Travelling to the EU and the European Travel Information & Authorisation System (ETIAS)

Aim of this page

This page looks at travelling to the EU using the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).

Why is this important?

If you’re travelling to many European destinations without a visa, you’ll soon need an ETIAS travel authorisation before you go.

ETIAS is a new travel requirement for visitors from visa-exempt countries travelling to 30 European countries. Once approved, your ETIAS travel authorisation will usually allow you to visit these countries as often as you like for short stays of up to 90 days within any 180 day period.

It’s important to remember that an approved ETIAS does not guarantee entry. When you arrive, border officials will check your passport and may ask to see additional documents to confirm you meet the entry requirements.

The latest guidance is that ETIAS is expected to launch in the last quarter of 2026 but will not be a requirement until April 2027. Applications are not yet open, and the European Union will announce the official start date several months before the system goes live.

The application process

ETIAS is a new online travel authorisation that will help make travelling from the UK to counties in the Schengen Area smoother and more efficient. It will also support border security by allowing authorities to carry out checks before travellers arrive.

Applying for ETIAS is expected to be a straightforward online process that should take around 10 minutes to complete. The application fee is expected to be around 20 Euros for most travellers, although there will be no charge for children under 18 or adults aged 70 and over.

As part of your application, you’ll be asked to prove some personal information, including:

• Your full name, date and place of birth, gender, current nationality, and your parents names.
• Any previous names or other nationalities, if applicable.
• Your passport details.
• Your home address.
• Your email address and, if available, a telephone number.
• Your highest level of education.
• Your current occupation (selected from a list).
• Details of the Schengen country you plan to visit first.

You’ll also be asked a small number of security and travel history questions, including whether you:

1. Have you been convicted of certain criminal offences listed in the Annex (see below) within the past 10 years (or 20 years for  terrorism-related offences), and if so, when and where.
2. Have travelled to specific war or conflict zones during the past 10 years, and the reason for your visit.
3. Have been required to leave, or been issued with a return decision by a Schengen member country within the past 10 years.

If your criminal record falls outside of the scope of the question (for example, an arson conviction from 20 years ago, a caution, or a recent conviction for theft), then you can answer ‘No’. In these circumstances, your criminal record shouldn’t prevent you from continuing with your application.

If your criminal record falls within the scope of the question, you will need to answer ‘Yes’. You will then be asked to complete a short set of additional questions as part of the application process by selecting from a list of predefined responses.

As this stage, we haven’t seen these additional questions, so we are unable to provide further guidance on what they will cover.

Step 1 – The automatic process

Once you submit your application, it will be checked automatically through the ETIAS system. As part of this process, the information you provide may be compared with a range of European and international databases, including security, immigration and public health information systems. The system will look for any matches that require further review, including responses to the three questions set out above.

These automated checks may include:

• Risk indicators relating to security, illegal immigration or public health concerns.
• Information held within the ETIAS Central System, including the ETIAS watch-list.
• Information held within relevant EU information systems.
• Information held by Europol.
• Information held in Interpol databases relating to lost, stolen and flagged travel documents.

For most people with criminal records, we expect this automated process to be straightforward. Many convictions will fall outside the scope of the ETIAS questions because they are older, relate to offences that are not covered, or do not meet the seriousness threshold being considered. In these situations, applicants will be able to answer ‘No’ to the relevant questions and, in most cases, their application should be approved automatically.

It’s important to remember that having a criminal record does not automatically mean your application will be refused. The ETIAS scheme only asks about specific types of offences and circumstances, so many people with criminal records are unlikely to be affected.

Step 2 – The manual process

If the automated checks identify information that needs further review, your application will be sent to the ETIAS National Unit for a manual assessment. This does not mean your application will be refused. It simply means that a person will review your application in more detail before a decision is made.

As part of this review, the National Unit will consider the information provided in your application, along with any relevant information available to them, to determine whether a travel authorisation can be granted.

Following this assessment, they will either:

1. Grant a travel authorisation; or
2. Refuse a travel authorisation.

The outcome of the assessment, along with the reasons for the decision, will be recorded in your application file.

In some cases, the National Unit may need additional information before they can make a decision. If so, they may contact you and ask you to provide further details or supporting documents. This is an opportunity to clarify any information that may be relevant to your application.

Only in exceptional circumstances, where significant questions remain after reviewing the information provided, may the National Unit invite you to attend an interview in your country of residence. If this happens, you will be told in advance which aspects of your application the interview will focus on, so that you can prepare accordingly.

It is important to remember that a manual review is not a decision in itself. It is simply an additional stage in the process to ensure that applications are considered fairly and based on all the relevant information available.

More information

1. For practical self-help information – More information on travel can be found here.
2. To discuss this issue with others – Read and share your experiences on our online forum.

Information last updated on 15 July 2026