ETIAS Applications Are Still Closed: What Europe-Bound Travellers Should Do

Checked on 20 October 2026. If a website invites you to buy an ETIAS authorisation today, pause before entering your passport or card details. The European Union's current notice says the system is not operating and applications are not being collected.

Why this is in the news

Travel Weekly reported on 13 October that ABTA had warned about unofficial application websites while the launch timetable remained unclear. This is a current consumer-protection concern, rather than an announcement that travellers must apply now.

The EU says it will announce the start date several months before launch. Do not build a travel checklist around an old predicted date or an agent's countdown.

What it means for GCC readers

ETIAS is intended for eligible visa-exempt travellers. Residence in the UAE or another GCC country is not, by itself, a reason to assume that ETIAS will be your route. Check the requirements attached to your passport and destination; a traveller who needs a visa should continue using the relevant visa process.

For a family booking, write down each person's passport nationality before comparing requirements. A shared departure airport does not make everyone's immigration position identical.

A safer way to check

Open the official EU status page directly using the source link below. The EU has separately warned that unofficial websites can present misleading information and imitate an official appearance.

Keep any ETIAS-related payment request separate from genuine airline, accommodation or visa charges. Ask what service is actually being sold. A private company's receipt cannot establish that the EU has issued an authorisation while its application system remains closed.

Recheck the official notice before departure, especially if your trip is several months away.