ETIAS requirements: documents and information checklist

By Aaron Houston · Last checked 2026-10-25 against official EU sources

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Status as of 2026-10-25: ETIAS is not in operation and no applications are being collected. The EU says it will announce the start date "several months prior to its launch."

Have ready (per the official site)

[ ] A passport to which a visa may be affixed, issued within the last 10 years, valid at least 3 months beyond your planned departure (Official: What you need to apply)
[ ] A payment card for the EUR 20 fee (not needed if exempt)
[ ] Email address and phone number
[ ] Personal details: names, surname, date and place of birth, nationality, home address, parents' first names
[ ] Education level and current occupation
[ ] Intended travel and stay details
[ ] Answers on criminal convictions, travel to war or conflict zones, and recent orders to leave any country
[ ] If applying as a family member of an EU national: their personal details and your family tie

Common mistakes to avoid

Typos in name or passport number: you "will not be allowed to cross the border" if details are wrong (Official: What is ETIAS). Keep your application number.
Applying with one passport and travelling with another.
Leaving it to the last minute: most decisions arrive in minutes, but some take days or weeks (Official: What is ETIAS).
Paying an unofficial site. See scam red flags.

Minors' applications must be submitted by a parent or legal guardian (Official: What you need to apply).

Want it on one page? ETIAS & EES Europe travel checklist ($7, optional). ETIAS itself is EUR 20 only on the official EU site.

ETIAS requirements: documents and information checklist

Have ready (per the official site)

Common mistakes to avoid

Sources

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