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Find more info about how to answer each question below:

Select your nationality from the dropdown list. This information is used to determine the visa requirements and applicable fees.

Select the type of visa you're applying for. Make sure to choose the one that matches your travel plans.

Please select the date you will be arriving at your destination.

Enter your first name and middle name exactly as they appear in your passport, using letters A-Z.

Enter your last name exactly as it appears in your passport. If you don't have a last name, enter "N/A."

Select your date of birth from the dropdown menus. Make sure this matches your passport.

Enter your email address. We'll use this to send you updates about your application.

Select the nationality as it appears on your passport.

Check this box if you want to skip entering your passport information at this moment.

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Help Center

How can we help with your trip?

Answers written like a friend — not a manual.

15 topics

Do I need an ETIAS?

A 30-second check based on your passport and trip type.
If you hold a passport from a visa-exempt country (USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan and ~55 others) and you're visiting Europe's Schengen Area for tourism, business, or transit under 90 days, you'll need an ETIAS. Travelers who already hold a Schengen visa or EU residence permit do not.

What ETIAS actually is

Plain-English explanation — no jargon, no scare words.
ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is a pre-travel screening linked digitally to your passport. It's not a visa and not a stamp — it simply confirms you're cleared to board a flight or cross a border into a participating European country.

Which countries it covers

Quick reference for participating European destinations.
ETIAS covers the 30 Schengen-area countries including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Greece, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and others. Ireland is not part of ETIAS. One approved ETIAS works for all covered countries within its validity.

Before you start the form

The three things to have ready so you finish in 10 minutes.
Have these handy: (1) your biometric passport valid for at least 3 months past your trip, (2) a working email you check often, and (3) a debit or credit card for the application fee. That's it — no documents to upload, no appointments.

Walking through the form

What each field really means and the common slip-ups.
Spell your name exactly as printed in your passport — including middle names and hyphens. Your address is your home address, not the hotel. For 'first country of entry', pick the country whose airport or border you'll cross first. Double-check the passport number; it's the #1 source of mistakes.

Status emails explained

What each update means and when to expect the next one.
You'll get four typical emails: 'Received' (we have it), 'Under review' (a person is checking it), 'Approved' (you're cleared — save the PDF), or 'More info needed' (we'll tell you exactly what). If something stalls, our team chases it for you before you have to ask.

Speeding things up

Practical tips for urgent departures — honest, no promises.
Most ETIAS decisions are quick, but no service can guarantee instant approval — official systems decide the timing. To go as fast as possible: apply during European business hours, double-check every field, use a recently-issued passport, and reply to clarification emails within minutes, not days.

Fixing a small mistake

How to correct details after you submit, calmly.
Typos in your name, date of birth, or passport number can't be edited after submission — those need a new application. Other details (address, trip plans, employer) can usually be updated by replying to your confirmation email or messaging our support team with your reference number.

What happens if delayed

Common reasons, what we do, what you can do.
Delays usually come from passport-database mismatches, a recent name change, or prior travel flags. We monitor your file and reach out to the right desk when it sits too long. On your side: keep your email accessible, don't submit a duplicate application, and have your old passport details ready if asked.

ETIAS for transit stops

Even a quick layover usually needs an active ETIAS.
If your layover involves leaving the international transit zone, changing terminals at most European airports, or any Schengen-area connection, you need an approved ETIAS before you board the first flight — airlines check at the departure gate, not on arrival.

Family & children

Each traveler — even kids — needs their own.
Every passport holder needs an individual ETIAS, including infants and children. You can apply for the whole family in one sitting using the same email, but each person gets their own approval tied to their own passport. Family fees are not bundled — each is charged separately.

After approval — at the border

What to carry and what officers actually check.
Bring the same passport you applied with — your ETIAS is electronically linked to it. Officers may ask about your trip purpose, return ticket, accommodation, or funds. Keep a printed or screenshot copy of your approval handy; it's rarely required, but reassuring when boarding staff ask.

How your data is handled

Encrypted, access-controlled, never resold.
Your application data is encrypted in transit and at rest, accessed only by trained reviewers under strict logging, and used solely to process your ETIAS. We never sell or share your information with marketers, and we delete supporting personal data after the legally required retention window.

Spotting scam sites

Red flags to watch when other portals contact you.
Be cautious of sites that demand payment in cryptocurrency, ask for full credit card scans, send threatening 'your ETIAS will be cancelled' emails, or use lookalike domain names with extra dashes and numbers. A real provider never pressures you with countdown timers or fake government seals.

Email & phishing tips

What an email from us looks like — and what doesn't.
Our emails always come from our verified domain, address you by the name on your application, and reference your unique application ID. We will never ask for your password, full card number, or social-security details by email. When in doubt, log in from our official site directly instead of clicking links.

Email us

Written replies within ~24 hours.

Browse FAQs

Deeper answers, organized by topic.

Start preparing

Begin your guided application.
Please read carefully: EU Visa Portal is an independent, private third-party advisory service that helps travelers prepare and human-review their ETIAS application before it is forwarded for processing. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated on behalf of the European Union or any government authority. Final decisions are made exclusively by the relevant authorities.