Travel Guides

(Correct as of 19 November 2025)

This guide explains ETIAS using information from the official EU ETIAS website:
https://travel-europe.europa.eu/en/etias

Please remember that rules can change. Always check the official site close to your travel date.

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1. What is ETIAS?

ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is a new online travel authorisation.

Key points:

• It is a pre-travel authorisation, not a visa.
• It will be required for visa-exempt travellers visiting 30 European countries.
• It will apply to short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
• It is linked electronically to your passport.

ETIAS is not active yet. It is planned to start operating in the last quarter of 2026.
For now, no one can or needs to apply.

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2. Do Active Away guests need ETIAS yet?

• For trips in 2025, you do not need an ETIAS.
• The EU has confirmed that ETIAS will start in the last quarter of 2026.
• After the start date, there will be a transitional period and a grace period that together will last at least 12 months. During this time, ETIAS will be phased in.

It is each traveller’s responsibility to make sure documents are in order.

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3. ETIAS and the EU Entry/Exit System (EES)

You will see two separate systems mentioned:

• ETIAS – your online travel authorisation that you get before you travel.
• EES (Entry/Exit System) – a new system used at the border to record when you enter and leave.

EES:

• Started to be operational on 12 October 2025.
• Is being introduced gradually at border crossing points.
• Is expected to be fully in place at all external border crossing points by 10 April 2026.
• Will replace passport stamping with a digital record and will normally involve a facial image and fingerprints the first time you cross an external Schengen border.

ETIAS will only start later (last quarter of 2026) and builds on top of EES. You may therefore experience EES checks before ETIAS becomes a requirement.

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4. Which countries will ETIAS cover?

Once ETIAS is active, it will apply to short-stay visits to 30 European countries.

Schengen countries (EU):

• Austria
• Belgium
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Poland
• Portugal
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden

Schengen associated countries (non-EU):

• Iceland
• Liechtenstein
• Norway
• Switzerland

Other EU countries applying ETIAS:

• Bulgaria
• Cyprus
• Romania

Ireland is not part of ETIAS. It keeps its own entry rules.

Note for Active Away guests: many of our European holidays are in ETIAS countries (for example Greece, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Croatia and Cyprus). ETIAS will be relevant for these trips once it is mandatory.

Countries such as Turkey are not part of ETIAS. They keep their own separate visa and entry rules.

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5. Who will need ETIAS?

When ETIAS starts, it will be required for:

• Nationals of visa-exempt non-EU countries (for example the UK, Australia, Canada, USA and others)
• Travelling for a short stay (up to 90 days in any 180-day period)
• To any of the 30 ETIAS countries listed above

This includes most British passport holders travelling to Active Away holidays in ETIAS countries.

You will not need ETIAS if:

• You are a national of one of the ETIAS countries and travel on that passport.
• You already hold a visa for the country you are entering.
• You hold a residence permit or residence card issued by an EU/Schengen state and are using it to enter.
• You are an Irish citizen travelling to Ireland or from Ireland to the EU in line with Irish rules.

Dual nationals:

• If you have, for example, both a UK and an Italian passport and you travel with your Italian passport, you will not need ETIAS.
• If you travel using your UK passport, you will need ETIAS once it becomes mandatory.

ETIAS does not change whether you need a visa. It adds a pre-travel authorisation on top of existing short-stay rules for visa-exempt travellers.

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6. How much will ETIAS cost and how long will it last?

Fee:

• The ETIAS fee is 20 euros when applying on the official website or app.
• Applicants under 18 and over 70 do not pay the fee.
• Certain family members of EU citizens or of non-EU nationals who have the right to move freely in the EU are also exempt from the fee.

Validity:

• ETIAS is valid for up to three years, or until the passport you used for the application expires, whichever comes first.
• If you obtain a new passport, you must apply for a new ETIAS.
• During its validity, you can make multiple short trips, as long as you respect the 90-days-in-any-180-days rule.

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7. How will you apply for ETIAS?

You will apply online, either:

• On the official ETIAS website:
  https://travel-europe.europa.eu/en/etias
• Or through the official ETIAS mobile app (once launched).

The basic process:

1. Fill in an online form for each traveller, including children.
   You will be asked for:

   • Personal details (name, date and place of birth, nationality, address, contact details)
   • Passport or travel document details
   • Current occupation and, in some cases, education
   • Intended first country of entry
   • Some security-related questions

2. Pay the fee (if applicable to your age/status) with a payment card.

3. Wait for the decision:

   • Most applications are processed within minutes.
   • In some cases additional checks are needed; in rare cases this can take up to 30 days.
   • You will receive the result by email.

4. If approved, your ETIAS is stored electronically and linked to your passport.
   There is nothing physical to stick in your passport, but it is sensible to keep a copy of the confirmation email.

Because some applications can take longer, the EU advises applying in good time before you travel, not at the last moment.

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8. What does ETIAS mean for an Active Away holiday?

Once ETIAS is active and mandatory:

For an Active Away holiday to an ETIAS country (for example Greece, Spain, Cyprus, Italy, Portugal or Croatia) you should:

• Check your passport
  • It must meet the EU rules on validity and issue date for that country.
• Check your ETIAS
  • Ensure your ETIAS will still be valid on the dates of travel.
• Allow time for border checks
  • EES will record your entry and exit and may involve fingerprints and a facial image the first time you cross an external Schengen border.

For an Active Away holiday to a non-ETIAS country (for example Turkey):

• ETIAS does not apply.
• You must follow that country’s own visa and entry rules.

Active Away will continue to highlight big changes in our pre-departure information, but border rules can change and it remains your responsibility to have the correct documents.

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9. Beware of unofficial ETIAS websites

Because ETIAS has not started yet, there are already many unofficial or misleading websites claiming to offer ETIAS applications.

Important points:

• At the time of writing, you cannot yet submit a real ETIAS application.
• Some unofficial sites may charge extra fees or may not submit a valid application once the system opens.
• Some sites may exist simply to collect personal and payment details.

For safety:

• Use only the official EU channels:
  • Website: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/en/etias
  • Official mobile app (once launched)
• Be cautious of any site that:
  • Does not clearly show it is an official EU website, or
  • Claims you must apply immediately, even though ETIAS has not started yet.

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10. Quick summary for Active Away guests

• ETIAS has not started yet.
• It is planned to start in the last quarter of 2026.
• It will apply to visa-exempt travellers (including UK passport holders) visiting 30 European countries for short stays.
• The fee will be 20 euros, with under-18s, over-70s and certain family members exempt.
• ETIAS will be valid for up to three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
• You will apply online via the official EU website or app.
• Always double-check the official ETIAS website close to your travel date, as details and dates can change.

Many countries and regions charge a local “tourist tax” (sometimes called a city tax, hotel tax or climate resilience fee) that is paid directly to the accommodation.

Because these charges are set by local governments and can change frequently, the exact amount and rules can vary by:

• Country and region
• Hotel star rating or room type
• Time of year
• Length of stay

Important points for Active Away guests:

• Tourist taxes are usually not included in your holiday cost with us.
• They are normally paid directly to the hotel at check-in or check-out.
• They are often charged per person, per night or per room, per night.
• The hotel will usually add this to your bill and provide a receipt on request.

Because these fees change regularly, we strongly recommend that you:

• Check your hotel’s website, or
• Search online for “[hotel name] tourist tax” or “[destination] tourist tax current rates”, or
• Contact the hotel directly before travel

This will give you the most up-to-date information for your specific destination and dates.