Planning a European road trip in your motorhome or campervan? Make sure you’re aware of a new travel requirement expected to come in 2026.
Following the launch of the Entry Exit System, expected to begin a phased implementation across 6 months starting from October 2025, a new mandate, the ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisations System) will mean that visa-free visitors including UK nationals will need to apply for travel authorisation before travelling to one of 30 designated countries in the European Union or Schengen zone (or Cyprus.) If you’re familiar with the visa waiver for the United States (the ESTA), the European ETIAS functions in a similar way.
When will ETIAS be introduced?
Initially ETIAS was planned to start in 2022, however it experienced multiple delays after there were complications with the launch of the Entry Exit System (EES) that ETIAS’ implementation is linked to. However, now the EES is set to launch in October 2025, it has been confirmed that ETIAS is expected to come into force the following year in the last quarter of 2026.
Countries that will require ETIAS
The following countries and territories will require ETIAS for entry:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland. (Andorra, San Marino, Vatican City, and Monaco will also require authorisation.)
Making an ETIAS application
When ETIAS is introduced, you will be required to fill an application form out online if travelling to an ETIAS-required country. For this application, you will need to provide a valid travel document.
It’s important to note there is no option to apply in person or on paper for the application. When ETIAS goes live, an application will need to be completed through the official ETIAS website portal on europa.eu/etias. Beware of unofficial scam websites that will inevitably pop up around the launch of ETIAS.
When filling out the application, you will be asked to provide the following information:
- Personal information including your name(s), surname, date and place of birth, nationality, home address, parent’s first names, email address and phone number;
- Travel document details;
- Details about your level of education and current occupation;
- Details about your intended travel and stay in any of the countries requiring ETIAS;
- Details about any criminal convictions, any past travels to war or conflict zones, and whether you have recently been subject of a decision requiring you to leave the territory of any country.
Application fee
Those aged between 18 and 70 years old will need to pay a 20 Euro application fee per application. This fee was originally set at 7 Euros but has almost tripled, the European commission cited that factors such as inflation and high operating costs were the reason for the increase.
Applicants below 18 or above 70 will not need to pay this application fee. For those under 18, a legal guardian will need to submit their application on their behalf.
Are family members exempt from paying an application fee?
If you are a family member of an EU citizen or EFTA citizen you may be exempt from paying the application fee. According to the EU website, you would be considered a qualifying family member if you are any of the following:
- a spouse, including a spouse of the same sex as clarified by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in its Coman judgment C-673/16;
- a registered partner, if the applicable legislation treats registered partnerships as equivalent to marriage;
- direct descendants who are under the age of 21 or are dependants, and those of the spouse or registered partner;
- dependent direct relatives in the ascending line, as well as those of the spouse or registered partner.
Family members will not have to pay the 20 Euro ETIAS fee and your application won’t be screened for immigration risks like other applicants based on meeting all of the following requirements:
- you are a family member of a European Union citizen and Directive 2004/38/EC applies to you, or a family member of a national of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland who enjoys the right of free movement equivalent to that of EU citizens.
Important: This only concerns family members of citizens of the forementioned countries travelling to or residing in a country other than that of their nationality; - you are not required to hold a visa;
- you do not hold a residence card pursuant to Directive 2004/38/EC or a residence permit pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002.
How long do ETIAS’ last
Once your ETIAS travel authorisation is approved it is valid for 3 years or until the travel document used in your application expires, whichever comes first.
I have dual citizenship am I exempt?
If you hold 2 passports, one in which you are a citizen of an EU or EFTA ETIAS exempt country, and the other a UK passport you will not require an ETIAS.
Learn more about exemptions here: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias/who-should-apply_en
How long am I entitled to travel?
If travelling to the EU as a UK citizen, you are entitled to 90 days of travel in the Schengen area within a rolling 180 day period. Countries that are not currently part of the EU but require ETIAS will have their own independent travel duration rules to make sure to do some research before travelling.
If you need an explanation of the Brexit 90 day Travel rule, and Travelling in the EU and Schengen Zones check out our blog here: https://www.comfort-insurance.co.uk/blog/the-brexit-90-day-travel-rule-travelling-in-the-eu-and-schengen-zones-explained
Need more information?
For further details on ETIAS please visit: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en
