PASSPORTOFFICES
Electronic travel authorization · Europe

ETIAS travel authorization for the Schengen Area

U.S. citizens can visit the Schengen Area visa-free for 90 days in any 180-day period; the EU's ETIAS authorization is being phased in and will be required once it launches.

Official application site Check my requirements

Short answer

Who needs the ETIAS (Europe)?

U.S. citizens traveling to any of the 29 Schengen countries — France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands and more — for tourism, business or short study.

Key takeaways

  • Government fee: about $8. Set in euros by the European Commission. Travelers under 18 and over 70 are exempt from the fee.
  • Typical processing: Most applications are approved within minutes; a file flagged for review can take up to 30 days. Apply well before you fly.
  • Maximum stay: 90 days in any rolling 180-day period across the whole Schengen Area.
  • Passport validity: Valid at least three months beyond your planned departure from the Schengen Area, and issued within the previous ten years.
  • When to apply: As soon as the program is live and before you book non-refundable travel.

Forms and official links

  • ETIAS

    Official EU ETIAS information and application portal

    The only official site is on europa.eu. Copycat sites charge several times the real fee.

    Open the official form

Step by step

  1. 1

    Confirm the ten-year rule

    A passport issued more than ten years before your entry date is not accepted for Schengen entry even if it has not expired. Renew first if yours is close.

  2. 2

    Count your 90/180 days

    Add up every day you have spent in the Schengen Area in the previous 180 days. Overstaying triggers fines and entry bans.

  3. 3

    Apply through europa.eu

    Complete the questionnaire, pay the fee, and wait for the email decision.

  4. 4

    Carry proof at the border

    Border officers may still ask for a return ticket, accommodation and proof of funds.

What to have ready

  • A valid U.S. passport issued within the last ten years
  • An email address you check — the approval arrives there
  • Payment card for the fee
  • First-night accommodation address in the Schengen Area

Watch out for

  • ETIAS is not a visa. It does not guarantee entry — the border officer decides.
  • Only europa.eu is official. Any site charging $80 for ETIAS is a reseller.

Also in Europe