ETIAS for France in 2026: Cost, Timeline, and How to Prepare
By: Jean-Paul and Jessica - Published June 3, 2025, Updated February 19, 2026
What Is ETIAS?
ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is a new online travel authorization that Americans and other visa-exempt travelers will need before visiting France or any other Schengen country. It's Europe's version of the U.S. ESTA system. You fill out a form, pay €20, get approved, and you're good to go.
It's not a visa. Your trip doesn't change. You still get 90 days visa-free and can move freely between 30 European countries on a single approval. ETIAS is just one more box to check before you board the plane.
How Is ETIAS Different from a Visa?
A visa requires an appointment, an interview, supporting documents, and weeks of waiting. ETIAS is none of that. It's a short online form that takes about ten minutes, and most people get approved within minutes.
ETIAS only covers short visits up to 90 days for tourism, business, or transit. If you need to stay longer or plan to work in France, you still need a visa.
When Does ETIAS Start?
The current target is Q4 2026, meaning sometime between October and December. That said, this thing has been delayed five times already, so don't be shocked if it slips again.
The good news is the EU has committed to giving several months of advance warning before flipping the switch. No need to panic or apply for anything yet.
One thing that has moved forward: the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) started rolling out at Schengen borders in October 2025 and is expected to be fully operational by April 2026. ETIAS is designed to launch after EES is up and running, so the fact that EES is actually happening is a good sign that ETIAS might finally stick to its timeline.
Who Needs ETIAS for France?
If you're American, Canadian, Australian, British, or from about 60 other countries that currently don't need visas for Europe, this applies to you. Basically, if you can currently show up in Paris with just your passport, you'll need ETIAS once it starts.
This includes children. Kids of all ages need their own ETIAS authorization, though they don't have to pay the fee.
If you hold a passport from an EU country, you don't need ETIAS. Same goes for anyone who already has a valid Schengen visa or residence permit.
The Application Process
The entire process is online. No embassy visits, no interviews, no mailing anything.
The form asks for standard travel stuff: where you're going, where you're staying, what you do for work. They also want to know about your health and whether you've had any legal troubles. Most people should get approved within minutes, though they give themselves up to 96 hours to decide. In rare cases, if your application gets flagged for human review, it can take up to 30 days.
Your passport needs to be less than 10 years old and can't expire within three months of when you plan to leave Europe. Both of these matter. A passport can technically still be "valid" and get rejected at the border if it was issued more than a decade ago.
When ETIAS does launch, there will be one official site: travel-europe.europa.eu/etias. Applications are not open yet.
How Much Does ETIAS Cost?
€20 per person, roughly $23. This changed since we first published this post. The fee was originally set at €7, but the European Commission bumped it up in July 2025.
Travelers under 18 or over 70 don't have to pay, but they still need to submit an application. A family of four with two adults and two kids under 18 would pay €40 total.
How Long Is ETIAS Valid?
Three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. You can come and go as much as you want during that time, as long as you don't overstay the 90-day rule.
If you renew your passport, you'll need a new ETIAS. The authorization is tied to the specific passport you used when you applied.
What Could Go Wrong
The main thing that trips people up is passport issues. If your passport is old, expires soon, or you renew it after getting ETIAS approval, you'll need to start over.
Also, if you've been denied visas before or traveled to certain conflict zones, expect extra scrutiny. The system flags these situations for human review.
Watch Out for Scams
Because ETIAS isn't live yet, scammers are already taking advantage of the confusion. Fake websites are popping up claiming to help you apply, and some look official enough to fool people into giving up credit card details or personal information. Some of these sites charge $50 to $150 for something that doesn't even exist yet.
Don't fall for it.
Bookmark this link and ignore anything else: travel-europe.europa.eu/etias
There's no need to apply yet, and no one should be charging you anything today.
How to Prepare for ETIAS Now
We're now in the same year ETIAS is expected to launch, so the advice here is getting more practical.
Check your passport. If it expires in 2026 or 2027, renew it now. You don't want to get your ETIAS approved and then have your passport expire before your trip, because that means starting over. Also check the issue date. If your passport was issued more than 10 years ago, even if it's technically still valid, it won't be accepted. Passport processing through the State Department currently takes four to six weeks, with total door-to-door time running eight to ten weeks once you factor in mailing.
