ETIAS for Italy: What Changes and What You Need in 2026

If you are planning a trip for 2027, you have probably seen ETIAS for Italy described as a new “visa” you must buy now. It is not, at least not yet. Two different EU systems are involved, and only one of them is running today. This guide explains both in plain English, with everything taken from the EU’s official travel website and checked on September 30, 2026.

ETIAS and EES for Italy at a glance

Source: the EU’s official ETIAS and EES pages on travel-europe.europa.eu, checked September 30, 2026.

Do I need ETIAS for Italy right now?

No. The official ETIAS website states that ETIAS is currently not in operation and that no applications for travel authorizations are being collected. The EU says it will announce the specific start date several months before launch. Until then, US, UK, Canadian and Australian citizens need no pre-travel authorization for a short stay in Italy: a valid passport is enough, plus the new border registration described below.

So be wary of any website that offers to process an ETIAS application today. The EU’s own guidance is that you will apply through the official ETIAS website or the official ETIAS mobile app once ETIAS starts, and that all official EU websites are on the europa.eu domain. Paying anyone for an ETIAS today buys you nothing.

What ETIAS will cost and how it will work

Once it launches, ETIAS will be required for visa-exempt travelers entering 30 European countries, Italy included. According to the official site:

• Fee: €20 per application. Applicants under 18 or over 70 are exempt from the payment.
• Validity: three years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. A new passport means a new application.
• Processing: most applications will be processed within minutes, and you get a reply within 96 hours at the latest. If you are asked for more information or an interview, it can take up to 30 more days.
• Length of stay: up to 90 days within any 180-day period, across all the countries that require ETIAS.

The practical advice for a 2027 trip: book as usual now, and apply for ETIAS only after the EU announces the launch, well before you fly. The EU recommends applying well in advance, even if most answers will arrive in minutes.

The EES: what happens at the Italian border now

The Entry/Exit System is already live. It registers non-EU nationals on a short stay each time they cross the external border of one of 29 European countries, Italy included. After a six-month progressive rollout that ended on April 9, 2026, the EES has been fully operational at all external border crossing points since April 10, 2026. Passport stamping no longer exists once the EES is operational.

In practice, when you land at Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa or any other Italian airport from outside the Schengen area:

• First entry: your passport data, fingerprints and a facial image are recorded. Children under 12 do not have their fingerprints scanned, according to the EU.
• Self-service kiosks: where available, you can register at a kiosk first, then go to the passport control lane.
• Later trips: your data may already be on file, and the self-service systems let you check whether it is still recorded.
• Exit: your departure is recorded too, which is how the system counts your 90 days.

Cyprus and Ireland are not on the EU’s list of countries using the EES, so a trip that combines Italy and Ireland means two different border regimes.

Can I pre-register for Italy with the Travel to Europe app?

Not yet. The EU’s Travel to Europe app lets non-EU travelers pre-register passport data and a facial image up to 72 hours before a border crossing, but only where a country has enabled it. As of September 30, 2026, the official page lists Sweden, with passport data, facial image and questionnaire, and Portugal, with the questionnaire only. Italy is not on the list, so you register at the airport.

The 90/180-day rule, explained for an Italy trip

Both systems use the same rule: up to 90 days in any 180-day period, counted as a single total for all the countries in the area. Days in France, Spain or Greece count toward the same 90 as your days in Italy. A two-week trip is nowhere near the limit, but back-to-back trips can be: if you spent 60 days in Europe this spring, you have only 30 left in the following months, until the earliest days drop out of the 180-day window.

Because the EES records every entry and exit, the count is now electronic rather than based on passport stamps. The EU’s official site has a calculator to check how long you can stay.

Passport checklist for Italy

• Your passport should be valid for more than three months after the day you plan to leave, and issued within the last 10 years, according to the EU’s ETIAS guidance.
• Keep it with you for the flight home: your exit is recorded at the border.
• For the rest of your practical planning, from money to tipping, see our Italy travel tips.

Arriving by air? Our guides to getting from Fiumicino to Rome and from Malpensa to Milan pick up after passport control. On a cruise, see Civitavecchia to Rome.

Now the fun part. Paperwork is the least exciting part of any trip. Once it is done, these guides help you plan the rest.

• 7 days in Italy: Rome, Florence and Venice by train.
• trains in Italy: Trenitalia vs Italo, tickets, stations and strikes.
• Italy tourist tax: city-by-city rates to budget for.
• best time to visit Italy: weather, crowds and prices month by month.

ETIAS for Italy: frequently asked questions

Do US citizens need ETIAS for Italy?

Not yet. ETIAS is not in operation as of September 30, 2026. Once it launches, US citizens and other visa-exempt travelers will need it to enter Italy and the other ETIAS countries.

When does ETIAS start?

There is no official date yet. The EU says it will announce the specific start date several months before ETIAS launches.

How much will ETIAS cost?

The official fee is €20 per application. Applicants under 18 or over 70 are exempt from the payment.

Is the EES the same as ETIAS?

No. ETIAS is a travel authorization you will apply for before your trip. The EES is the border registration system that records your fingerprints, facial image and dates of entry and exit. The EES has been fully operational since April 10, 2026.

Will my passport still be stamped in Italy?

No. With the EES fully operational, entries and exits are recorded electronically and passport stamping no longer exists.

Sources: European Union, official ETIAS website and ETIAS FAQ; official EES website, EES FAQ and Travel to Europe app page. All checked September 30, 2026. This page will be updated as soon as the EU announces the ETIAS start date.