If you have seen "Europe's €20 ETIAS launches in late 2026" and wondered whether an Indian passport needs it: it does not, and now there is no launch date either. The EU's official ETIAS page states the system "is currently not in operation" and that a start date will be announced "several months prior to its launch" — the "last quarter of 2026" line has been removed.
In this guide4 sections
What does the official site say now?#
The travel-europe.europa.eu ETIAS page, checked on 17 August 2026, reads: ETIAS "is currently not in operation and no applications for travel authorisations are collected at this point. The European Union will inform about the specific date for the start of ETIAS several months prior to its launch." That replaces the fixed late-2026 target the Commission had repeated since 2025. Trade press reports put a revised timeline after eu-LISA's board meets in September; nothing official has been published.
Why does none of this apply to an Indian passport?#
Because ETIAS is a pre-travel authorisation for people who do not need a visa for short stays in the Schengen Area — Americans, Britons, Australians, Japanese and so on. Indian nationals need a Schengen visa, and a visa holder is by definition outside ETIAS. The same logic applies to the UK ETA and the US ESTA: Indians cannot use them, and cannot be sold them. Our full explainer is ETIAS 2026: what Indians need to know.
What is actually changing at Schengen borders for Indians?#
The Entry/Exit System (EES), which replaces passport stamps with fingerprint and face registration at the external border, is the system that touches Indian travellers — and it has been rolling out since October 2025. Expect biometric registration on your first entry after it goes live at your arrival airport, and a slower first crossing. Visa rules, fees and the cascade for multi-year visas are unaffected.
The scam to watch#
"ETIAS for Indian citizens — apply now" sites exist and rank. They take €20–€60 for a form that has no legal meaning for your passport. If a page asks an Indian national to pay for ETIAS, close it. The only thing an Indian traveller pays the EU for is the €90 Schengen visa fee, via the consulate or its outsourced centre.
VisaGyan is an independent journal, not affiliated with the EU or any consulate. Check travel-europe.europa.eu for the official position.
Frequently asked questions
- Do Indian citizens need ETIAS to travel to Europe?
- No. ETIAS is a travel authorisation for nationals of visa-exempt countries. India is a visa-required country for the Schengen Area, so Indian passport holders apply for a Schengen visa as before and will never fill in an ETIAS form.
- When does ETIAS start?
- The EU's official ETIAS website says the system "is currently not in operation" and that "the European Union will inform about the specific date for the start of ETIAS several months prior to its launch." The earlier "last quarter of 2026" target no longer appears; as of 17 August 2026 no date is set.
- Is a website offering "ETIAS for Indians" for €20 legitimate?
- No. There is no ETIAS for Indian nationals — nothing to buy. Any site or agent selling one is taking money for a document that cannot exist for your passport.