Starting in April 2027, visitors from countries that do not need a visa to enter the Schengen Area will have to obtain a quick electronic entry authorization before they can travel to an EU or Schengen country.
This electronic entry authorization is known as ETIAS and can be quickly obtained online in a matter of minutes. It is not a visa requirement.
Who Must Obtain ETIAS?
Citizens of the following countries will need an ETIAS before they can travel to the Schengen Area and European Union:
- Albania
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Canada
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Dominica
- El Salvador
- Georgia
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Hong Kong S.A.R*
- Israel
- Japan
- Kiribati
- Kosovo
- Macao S.A.R*
- Malaysia
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Nauru
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- North Macedonia
- Palau
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent
- Samoa
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Solomon Islands
- South Korea
- Taiwan**
- Timor Leste
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tuvalu
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
Until the launching of the system, more countries might be added to the list, but at the moment, all citizens of the above-mentioned countries will be obliged to obtain ETIAS authorization before entering any EU country.
* Special administrative regions of the People’s Republic of China.
** Entities and Territorial Authorities that are not recognised as states by at least one Member State.
What if I Am Not Eligible for The ETIAS?
If you don’t qualify for the ETIAS, you will need to apply and obtain a Schengen Visa to entry into the Schengen Zone or EU nations. This requirement applies to individuals holding a passport from countries not included in the Schengen visa-free access list.
Eligibility Checker
If you’re still unsure whether you need to apply for ETIAS, you can use the ETIAS checker below to find out. All you have to do is select your country of citizenship and you will receive an answer whether you will be eligible for ETIAS. Please note that this checker is based on your country of nationality and does not consider specific cases that change according to EU laws.
Do I Need ETIAS if I Have a Schengen Visa?
No, you will not need an ETIAS authorization if you have a Schengen Visa. When you enter the Schengen Zone countries, you can present your visa to the border authorities. When your visa expires, you can apply for the ETIAS if you are eligible.
Do Residents of the EU Need ETIAS?
Foreign citizens who are in the EU with a valid residence permit, card, or document issued by any EU country are exempt from applying for ETIAS. This includes those who are residing in the EU, but also those who are working or studying.
Do Schengen Citizens Living Abroad Need ETIAS? Do EU Dual Citizens Need ETIAS?
No, Schengen citizens living abroad are exempt from applying for ETIAS, regardless of their passport validity or passport issuing country – if they hold dual citizenship. This is because they already hold citizenship in a Schengen member country, granting them free movement within the Schengen Area.
Therefore, if you are a Schengen citizen living abroad, you can simply use your valid Schengen passport for border crossings within the EU. If your passport is not valid, you can still travel to the Schengen Area as long as you hold proof of your Schengen citizenship, which could either be:
- National ID card. Some Schengen countries issue national ID cards valid for travel within the Schengen Area.
- Separate citizenship document/Some countries might issue separate documents confirming citizenship.
Invalid Passport: Even though you are exempt from ETIAS, having an invalid passport can create difficulties at border crossings. It’s advisable to renew your Schengen passport before traveling.
Will Minors Be Required to Apply for ETIAS?
Yes, all passport holders under 18 are required to apply for ETIAS. Their parent or legal guardian may fill out the application form on their behalf as long as proof of guardianship is provided.
ETIAS Exemptions
The following categories of individuals who enter the Schengen area are not eligible for ETIAS:
- Refugees or stateless persons who do not have the nationality of any of the Schengen Member States nor a travel document issued by any Member State.
- Foreign nationals who need uniform visas (Schengen visa).
- Foreign nationals who have a long-stay D visa for the Schengen area.
- Holders of a diplomatic passport who are exempt from the visa requirement due to an agreement between the Union and a third country.
- Foreign nationals who hold a border traffic permit issued by a Member State when exercising their right to move freely within the context of the Local Border Traffic rules.
You may also be exempt from an ETIAS if you have a family member of the EU and they meet certain criteria under Directive 2004/38/EC of EU laws.
Specific Categories of Persons Eligible for ETIAS
In some cases, even if you do not hold a passport issued by a country eligible for ETIAS, you may be allowed to enter the EU/Schengen Area without a visa. There are very specific exceptions, and the exception does not apply to all ETIAS countries, so you will need to confirm with an official authority, however these are the exceptions in a nutshell:
For study trips
If you are from a country which typically needs a Schengen visa, you might be able to travel to Europe with only an ETIAS if you are traveling as part of a school trip. The specific requirements are:
- You must be living in one of the countries which are eligible for an ETIAS, or in Switzerland or Liechtenstein.
- You must be traveling with other school pupils.
- You must be accompanied by a school teacher.
- You must be traveling to one of the European countries which allow this exemption.
For a detailed list, please check the Excel document listed on the official website of the European Union, under the tab “2. Exemption from the visa requirement in accordance with Article 6(2)”, section 2.1.
Refugees and stateless persons
If you are a refugee, a stateless person, or a person which does not hold the nationality of any country, special rules apply to you depending on where you are currently residing:
- If you are currently residing in a European country which requires an ETIAS (e.g. Germany, France, etc), and you have a travel document issued by that European country, you do not need to apply for an ETIAS at all.
- If you are currently residing in a visa-exempt country, which is eligible for the ETIAS, and you have a travel document issued by that country, you may also obtain an ETIAS to travel to specific EU countries (meaning you are exempt from a visa). For example, if you are a refugee living in Albania, and have an Albanian-issued travel document, you may enter Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, and Hungary with just an ETIAS (no visa required).
For a detailed list, please check the Excel document listed on the official website of the European Union, under the tab “2. Exemption from the visa requirement in accordance with Article 6(2)”, section 2.2.
Members of NATO Armed Forces
You may be allowed to enter certain ETIAS-requiring countries with an ETIAS authorization if you fall in one of these categories:
- You are a member of the NATO armed forces, or
- You are traveling for business for Partnership for Peace, or
- You have an order for identification and movement as provided by the Agreement between the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty regarding the Status of their Forces.
For a detailed list, please check the Excel document listed on the official website of the European Union, under the tab “2. Exemption from the visa requirement in accordance with Article 6(2)”, section 2.3.
Specific Categories of Persons Who Do Not Need an ETIAS
Of course, if you are already a national of a European country which is part of ETIAS, you do not need to get an ETIAS. However, this exemption also applies to the following categories of persons:
- UK nationals who are beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement, are currently living in a European country which is part of ETIAS, and have proper documentation proving their status.
- Nationals of Andorra, San Marino, Monaco, the Holy See (the Vatican City State) or Ireland.
- A person who has a residence permit or residence card issued by an European country which is part of ETIAS. The residence permit or card must be in accordance with EU Regulation, as stated in Article 2 point 16.
- Holders of diplomatic passports issued by Armenia, Azerbaijan, China
- Holders of diplomatic and service/official passports issued by Cape Verde
- Holders of diplomatic biometric passports issued by Belarus
- Persons who already hold a uniform Schengen visa or long-stay national visa
- Persons who hold a local border traffic permit, within the context of the Local Border Traffic
- Intra-corporate transferees, students or researchers who have the right of mobility in the EU within Directive 2014/66/EU or Directive (EU) 2016/801.