Last updated: 1 July 2026
This guidance may be outdated! Please check the latest information on the official website here.
If you are travelling from the UK to one of Active Away’s European destinations, you may have heard about ETIAS - the new European Travel Information and Authorisation System.
ETIAS is not live yet. Official guidance currently says ETIAS is expected to start in the last quarter of 2026, and the exact launch date will be announced before it goes live. No action is required from travellers at this point. Any website claiming to sell ETIAS authorisations now should be treated as fraudulent.
What is ETIAS?
ETIAS is a new pre-travel authorisation for travellers who do not need a visa to enter certain European countries for a short stay. It is similar in concept to the USA’s ESTA system, but it is for travel to Europe. It is not a visa.
Once ETIAS is live, UK passport holders travelling to the Schengen Area, and to Cyprus, for short stays will generally need to apply online before travel, unless they hold a visa, residence permit, or another exemption. GOV.UK says UK passport holders will need ETIAS when it is introduced if they do not already have a visa or residence permit.
How long will ETIAS last?
Once approved, ETIAS will normally be valid for multiple trips over three years, or until the passport used in your application expires - whichever comes first. If you renew your passport, you will need a new ETIAS.
ETIAS does not change the normal short-stay rule. For Schengen countries, UK travellers can usually stay for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. This limit applies across the Schengen Area as a whole, not separately to each Schengen country.
How much will ETIAS cost?
The ETIAS fee is expected to be €20. Travellers aged under 18 or over 70 will not be charged the fee, although they may still need an ETIAS authorisation if they are otherwise in scope.
When should guests apply?
ETIAS applications are not open yet. Once the system launches, guests should apply through the official EU ETIAS website or official mobile app only. Official guidance says to apply well in advance and to make sure the passport details in the ETIAS application exactly match the passport being used for travel.
Most applications are expected to be processed within minutes, although official EU FAQ guidance says some may take up to 96 hours, and in some cases processing can take up to 30 days if extra checks or information are required.
What will guests need to apply?
When ETIAS opens, you should expect to need:
Your valid passport.
An email address.
A payment card, unless you are exempt from the fee.
Personal information and travel-related details.
Your ETIAS will be linked electronically to your passport. You must travel with the same passport you used for your ETIAS application; otherwise, you may be refused boarding or entry.
Passport checks before you travel
Before travelling, check both the issue date and the expiry date of your passport.
For travel to the EU and Schengen Area, non-EU travellers’ passports generally need to be:
Issued within the previous 10 years on the date of entry.
Valid for at least three months after the planned date of departure from the EU or Schengen Area.
These passport rules are separate from ETIAS. Having ETIAS will not fix a passport-validity problem.
ETIAS and EES: what is the difference?
ETIAS is not the same as the EU’s Entry/Exit System, often called EES.
EES is the digital border system that records entries and exits for non-EU nationals travelling to Schengen countries for short stays. It became fully operational on 10 April 2026. At the border, travellers may have their passport details, facial image and fingerprints recorded, with children under 12 exempt from fingerprint collection.
You do not apply for EES in advance. It happens at the border. ETIAS, once live, will be something you apply for before travel.
Does ETIAS guarantee entry?
No. ETIAS is a travel authorisation, not an automatic right of entry. Border officials can still check that you meet the usual entry conditions, such as having a valid passport, staying within the 90/180-day rule, and being able to explain the purpose of your trip.
It is sensible to travel with your Active Away booking confirmation, hotel details, return flight details and travel insurance information.
Active Away guest checklist
Before your Active Away holiday, please check:
Is ETIAS live yet?
At present, no action is required. ETIAS is expected in the last quarter of 2026.Does your destination require ETIAS?
Greece, Spain, Portugal and Cyprus will be in scope once ETIAS launches. Turkey, the UK and the USA are not ETIAS destinations.Is your passport valid?
Check the issue date and expiry date, not just the expiry date.Have you used the official ETIAS website or app only?
Avoid unofficial websites, especially any claiming to issue ETIAS before the scheme is live.Do your passport details match exactly?
Small mistakes in passport number, name or date of birth could cause problems at boarding or the border.Are you within the 90/180-day rule?
Frequent travellers should check previous trips to the Schengen Area before travelling again.