ETIAS is not live yet. Here is the current official position.
Right now, ETIAS is not operational and no traveller action is required yet.
As of March 26, 2026, ETIAS is still future-facing. Official ETIAS materials say the system is expected in the last quarter of 2026, and travellers do not need to apply yet.
Independent guidance
ETIAS Connect is an independent information platform. It is not the official EU ETIAS website and it does not issue travel authorisations.
As of March 26, 2026
Keep the dated position visible before you plan around ETIAS.
Current state
ETIAS is not operational and no live application is required yet.
Expected timing
Official ETIAS materials still point to the last quarter of 2026.
What travellers should do now
Use current-date sources and avoid treating ETIAS as already mandatory.
Official position
As of March 26, 2026
Official ETIAS pages state that ETIAS is expected to start in the last quarter of 2026. The specific date is still to be announced, and no applications are being collected yet.
Official references
The linked source pages below are the dated basis for this status summary.
Status in brief
Keep the dated official position visible first, then plan around what applies now.
Current state
Not operational
Travellers are not being asked to complete a live ETIAS application yet.
Expected timing
Last quarter of 2026
The specific start date is still to be announced later by the Commission.
Fee when live
EUR 20
Official fee exemptions remain visible for certain applicants.
What to do now
Do not apply yet
Use current-date sources and avoid planning around old screenshots or stale summaries.
What has been officially announced
Launch window
Official ETIAS materials say ETIAS is expected to follow in the last quarter of 2026, after the Entry/Exit System timeline updates.
Fee
The official ETIAS fee displayed in the source set is EUR 20, with exemptions for certain applicants including people under 18 and over 70.
What happens next
The official ETIAS timeline page says the specific launch date will be announced later, and transitional and grace periods will follow the start of ETIAS.
What has not changed yet
The current status language remains the most important thing to keep visible: ETIAS has not started, and no action is required from travellers at this point.
- There is no live traveller action to complete yet.
- No official start date beyond the launch window has been announced in the source set.
- Border-entry conditions still matter separately from any future ETIAS requirement.
What travellers should do right now
If your trip is soon, focus on the rules that apply now rather than on a future ETIAS requirement. If your trip is further out, save the official source links and check again closer to departure.
What matters most is using absolute dates and dated source pages. ETIAS timing has shifted before, and older articles often linger online long after the official wording changes.
Avoid a common mistake
Do not treat ETIAS as already mandatory just because a travel article uses vague language like soon or upcoming.
What the start of ETIAS will mean, once it is live
Official ETIAS materials say that once the system starts, many visa-exempt travellers will need to apply online before travel, pay the fee if it applies, and hold a valid ETIAS linked to their passport. That future requirement is real, but it is not the same thing as saying ETIAS is already active today.
Today
No ETIAS application is required because the system is not yet operational.
When live
Visa-exempt travellers in scope will need to complete the official ETIAS process before travel.
Status questions
These are the questions most likely to be sensitive to date and wording.
Is ETIAS currently mandatory?
No. The official source set still says ETIAS is expected in the last quarter of 2026 and that no action is required from travellers yet.
Has the official fee been announced?
Yes. The official source set shows a EUR 20 ETIAS fee, while also stating that certain applicants are exempt from paying it.
Has the exact ETIAS launch date been published?
Not in the source set used here. The official ETIAS pages say the specific date will be announced later by the European Commission.
Will there be any transition after ETIAS starts?
The official timeline page says the start of ETIAS will be followed by transitional and grace periods lasting at least 12 months.
Source trail
These official pages are the timing and fee references behind the status summary on this page.
What is ETIAS
Official ETIASOfficial ETIAS overview covering the definition, validity, short-stay use, processing, and border-check caveats.
Reviewed 2026-03-24
Who should apply
Official ETIASOfficial ETIAS eligibility page covering visa-exempt travellers, exceptions, and traveller categories.
Reviewed 2026-03-24
Revised timeline for the EES and ETIAS
Official ETIASOfficial ETIAS news update stating that ETIAS is expected to follow in the last quarter of 2026 and that transitional and grace periods will follow launch.
Reviewed 2026-03-24
ETIAS will cost EUR 20
Official ETIASOfficial ETIAS news update covering the EUR 20 fee and noting the expected last-quarter 2026 timing.
Reviewed 2026-03-24
European Commission fee update
European CommissionEuropean Commission update confirming the EUR 20 ETIAS fee and the expected end-of-2026 timing.
Reviewed March 26, 2026
European Commission smart borders overview
Official EUEuropean Commission smart-borders overview describing ETIAS within the broader EU border systems framework.
Reviewed March 26, 2026
Read next
Once the timing is clear, return to the definition and requirements pages for the practical travel questions.
What is ETIAS
Return to the basic definition if you want the category and validity rules before the timing details.
Requirements
See who the future requirement is expected to affect and where the main eligibility logic starts.
How it works
Review the official future process once you are clear that ETIAS is not live yet.
After the status check
Once the status is clear, return to the core questions
The safest next step is usually either the plain-English definition or the requirements page, depending on what still feels uncertain.