Citizens from over 60 countries who can currently visit the Schengen Area without a visa will soon have to apply for travel authorisation through the Electronic Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) before entering any of the European Union’s Member States.

However, many online sources, including highly reputable publications, have repeatedly claimed, whether intentionally or not, that ‘ETIAS is a visa’.

Of course, ETIAS is not a visa. European Union officials have firmly insisted that the new requirement for citizens of over 60 countries to visit the Schengen Area member states, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania, is in no way comparable to a visa.

The European Union (EU) has already clarified this in an article aimed at dispelling the most common misconceptionsabout ETIAS, stating the following:

“ETIAS is not a visa. The United States, Canada and Australia require similar travel authorisations for visa-exempt nationals. Unlike when applying for a visa, travellers will be able to apply for ETIAS online; there will be no need to visit a consulate to apply, and no biometric data will be collected as part of the application process.”

To help you distinguish between ETIAS and a visa, I have compiled a list of the main differences below, with explanations for each.

Who may need it?

The main difference between ETIAS and a Schengen visa is who needs it.

Visitors from more than 60 countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, etc., who are currently exempt from obtaining a visa to enter the European Union, will instead have to obtain an authorisation (ETIAS).

Application procedures

The steps required to apply for an ETIAS are simple and quick. Each application should take about five minutes.

The form will only require basic information from the applicant, such as name, surname, date of birth, nationality, postal address, e-mail address, telephone number, place of work, level of education and reason for first visit to the Schengen Area.

Obtaining an ETIAS does not require an interview or paperwork.

However, obtaining a Schengen visa requires considerable additional effort.

First, travelers must schedule a visa appointment online, which can take weeks to obtain due to high demand. After arranging an interview, applicants for a Schengen visa will need to gather a number of documents, depending on the nature of their trip (tourist, family visit, business, etc.).

The list includes documents such as health insurance cards, airline itineraries, bank statements, etc. In addition, the applicant must go to the embassy or visa center to present the documents and provide fingerprints.

Payment of fees

ETIAS fees are much lower than those for a Schengen visa. The cost of a Schengen visa is €90, which is more than 4 times the ETIAS fee of €20.

If the applicant submits their Schengen visa application through a third party to whom the Schengen Member State has outsourced the processing of visa applications, they will have to pay an additional fee.

The average cost of these fees is around €30, but this may vary from one visa centre to another. There are additional charges if you request that your passport be sent to you by post. You can choose not to pay for this service, in which case you will need to visit the visa centre in person to collect the decision once it has been made.

However, once the ETIAS application is complete, you will receive an email confirming its acceptance.

Waiting times

Once ETIAS is up and running, most applications will be processed within minutes and applicants will receive an immediate response by email.

However, in the exceptional case where the EU’s security systems flag the applicant as a potential threat to EU security, processing the application could take up to 30 days.

On the other hand, the processing time for a Schengen visa is usually around 15 working days. However, this timeframe may vary depending on the current workload at consulates.

Validity

An ETIAS travel authorisation will be valid for three years or until the passport in which it was issued expires, whichever comes first. All ETIAS authorisations are valid for a specific number of return trips. Provided visitors do not overstay their permitted stay, they can use them as many times as they like.

A Schengen visa can be valid for anywhere from a few days to five years. They may allow a single entry or multiple entries.

Acceptance rates

The percentage of applicants whose Schengen visa applications were refused reached an all-time high of 17.9% in 2017. However, estimates suggest that the percentage of ETIAS applications refused is less than 3%.

Only 3% of applicants will need to go through various EU security systems, such as the Schengen Information System (SIS), the Visa Information System (VIS) and the Entry/Exit System (EES), according to the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex).

These checks will be completed in a matter of minutes if there is no suspicion that applicants pose a threat to the EU.

FAQs 

Q: Where do I apply for ETIAS?

Exclusively via the official European Union website. The application form will be available on that website once the system has gone live, which is expected to happen in mid-2026.

Q: How long does it take to obtain authorisation?

Most applications are approved within minutes, although some may require a more thorough review.

Q: Can I travel if my ETIAS application is refused?

No. If your application is refused, you will need to apply for a Schengen visa or review your specific circumstances.

Q: Does ETIAS guarantee entry into Spain?

No. The final decision always rests with the border authorities.