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ETIAS vs Schengen visa, explained.
Which one you need · Updated 29 October 2026
The short answer
- You need one or the other, never both. It depends on your passport, not on your trip.
- Visa-free nationalities will need ETIAS. That includes British, American, Canadian and Australian travellers.
- ETIAS hasn't started yet. No start date has been announced, so for now visa-free travellers need nothing extra.
- Neither gives you more days. Both cover short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Which one do you need?
If you can visit Europe without a visa today
You'll need ETIAS once it starts. It's an online pre-travel check for nationalities that don't need a visa, such as the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. You apply on the official website, answer some security and background questions, and pay a fee. It isn't a visa: you don't go to a consulate or give fingerprints for it.
If you need a visa today
Nothing changes. You still apply for a Schengen visa (a short-stay or "C" visa) through the consulate of the country you're mainly visiting, usually with an appointment, documents and fingerprints. You don't need ETIAS as well.
If you live in Schengen or have an EU passport
Neither applies. EU citizens, and people with a residence permit or a long-stay (national) visa for a Schengen country, don't need ETIAS or a short-stay visa.
ETIAS and the Schengen visa side by side
| ETIAS | Schengen visa | |
|---|---|---|
| Who needs it | Visa-free nationalities | Everyone else |
| How to apply | Online only | At a consulate or visa centre |
| Fee | €20 (free under 18 or over 70) | €90 for adults |
| Decision | Usually within minutes; can take up to 30 days | Usually up to 15 days, sometimes longer |
| Valid for | 3 years, or until your passport expires | The dates printed on the visa |
| Maximum stay | 90 days in any 180 | 90 days in any 180, or less if the visa says so |
| Status | Not started yet | In use |
Neither one adds days
An ETIAS valid for three years, or a multiple-entry visa valid for five, doesn't mean you can stay for three or five years. Every stay still counts towards the same limit: 90 days in any rolling 180-day period, across all 29 Schengen countries. (Our 90/180 rule guide shows how to count.)
Example: a valid ETIAS isn't a free pass
You spend 1 March to 29 May 2028 in Schengen: 90 days. Your ETIAS is still valid for two more years, and you'd like to go back for 30 days on 1 July.
You can't. On 1 July all 90 days are still inside the 180-day window, so there's no room for even one day. The earliest you can come back is 28 August, and from then a 30-day trip fits.
Check this in the calculatorThings worth knowing about ETIAS
It covers 30 countries
The 29 Schengen countries plus Cyprus. Ireland doesn't use ETIAS. Cyprus doesn't count towards the 90/180 rule, even though it will ask for ETIAS.
It doesn't guarantee entry
Like a visa, ETIAS only lets you travel. Border officers still decide at the border, and the Entry/Exit System (EES) records each entry and exit so your days are counted automatically.
It's tied to your passport
If you get a new passport, you'll need a new ETIAS.
Use the official website
Many unofficial sites already offer "ETIAS applications" for a much higher fee. When ETIAS starts, apply only through the EU's official website or app.
Questions
Is ETIAS a visa?
No. ETIAS is an online travel authorisation for people who can already visit Europe without a visa. If your nationality needs a Schengen visa, you apply for the visa instead, not ETIAS.
Do I need ETIAS right now?
No. ETIAS hasn't started yet and no start date has been announced. The EU says it will announce the date several months in advance.
How much will ETIAS cost?
The EU has set the fee at €20. Applicants under 18 or over 70 won't pay it, but still need an authorisation.
Does ETIAS let me stay longer than 90 days?
No. ETIAS is expected to be valid for three years, but each stay still counts towards the limit of 90 days in any 180-day period.
Do I need both ETIAS and a Schengen visa?
No. You need one or the other, depending on your nationality. Visa-exempt travellers will need ETIAS; everyone else needs a Schengen visa.
Whichever you need, count your days
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