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New requirements to travel to Europe
25 March 2024

Who should apply

Find out which European countries require an ETIAS travel authorisation, who needs to apply and who is exempt.

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European countries requiring ETIAS

These 30 European countries require visa-exempt travellers to have an ETIAS travel authorisation.

ETIAS countries

List of countries

Who needs an ETIAS travel authorisation

Nationals of any of these visa-exempt countries/territories need to apply for an ETIAS travel authorisation.

ETIAS required countries

If you come from any of these countries/territories and you plan to visit any of the 30 European countries listed above for a short-term stay, you will need an ETIAS travel authorisation.

There are specific travel document requirements for nationals of certain visa-exempt countries/territories – make sure to check if these apply to the travel document you have.

If you come from any of the visa-exempt countries/territories listed above and you are a family member of an EU citizen or of a national of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, please read this FAQ for more information about applying for an ETIAS travel authorisation.

Other categories of travellers who need an ETIAS travel authorisation

ETIAS for nationals of visa-required countries

In some cases, nationals of visa-required countries may not need to apply for a visa and can travel with an ETIAS travel authorisation instead. This applies to you if you are:

Travelling to any of the European countries requiring ETIAS on a school trip

This applies only to students who are nationals of visa-required countries residing on the territory of any of these countries, Switzerland or Liechtenstein. You must be travelling together with other school pupils and be accompanied by a school teacher. Also, you must be exempt from the requirement to have a visa to enter the territory of all the European countries requiring ETIAS which you intend to visit during your trip – make sure to check which requirements apply to you. You must meet all these conditions to be eligible for an ETIAS travel authorisation.

Important: To avoid any problems at the border, before your travel, please contact the Consulates of all the countries you intend to visit to confirm that your personal situation exempts you from the obligation to have a visa.

A recognised refugee who resides in and holds a travel document issued by any of these countries or Ireland and you are not required to have a visa to enter any of the European countries requiring ETIAS you intend to visit

You must meet all these conditions to be eligible for an ETIAS travel authorisation. Make sure to check which travel requirements apply to you.

Important: To avoid any problems at the border, before your travel, please contact the Consulates of all the countries you intend to visit to confirm that your personal situation exempts you from the obligation to have a visa.

ETIAS for stateless persons

You will need an ETIAS travel authorisation if you are a stateless person who resides in and holds a travel document issued by any of these countries or Ireland and you are not required to have a visa to travel to the European countries requiring ETIAS you intend to visit

You must meet all these conditions to be eligible for an ETIAS travel authorisation. Make sure to check which travel requirements apply to you.

Important: To avoid any problems at the border, before your travel, please contact the Consulates of all the countries you intend to visit to confirm that your personal situation exempts you from the obligation to have a visa.

Who does not need an ETIAS travel authorisation

You will not need an ETIAS travel authorisation if you are:

A national of a European country requiring ETIAS

A national of any of these countries who needs a visa to travel to any of the European countries requiring ETIAS

In certain cases, nationals of the above countries may be exempt from the obligation to have a visa. In those cases, you may need an ETIAS travel authorisation instead – check the lists above whether this applies to you.

A national of the United Kingdom who is a beneficiary of the Withdrawal Agreement

UK nationals and their family members who are beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement are exempt from ETIAS: they may reside on the territory of their EU host country and travel to other European countries requiring ETIAS as long as they hold documents proving their status.

For more information, please check this website.

A national of Andorra, San Marino, Monaco, the Holy See (the Vatican City State) or Ireland

A refugee, a stateless person or a person who does not hold the nationality of any country and you reside in any of the European countries requiring ETIAS and hold a travel document issued by that country

A holder of a residence permit or a residence card issued by any European country requiring ETIAS

See here an indicative list of the relevant residence permits. Other documents authorising your stay on the territory of these countries are also accepted, if they are in line with Article 2 point 16 of Regulation (EU) 2016/399. Please consult the issuing authority to confirm if your document meets these requirements.

A holder of a uniform visa

A holder of a national long-stay visa

A holder of a local border traffic permit, but only within the context of the Local Border Traffic

A holder of a diplomatic, service or special passport

This exemption applies to the nationals of countries that have concluded international agreements with the EU which allow the holders of diplomatic, service or special passports to travel without a visa. This means that nationals of the following countries can travel to these European countries both without an ETIAS travel authorisation and without a visa:

  • Armenia, Azerbaijan, China (holders of diplomatic passports only)
  • Cape Verde (holders of diplomatic and service/official passports only)
  • Belarus (holders of diplomatic biometric passports only)

Holders of diplomatic, service or special passports from other countries are also excluded from the obligation to hold an ETIAS travel authorisation. However, they may be obliged to have a visa to visit the European countries requiring ETIAS.

Before your travel, please contact the Consulates of the countries you intend to travel to, to check if you need a visa.

A member of the armed forces travelling on NATO or Partnership for Peace business, who holds an identification and individual or collective movement order provided for by the Agreement between the parties to the North Atlantic Treaty regarding the Status of their Forces.

Important: If you are travelling for private purposes for part or for the whole duration of your trip to a European country requiring ETIAS, you will need an ETIAS or a visa.

A holder of a travel document issued by intergovernmental international organisation provided for in Part 3 of Decision No 1105/2011/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council

Important note: you may still need a visa to visit the European countries requiring ETIAS. Before you travel, always check with the relevant consulates if you need one.

An intra-corporate transferee, a student or a researcher exercising your right to mobility in accordance with Directive 2014/66/EU or Directive (EU) 2016/801

Crew members

You may need an ETIAS travel authorisation if you are:

A civilian air or sea crew member on duty

Since the European countries requiring ETIAS have different requirements for air and sea crew members, before you travel, always check which requirements apply to you.

A civilian sea crew member going ashore holding a seafarer's identity document

Since the European countries requiring ETIAS countries have different requirements for sea crew members, before you travel, always check which requirements apply to you.

A crew or member of an emergency or rescue mission in the event of a disaster or an accident

Conditions for the entry and exit of members of rescue services, police, fire brigades acting in emergency situations as well as border guards crossing the border in exercise of their professional tasks are laid down by national law. The European countries requiring ETIAS may also conclude bilateral agreements with non-EU countries for these categories of persons. Before you travel, always check which requirements apply to you.

A civilian crew member of ships navigating in international inland waters

Since the European countries requiring ETIAS have different requirements for sea crew members, before you travel, always check which requirements apply to you.

Nationals of the United Kingdom

UK nationals are required to have a valid ETIAS travel authorisation if they travel to any of the European countries requiring ETIAS for a short-term stay (90 days in any 180-day period).

UK nationals who wish to stay longer must meet the entry requirements in accordance with national or EU migration law, such as holding a visa or residence permit.

ETIAS exemptions for UK nationals who are beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement

UK nationals and their family members who are beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement are exempt from ETIAS: they may reside on the territory of their EU host country and travel to other European countries requiring ETIAS as long as they hold documents proving their status.

For more information, please check this website.