ETIAS is still not live, whatever you have been sold
The Q4 2026 target was dropped in July. Nobody can sell you an ETIAS today, because there is nothing yet to apply for.
What changed
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System has been delayed again. The Q4 2026 target was removed in mid-July 2026 after a launch this year was judged no longer feasible, with 2027 now the likeliest outcome.
When it does arrive it is expected to cost €20, cover 30 European countries, run for three years, and be free for travellers under 18 and over 70.
What it means for you
Right now, US passport holders travel to Schengen countries on a passport alone. There is no ETIAS to hold and no fee to pay.
That gap is being monetised. Sites are collecting money for ETIAS applications against a system that has not launched, and will keep doing so until it does. If someone is charging you for an ETIAS today, they are charging you for nothing.
The United Kingdom is a separate matter and always has been. It is not in Schengen and not covered by ETIAS, and a UK trip needs its own Electronic Travel Authorisation, which is live and costs £20.
Routes this bears on
- · UK Electronic Travel Authorisation from the United States
Sources
- ETIAS launch date and status, 2026read 18 September 2026
- GOV.UK — apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisationread 18 September 2026