Keep records of international travel. Especially to places that might raise security questions. The application will ask about recent trips.
Watch the launch date. If you're planning a fall or winter trip this year, keep an eye on announcements. The EU says they'll give several months of advance warning, but "several months" and "last quarter of 2026" don't leave a huge gap.
What About the Entry/Exit System (EES)?
EES is a separate system that's already rolling out at European borders. It replaces the old passport stamps with digital record-keeping by collecting a facial photo and fingerprints when you arrive.
You don't need to do anything ahead of time for EES. It just happens at the border. But it does mean immigration lines may take a bit longer than usual, especially during the transition period through mid-2026.
What Happens at the Airport
Once ETIAS launches, airlines will check your approval before you board, just like they check passports now. Show up without it, and you're not getting on the plane. Border agents will also verify your status when you land. If you're flying into Paris, our Paris CDG Airport Tips for U.S. Travelers guide can help you navigate what to expect after landing. Curious about the best way to get from Paris CDG airport to Paris? Read our exclusive guide here for all of your options.
This means applying last-minute won't work. Build ETIAS into your trip planning at least a week before departure to account for processing time and potential hiccups. If you're traveling with kids, planning becomes even more important. Our guide on The Best Way to Prepare Kids for your France Trip covers books and activities to get them excited about the journey, while our Best Travel Gear for Kids in France (Ages 5-12) guide helps you pack the right stuff to keep them comfortable.
Looking Ahead
ETIAS reflects a broader trend toward digitized travel systems. Australia has something similar, Canada is working on one, and more countries will likely follow. The €20 fee and online form will eventually feel as routine as checking in for flights.
With EES now rolling out and the infrastructure coming together, there's more reason to believe this timeline will hold than any of the previous ones.
Since ETIAS timelines keep shifting, it's worth staying informed. Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest France travel news delivered straight to your inbox.
Bottom Line
ETIAS adds a step to France travel without fundamentally changing the experience. It's more bureaucracy, but manageable bureaucracy. We're closer to this becoming real than we've ever been, and this is the year to start paying attention.
ETIAS and France: Common Questions
Can I apply for ETIAS right now? No, and that's the most important thing to know. Applications aren't open, the EU hasn't announced an exact launch date, and anyone charging you for an ETIAS application today is running a scam. When it goes live, the only legitimate site will be travel-europe.europa.eu/etias.
Do my kids each need their own ETIAS? Yes, every traveler needs one regardless of age. Kids under 18 are exempt from the €20 fee, but the application itself is still required. You can fill it out on their behalf.
What if my passport expires in 2027? It depends on the dates. Your passport needs to be valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure from Europe and issued within the last 10 years. So a passport that expires in March 2027 would technically work for a summer 2026 trip, but it wouldn't work for a December 2026 trip. Check both the expiration and the issue date before you apply.
I got denied a visa years ago. Will that affect my ETIAS? It might. The application asks about previous visa denials, and the system cross-checks against Schengen security databases. A past denial doesn't automatically mean rejection, but it does flag your application for human review, which can take up to 30 days instead of minutes.
What's the difference between ETIAS and EES? ETIAS is something you apply for before your trip. EES is something that happens to you at the border (fingerprints, facial photo). You'll need both to enter France once ETIAS launches, but only ETIAS requires advance action on your part.
Does ETIAS work for all of Europe? It covers 30 Schengen countries, including France, Italy, Spain, Germany, and most of Western and Central Europe. It does not cover the UK (which has its own ETA system), Ireland, or non-Schengen countries. One approval covers all 30 countries.
What if ETIAS gets delayed again? Entirely possible. If it does, you just travel the way you always have. No harm done. The EU has said they won't enforce ETIAS requirements without giving several months of notice, and there will be a six-month transitional period once it launches where you won't be turned away solely for not having one.
I'm flying through Paris to a non-Schengen country. Do I still need ETIAS? If your layover requires you to pass through immigration (leave the international transit zone), yes. If you're staying airside on a connecting flight, generally no. This depends on the airport and your specific routing, so check with your airline.
About the Authors
Jean-Paul grew up in Burgundy and has lived in France his entire life. Jessica is American and has been traveling to France for more than twenty years. They started Bonjour Guide because the most useful information about France tends to be the hardest to find. Meet Jean-Paul and Jessica.