01
April 2026
EES (biometric border checks) is already live — passport stamps replaced by face and fingerprint scans.
ETIAS · EUROPE FROM LATE 2026
ETIAS: your EU travel authorisation without queues or mistakes
From late 2026, visa-free entry to the Schengen area will require an ETIAS authorisation. We explain how it works — and open our assistance service the day the system goes live.
- €20 government fee · valid 3 years
- Launch — Q4 2026
- Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova included
- Under 18 and over 70 — no fee
What it is
ETIAS in plain words
ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is an electronic travel authorisation for citizens of visa-exempt countries — the EU counterpart of the US ESTA. It is not a visa: you apply online, approval usually arrives within minutes, it stays valid for 3 years (or until your passport expires) and costs a €20 government fee.
The authorisation is linked to your biometric passport and checked at airline boarding and at the border. Once the transitional period ends, carriers will not board you without it.
Who it applies to
Who must get an ETIAS
Required for
- Ukrainian citizens with a biometric passport (visa-free since 2017)
- Citizens of Georgia and Moldova
- Citizens of ~59 visa-exempt countries: the UK, US, Canada, Japan and more
- Children and travellers 70+ — authorisation required, fee waived
NOT required for
- Citizens of Russia and Belarus — they need a Schengen visa; ETIAS does not apply to them
- Holders of an EU/Schengen residence permit
- EU citizens
Timeline
When ETIAS becomes mandatory
02
Q4 2026
ETIAS launches. Applications open on the official website. Our assistance service opens the same day.
03
~First 6 months
Transitional period: entry still possible without ETIAS. The best time to apply calmly.
04
Then — grace period
For ~6 more months first-time arrivals are let through. After that ETIAS becomes fully mandatory — around late 2027.
Honestly
You can apply yourself, for free
The only official application site is europa.eu/etias. The form is free — you pay only the €20 government fee (by card, directly to the EU). If you are comfortable with English online forms, you may not need any help at all.
Important: until the system launches (Q4 2026) nobody accepts applications. Any website "processing ETIAS" for money today is a scam — Frontex, the EU border agency, warns about this explicitly.
When we help
Who genuinely benefits from assistance
01
A mistake = trouble for 3 years
Your application must match your passport character for character. One wrong digit in the passport number and your authorisation "won't be found" at the border. We verify every field before submission.
02
Security questions and past refusals
The form asks about convictions, deportations, conflict-zone stays and previous refusals. A wrong answer here is the top cause of refusals and manual reviews of up to 30 days. This is our daily work with the DS-160.
03
Families and older travellers
Each family member needs their own ETIAS, children included. We file everyone in one go; for parents 60+ we handle it end-to-end.
04
Filing as an official intermediary
EU Regulation 2018/1240 explicitly allows applying through a commercial intermediary under a declaration of representation. We work by the book: a reasonable fee, submission only via the official site, and no fake "expediting" that does not exist.
Waitlist
Be first to know when ETIAS opens
Leave your email — we'll message you the day applications open, plus a "Prepare for ETIAS" checklist. No spam: 2–3 emails at most.
Launch pricing: $19/person, families of 3+ — $15/person. The €20 government fee is separate, paid directly to the EU. No payments accepted before launch.
Prefer Telegram? Follow the launch at @customerservicetop
FAQ
ETIAS — frequently asked questions
Is it a visa? Do I need documents again?
No. ETIAS is an electronic authorisation for visa-exempt countries, not a visa. No certificates, statements or interviews: a ~10-minute online form, a €20 fee, and approval usually within minutes (up to 96 hours if your application is selected for manual review).
How much does it cost and how long is it valid?
The government fee is €20 (paid directly to the EU). The authorisation is valid for 3 years or until your passport expires — whichever comes first. Applicants under 18 and over 70 pay no fee but still need the authorisation.
When should I apply?
The system launches in Q4 2026. A ~6-month transitional period follows (entry without ETIAS still possible), then a ~6-month grace period. It becomes fully mandatory around late 2027. Applying "in advance" before launch is impossible — the system does not accept applications yet.
Does ETIAS apply to Russian citizens?
No. ETIAS is only for citizens of visa-exempt countries. Citizens of Russia and Belarus still need a Schengen visa.
Can I be refused?
Yes, but rarely: the vast majority of applications are approved automatically. The main refusal causes are data errors, security-database matches or wrong answers to the form's questions. A refusal can be appealed. That is why getting it right the first time matters.
Are you the official ETIAS website?
No — and that matters: the only official site is europa.eu/etias. We are a private assistance service (as with US visas): we verify your data, file as an official intermediary under EU Regulation 2018/1240 and support you if refused. The €20 government fee is always paid separately and is never part of our service fee.
Transparency: Intel.Viza is a private service, not affiliated with the EU or any government. The only official ETIAS application site is europa.eu/etias, where you can apply yourself paying only the €20 government fee. Our service is data verification, filing via the official site as an intermediary, and support; our service fee is always shown separately from the government fee. Until the system launches (Q4 2026) we accept no ETIAS applications or payments.