Status
ETIAS is the new travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers to enter 30 European countries. According to the official ETIAS website, it is currently not in operation and no applications for travel authorisations are collected at this point. The European Union will announce the specific start date several months before the launch. No start date has been given on the official site.
The 30 countries include Cyprus. Cyprus is not part of the Schengen area, but it takes part in ETIAS.
Who will need it
As a general rule, a traveller will need an ETIAS travel authorisation if they are not an EU national, come from a country whose nationals do not need a visa for a short stay, and do not hold a residence card or residence permit of the kinds listed on the official site. Travellers with a valid visa do not need ETIAS.
How it will work
- Fill in the application on the official website or in the official mobile app.
- Pay EUR 20. Applicants under 18 and over 70 do not pay, and neither do family members of EU nationals who qualify for that status. The fee is not refunded if the application is unsuccessful.
- Receive the travel authorisation.
- Travel and stay for up to 90 days.
A travel authorisation is valid for three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. You can leave and come back as many times as you like within that time, as long as you stay within the overall limit.
What it allows
With a valid ETIAS, you can stay in the countries requiring it for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Stays in Cyprus are calculated separately: time in Cyprus does not count towards the 90 days in the other countries, and time in the other countries does not count towards the 90 days in Cyprus. For example, after 30 days in Malta and Greece, a traveller can spend up to 90 days in Cyprus and then another 60 days in the other countries.
ETIAS is not equivalent to a residence permit or a visa. It covers short stays only and gives no right to study long-term or to work. Holding it also does not guarantee admission, since the ultimate decision always lies with the border guards at the border crossing point.
Where to apply
Once ETIAS has started, applications can be submitted on the official ETIAS website or in the official ETIAS mobile app.
Use the calculator on the home page to count your own stays.
Updated: 4 November 2026