ETIAS is not running yet: what the Dutch government tells visa-exempt travellers to Europe

Travellers who keep hearing about ETIAS cannot apply for it yet. The Dutch government’s page on the European Travel Information and Authorisation System states that ETIAS is not in operation and that no applications are being collected. The European Union will announce the start date several months before the launch.

Once it starts, ETIAS will apply to nationals of 59 visa-exempt countries making short stays in the Netherlands and 29 other European countries, 30 countries in total. Such stays are normally for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. According to the government, travellers with a valid ETIAS travel authorisation will be able to enter as often as they want for short-term stays, provided they meet all other entry conditions.

Transport companies will also have a role. The page says air and sea carriers must check, within 48 hours before departure, that visa-exempt travellers hold a valid authorisation, and that coach operators will be involved as well.

The practical point for now is that no ETIAS application can be made, so any website or message offering to submit one today should be treated with caution. The Dutch government directs travellers to the official EU website to check whether ETIAS applies to them, and that is where the launch date will be confirmed.