If you hold a Malaysian passport, you have been entering most of Europe without a visa for years. That is not changing. What is changing is that you will need a short online pre-travel authorisation before you board your flight — similar to the ESTA if you have ever travelled to the United States.
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System — ETIAS — is designed to pre-screen travellers from visa-exempt countries before they arrive at the border. It does not replace your visa-free access. It adds a short digital step before your trip.
ETIAS is expected to become mandatory in the last quarter of 2026. The specific date has not yet been confirmed by the European Commission; it will be announced several months before the system goes live.
Which countries require it
ETIAS covers the 30 Schengen Area countries — including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal, Greece, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic, among others. If you are planning a Europe trip and it involves any Schengen country, you will need an ETIAS.
Countries outside the Schengen Area — such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, Turkey, and Georgia — are not covered. The UK has its own separate Electronic Travel Authorisation, which is already in operation.
How much does it cost and how long is it valid
The ETIAS fee is €20 per person, payable by credit or debit card at the time of application. Travellers under 18 or over 70 are exempt from the fee.
Once approved, your ETIAS is valid for 3 years — or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. One authorisation covers all 30 Schengen countries for multiple trips, each of up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
What you will need to apply
The application is online and takes under 10 minutes. You will need:
- A valid Malaysian passport (not expiring within 3 months of your intended travel date, and issued within the last 10 years)
- An email address
- A credit or debit card for the €20 fee
- Basic personal information: full name, date of birth, passport details, and travel plans
- Answers to standard security and health screening questions — these are yes or no
No document upload is required. The authorisation is electronically linked to your passport, so you must travel with the same passport you used to apply.
Where to apply — and what to avoid
Apply only through the official EU portal: travel-europe.europa.eu/etias
This is the only legitimate application channel. Third-party websites may charge additional service fees on top of the €20 EU fee. Some are authorised concierge services that handle the form on your behalf — but they will disclose any additional charge separately. If a site is not transparent about its fee structure, avoid it.
The portal is not yet open as of June 2026. The European Commission will announce the opening date in advance of the Q4 2026 mandatory launch.
When should you apply
Most applications are processed within minutes. However, a small number are flagged for manual review, which can take up to 96 hours. In rare cases, referral to national authorities may extend the process to 30 days.
The practical advice: do not apply the day before your trip. Apply as soon as the portal opens — even if your travel is months away. An ETIAS approved in late 2026 will remain valid through 2029, covering all your Europe travel in that window.
Does this affect your current Europe travel plans
No. As of June 2026, ETIAS is not yet in operation. You can travel to the Schengen Area on your Malaysian passport without any additional authorisation until the mandatory date is confirmed and announced.
If you are travelling to Europe before the end of 2026, check the official ETIAS website closer to your departure date for the latest status. Airlines will be required to verify ETIAS at check-in once the system is live, so having your authorisation in order before you reach the airport matters.
A note on ETIAS vs a Schengen visa
ETIAS is not a visa and does not replace a Schengen visa. If you currently require a Schengen visa to enter Europe — which most Malaysian passport holders do not — ETIAS does not apply to you. Visa holders are screened through the standard consular process.
If you are unsure which category applies to your passport, check with the relevant European embassy or consulate before making travel arrangements.
If you are planning a Europe trip and want help putting together an itinerary that makes the most of your 90 days, enquire about our Europe tours at nextrip.my.