Schengen area: what we know about ETIAS so far

As reported in May 2022, Europe is preparing to roll out a unified electronic travel authorization for the entire Schengen area. After five years of negotiations among member states to design, develop and implement the platform, full functionality is expected by 2026, with the rollout beginning as early as 2024 based on member-state deliberations.

Phased rollout

The Commission proposes gradually phasing out national portals and replacing them with a single EU‑wide application platform. Member states may join as soon as the platform becomes operational and must do so within five years. The transitional period lets countries wind down their national tools and migrate to the EU visa‑application platform on a flexible schedule.

Simpler processes

Visa applicants will request the travel authorization online rather than by affixing a paper visa sticker. The online platform improves both processing security and visa integrity, streamlining the Schengen visa process. Applicants can also receive assistance through the EU visa platform’s live chat and FAQ section.

Anyone can apply online: complete the form, pay the visa fee, and attach supporting documents. The digital visa will have no physical format, eliminating the risk of forgery. Applicants can track their case status and receive automatic notifications; once approved, the visa is accessible online and can also be extended digitally when needed.

Same entry conditions

The digital proposal simplifies the application journey, but it does not change the substantive eligibility criteria that must be met when applying and reviewing applications. The platform will be built and maintained by eu-LISA, the EU agency responsible for operating large-scale IT systems in freedom, security and justice. A dedicated committee will ensure the platform’s general visa information stays current. The Schengen country that is the intended destination will handle each application.

When paper applications remain

Applicants may still submit paper applications at a consulate or visa‑application centre if the EU platform’s digital support is insufficient. Family members of EU/EEA citizens exercising free-movement rights may continue to use paper forms. Some travelers will need to visit a consulate or visa centre in person if their biometrics have expired, scheduling appointments online. Humanitarian‑grounds rules also apply.

Who the ETIAS affects

The proposal does not apply to visa‑required third‑country nationals—i.e. citizens of countries whose nationals must obtain a Schengen visa for stays up to 90 days within any 180‑day period. These travelers will continue to apply through the traditional visa route.

Instead, the ETIAS authorization targets visa‑exempt third‑country nationals who still need travel authorization prior to arrival. Once approved, this online authorization will cover 26 countries—including Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland—of which 22 fully apply the Schengen Agreement.

Ireland, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia and Cyprus, which do not apply the full Schengen acquis, are excluded; travelers heading to those five countries will still need a conventional visa.

Non‑exhaustive list of ETIAS‑eligible countries

Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Macao, North Macedonia, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Taiwan, Timor‑Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela.