ETIAS Visa Cost for UK Citizens 2026: The Complete Guide

The ETIAS visa cost for UK citizens in 2026 is €20 — approximately £17 at current exchange rates. As British passport holders no longer have automatic right of entry to the EU following Brexit, UK citizens travelling to the Schengen Area for tourism, business, or transit will need to apply for an ETIAS travel authorisation before their trip.

TL;DR: UK citizens pay €20 (≈£17) for an ETIAS valid for 3 years. Children under 18 and adults over 70 pay nothing. ETIAS is far cheaper than a Schengen visa (€90/£77) and covers all 29 Schengen countries with unlimited entries. Apply online — no embassy visit required.

Fact	Detail
ETIAS fee for UK citizens	€20 (≈£17)
Validity	3 years or passport expiry (whichever is first)
Entries covered	Unlimited within validity period
Maximum stay	90 days in any 180-day period
Exemptions	Under 18s and over 70s pay nothing

UK citizens are among the largest group of ETIAS applicants in the world. Around 20 million British travellers visit Europe annually, and from ETIAS launch, every UK passport holder aged 18–69 will need to pay the €20 fee before their first Schengen trip. For a comprehensive overview, see ETIAS for UK citizens and ETIAS for British citizens post-Brexit.

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Why UK Citizens Need ETIAS After Brexit

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Before Brexit, British citizens exercised EU free movement rights and could enter any Schengen country without any visa or pre-travel authorisation. Since the UK’s withdrawal from the EU took full effect in January 2021, UK citizens are treated as third-country nationals for Schengen entry purposes.

UK citizens currently retain visa-free access to the Schengen Area under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement — meaning no traditional visa is required for stays of up to 90 days. However, visa-free access and authorisation-free access are different concepts. ETIAS is a travel authorisation, not a visa, and will be required even for nationalities that do not need a Schengen visa.

The ETIAS system is equivalent to systems already familiar to UK travellers: the UK ETA that non-British visitors now need for the UK, and the US ESTA that British citizens require for American travel. Like those systems, ETIAS is applied for online, takes minutes, and is electronically linked to your passport. See the ETIAS vs UK ETA vs ESTA comparison.

How Much Does ETIAS Cost for UK Citizens in Practice?

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The official ETIAS visa cost for UK citizens is €20, charged in euros at the European portal. Because UK citizens pay in British pounds, the actual sterling amount varies with the exchange rate. At a GBP/EUR rate of approximately 1.18 (mid-2026), €20 = approximately £17. At a weaker pound (1.10), the cost rises to approximately £18.20.

The fee covers a 3-year authorisation with unlimited entries into all 29 Schengen Area countries. For a UK family making one European holiday per year, the effective per-trip cost is just £5–£6 per adult over the 3-year validity period.

Scenario	ETIAS Cost	Notes
Single adult traveller	€20 (≈£17)	One-off for 3 years
Couple (2 adults 18–69)	€40 (≈£34)	Separate applications
Family of 4 (2 adults + 2 children)	€40 (≈£34)	Children under 18 exempt
Adult 70+ travelling solo	€0	Age exemption applies
3 generations (grandparents, parents, kids)	€40 (≈£34)	Under-18s and over-70s both free

Pro tip: Apply for ETIAS well before your summer or Christmas European trip. The 95% of applications approved within minutes still means the remaining 5% can wait up to 4 days. Apply a few weeks in advance to avoid any last-minute stress. See ETIAS approval timeline.

Step-by-Step: How UK Citizens Apply for ETIAS

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Go to the official ETIAS portal. Visit travel-europe.europa.eu. Do not use third-party websites that charge inflated “service fees” — the official portal is the only authorised channel. Avoid ETIAS scam websites.
Enter your passport details. You will need your UK passport number, issue date, expiry date, and personal details (name, date of birth, gender) exactly as they appear in the passport. ETIAS is linked to your specific passport number.
Answer the background questions. The application asks about your travel history, medical conditions, and criminal record. Answer honestly — the system cross-checks against EU security databases. See ETIAS criminal record questions for guidance.
Pay €20 by card. Visa, Mastercard, and American Express are accepted. The portal processes the payment in euros — your card provider applies the exchange rate. See ETIAS payment methods.
Receive your authorisation by email. For most UK applicants, the authorisation arrives within minutes. You do not need to print anything — the ETIAS is linked electronically to your passport and verified automatically at Schengen border control.

For the full application walkthrough including all required documents, see ETIAS application guide step by step and ETIAS documents needed.

What the €20 ETIAS Covers for UK Citizens

map of Europe with Schengen countries highlighted, traveller planning route

The single €20 ETIAS fee covers an authorisation valid for all 29 Schengen Area member states. UK citizens do not need separate ETIAS applications for France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, or any other Schengen country. One application, one fee, covers them all.

The 29 Schengen countries covered include: Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Poland, Czech Republic, Portugal, Greece, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Iceland, Malta, Liechtenstein, Croatia (from 2024), Romania (from 2024), and Bulgaria (from 2024). See the complete ETIAS countries list.

Important: ETIAS does not cover Ireland. Ireland remains outside the Schengen Area and operates its own separate entry rules for non-EU nationals. UK citizens currently retain Common Travel Area rights with Ireland, but should verify the latest rules before travel. Also note that non-Schengen EU countries (Bulgaria before 2024 full accession, Romania, Cyprus) have their own entry rules.

The €20 also covers: unlimited multiple entries throughout the 3-year validity, transit through Schengen airports (where applicable), short business trips, and short-stay study courses of up to 90 days.

Practical Tips for UK Citizens Paying the ETIAS Fee

UK passport holder at European departure gate, ETIAS confirmation on phone screen

Apply before booking non-refundable travel. While ETIAS approval is almost instant for UK citizens, edge cases can take up to 4 days. Apply before you confirm non-refundable flights or hotel bookings. See ETIAS application errors to avoid.
Check your passport has at least 3 months’ validity beyond your intended stay. Schengen border rules require at least 3 months’ passport validity beyond the date you intend to leave the Schengen Area. ETIAS itself is only valid until your passport expiry — get a new ETIAS if you renew your passport. See ETIAS validity with an expiring passport.
Understand the 90-day rule. ETIAS does not allow UK citizens to live in Europe — the 90-day in every 180-day Schengen rule still applies. Overstaying can result in a refusal on your next application. Track your days carefully. See Schengen 90/180-day rule.
Keep the authorisation reference number. Although ETIAS is electronic, border officers may ask for your reference number if the system has any difficulty scanning your passport. Screenshot the confirmation email before you travel.
Compare the cost of ETIAS to travel insurance. At €20, ETIAS is cheaper than most single-trip European travel insurance premiums. Budget for both. See ETIAS travel insurance 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does ETIAS cost for UK citizens in 2026?

UK citizens pay €20 (approximately £17 at current exchange rates) per applicant for a 3-year ETIAS authorisation. Children under 18 and adults aged 70 and over are exempt from the fee but still need to complete a free ETIAS application.

Do UK citizens need ETIAS for every Schengen country?

No — one ETIAS application and one €20 fee covers all 29 Schengen Area countries. There is no need to apply separately for France, Spain, Italy, Germany or any other member state. The single ETIAS is valid for unlimited entries to all covered countries within its 3-year validity.

When do UK citizens need to start applying for ETIAS?

ETIAS is expected to launch in 2026. UK citizens must have a valid ETIAS before travelling to any Schengen country once the system goes live. The exact launch date is confirmed on the official European Commission portal. See ETIAS launch date 2026.

Is ETIAS the same as a Schengen visa for UK citizens?

No. ETIAS is a travel authorisation, not a visa. UK citizens do not need a Schengen visa for stays under 90 days — they need ETIAS instead. A Schengen visa (€90, embassy appointment required) is for nationalities that do not have visa-free access to the Schengen Area. See ETIAS vs Schengen visa.

Can UK citizens get a refund on the ETIAS fee?

Yos, if your ETIAS application is refused. If approved, the €20 is non-refundable even if you cancel your trip. Refunds for refused applications are returned to the original payment card within 14 days. See ETIAS refunds explained.

Do UK children need ETIAS?

Yes, but at no cost. Children under 18 must complete an ETIAS application but the €20 fee is waived. A parent or guardian submits the application on behalf of the child. Each child needs their own ETIAS linked to their own passport. See ETIAS for children.

What happens if I travel to Europe without ETIAS after the launch date?

You will be denied boarding at the UK airport. Airlines are required to check ETIAS status before departure. If you somehow arrive at a Schengen border without ETIAS, you will be refused entry and returned to the UK at your own expense.