E-visas and electronic travel authorisations explained

Visa, e-visa and ETA: the difference

A visa is an entry permit that a country issues to citizens of countries on its visa list. For the Schengen area, travellers lodge the application at a consulate, give fingerprints, supply supporting papers on the purpose of the trip, money and accommodation, and pay a fee. The EU fee is €90 for adults, and normal processing takes 15 days, extendable to 45 days ¹.

An e-visa moves that process online. India's e-Visa is an example. Applicants upload a photo and passport page, pay online, and receive an electronic travel authorisation by email. On arrival, an immigration officer stamps the e-Visa in the passport ¹². India offers e-Visas in categories that include tourist, business, medical, student and transit ¹².

An ETA is for travellers who do not need a visa. It is a pre-travel check, not a visa. The EU says an ETIAS authorisation lets a person enter and stay for a short trip but gives no right to work or study long term. Travellers who hold a valid visa do not need ETIAS ². The UK says an ETA does not guarantee entry, and border officers still decide on arrival ¹⁰.

Major systems compared

The table below sets out fees and validity from official sources, as of 19 October 2026 ^{2,79,10,11,14}. Fees change often, so check the official site before applying.

• United States: ESTA covers Visa Waiver Program travellers for stays of 90 days or less. An approved ESTA does not guarantee entry ⁶. The fee rose to $40 on 30 September 2025 ⁸. A DHS notice sets the total at $40.62 from 16 October 2026, with $10.62 charged for a denied application ⁷.
• Canada: the eTA lets eligible travellers fly to or transit through a Canadian airport. It costs CAN$7 and needs a valid passport, a card and an email address ⁹.
• United Kingdom: the ETA costs £20 online or through the UK ETA app. Decisions usually come within a day and can take up to 3 working days. It lasts 2 years or until the passport expires, whichever is sooner, and allows visits of up to 6 months ¹⁰.
• Australia: the ETA lets travellers visit as often as they wish in 12 months and stay up to 3 months each time. There is a service charge of AUD20 to use the Australian ETA app and no other charge. Most results come immediately ¹¹.
• Kenya: the eTA was unveiled on 5 January 2024 under regulations gazetted on 2 January 2024. It cost USD 30 at launch, with a processing time of three working days ¹⁴. In June 2025 the Interior Cabinet Secretary announced changes that exempt more countries ¹⁵.

ETIAS: status as of October 2026

ETIAS is the EU's planned travel authorisation for visa-free visitors to 30 European countries for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period ³. The fee will be €20. Applicants under 18 or over 70 will not pay. An approved ETIAS will last three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first ².

As of 19 October 2026, ETIAS is not in operation. The official FAQ, last edited on 28 August 2026, says no applications are being collected and that the EU will announce the start date several months before launch ². Earlier EU pages gave the last quarter of 2026 as the target ^3,4. In July 2026, press reports citing the Financial Times said the launch could slip to 2027. An eu-LISA spokesperson confirmed that its management board discussed ETIAS entry into operation on 17 June 2026 ⁵. No official start date had been published as of 19 October 2026.

How applications are checked

ETA systems compare the applicant's details with records already held by the state. For ETIAS, Frontex says the ETIAS system will check applications against EU systems such as the Schengen Information System, the Visa Information System and the Entry/Exit System. If an application raises concerns, the ETIAS Central Unit at Frontex reviews it and passes it to the relevant national unit for a final decision. Frontex expects about 97 percent of applications to be approved automatically within minutes ⁴.

The EU says most ETIAS applications will be processed within minutes, or at the latest within 96 hours. Some applicants may be asked for more documents or an interview, which can add up to 30 days ². The UK ETA asks applicants to scan their passport and take a photo of their face ¹⁰.

Who runs the portals

Official ETA portals are usually run by the government border or immigration agency. In the EU, eu-LISA develops the ETIAS system and Frontex hosts the ETIAS Central Unit, with national units in 30 countries ^3,4. In the UK, UK Visas and Immigration handles ETA queries ¹⁰. Kenya's eTA portal is run by the Directorate of Immigration Services under the Ministry of Interior and National Administration ¹³. India's e-Visa portal is a Government of India site ¹².

For paper visas, some governments use contractors. The European Commission notes that visa service centres collect applications on behalf of consulates in some cases, and that an extra fee may apply ¹.

How to avoid unofficial sites

Many websites offer to file ETA and e-visa applications for a fee on top of the official charge. Governments warn about them. GOV.UK says other websites may charge more and advises people to avoid sites that imitate government services. It says you cannot get a faster decision by applying through another website or app ¹⁰.

The EU says the official ETIAS website is the only EU site for direct applications. Intermediary sites collect your data, file the application on the official site, and may charge extra fees. Any amount above €20 goes to the intermediary ². India's portal says the government charges no emergency or express fees for e-visas ¹².

• Start from the government's own domain, such as gov.uk, canada.ca or europa.eu, or from an official app named on that site ^9,10,2.
• Compare the fee with the official figure. A higher charge means a third party is involved ^2,10.
• Use an email address you control. All updates about the application go there ².
• Do not pay for speed. The UK says other sites give no faster decision, and India says it charges no express fees ^10,12.