own email, you risk losing access to important updates.

Representatives enter the same data that you would provide yourself. This includes your name, passport details, travel plans, contact information, phone number and answers to questions about past travel, including any previous visits to conflict zones. 

The information must be accurate, since errors can affect the decision or cause problems at entry points in EU countries.

A representative can pay the 20 Eur fee on your behalf with a credit card or any other accepted method. The fee rules remain the same, including exemptions for people under 18, people over 70 and certain family members of EU citizens. 

Using a representative does not change the outcome of eligibility checks, which follow the same standards used across the region.

Some travellers compare this process to ESTA, but ETIAS requires a clear record of who is submitting the form for security reasons. The declaration provides that safeguard and ensures the system knows who had permission to enter your details. 

It also protects applicants who rely on a third party because they lack time, internet access or confidence with online forms.

Travel agencies may offer to prepare the application for you, but they cannot guarantee approval or shorten processing times. The information you provide is still checked against the same security checks used for all applications, and the final decision depends only on ETIAS rules, not the representative you choose.

What to Do if Your ETIAS is Refused

An ETIAS refusal does not end your travel plans, but it does require quick action. You can resolve most issues by correcting the error, submitting an appeal or filing a new ETIAS once the problem has been fixed.

Your ETIAS can be refused when the system finds errors or gaps in the data you entered. 

This includes simple issues such as spelling mistakes, a passport number that does not match your travel document or dates that do not align with entry rules for short-term stays across Schengen countries. 

A refusal can also occur when the passport is expired or close to expiring, or when the information in the request does not match the records used by border authorities across the region. 

Security concerns can lead to a refusal as well, especially if the data shows alerts tied to identity fraud, previous entry bans or other incidents that do not meet the standards set by the European Commission.

A refusal notice is sent to the email address listed in the application. The message explains the reason for the decision, and the language is direct so you know which part of the request needs attention. 

Make sure to read the notice carefully because the reason for refusal determines what you do next. The rules stay the same whether you plan to visit France for a weekend or move between Ireland and Schengen countries on a short route.

You have the right to appeal the decision. Appeals go to the national authority of the country that issued the refusal, and each authority follows its own appeals process. 

The message you receive identifies the country responsible for the decision and provides the link or contact details required to submit your appeal. 

This system keeps responsibility with the state that reviewed the request, not with the central ETIAS platform or the European Commission.

An appeal does not guarantee approval, and the outcome depends on the information you provide. 

You must submit accurate documents and clear explanations that address the specific reason listed in the refusal notice. This may include proof of passport validity, updated identity information or records showing that a past issue has been resolved. 

The appeal is reviewed according to the legal standards of the issuing state, whether that state is Spain, Finland or another country participating in the system.

You can also apply for a new ETIAS instead of filing an appeal. This option works well when the refusal was caused by incorrect data, outdated passport information or a simple mistake in the form. 

A new ETIAS uses the same process as the original and can be submitted as soon as the error is corrected. This route is often faster than an appeal and is commonly used by travelers who discover a small typing error after receiving the refusal notice.

Many travelers choose to reapply for a new ETIAS rather than appealing because the system processes most requests within minutes. This is especially helpful when the issue relates to a passport renewal or a missing detail that can be fixed immediately. 

The new application follows the standard procedure for visa waiver travel and is checked the same way as the original. Once approved, the new ETIAS can be used for short-term stays across all Schengen countries.

Get Ready to Travel Around Europe with ETIAS

Applying for ETIAS is straightforward when you prepare your documents, use the official online system, and review your details before submitting. The process is quick, digital, and secure, giving UK travelers an easy way to enter participating European destinations once the system launches. 

Apply early, keep an eye on EU updates ahead of late 2026, and make sure your passport information is accurate to avoid delays. Check your eligibility today and prepare your passport to travel smoothly across Europe with ETIAS.