Starting in late 2026, citizens of Ukraine and other countries with visa-free travel will be required to obtain an ETIAS electronic travel authorization for short-term trips to most European countries, according to the official EU website Travel Europe.
ETIAS is not a visa and does not abolish the visa-free regime for Ukrainians. It is an electronic travel authorization that will be required prior to entry into Schengen Area countries, as well as certain European states participating in the system. The authorization will be processed online via the official EU website.
The application fee will be 20 euros. Applicants under 18 and over 70 are exempt from the fee. There are also specific exemptions for family members of EU citizens and a number of other categories, provided they meet the established conditions.
The ETIAS authorization will be valid for up to three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. It will allow for short-term trips of up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
The system will apply to citizens of countries that currently travel to Europe without a visa, including Ukraine. Before traveling, travelers will need to fill out an online form with passport and personal information, as well as answer security-related questions. In most cases, a decision should be made quickly; however, the EU recommends applying for the authorization in advance, before purchasing tickets or booking a trip.
The EU specifically warns that applications should only be submitted through the official website europa.eu/etias, as there are already intermediary websites that may charge additional fees or collect personal data. The EU Delegation to Ukraine has also previously highlighted the risk of fraudulent websites posing as the official ETIAS portal.
