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ETIAS vs Schengen Visa: What Applies to You?
The confusion is huge, but the rule is simple: your nationality determines everything. Visa-free nationalities will move to ETIAS; visa-required nationalities continue the classic Schengen visa process. Here is the full comparison.
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Comparison table
| Criteria | ETIAS | Schengen Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Who | Visa-free nationalities (US, UK, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Mexico...) | Visa-required nationalities (Algeria, Morocco, India, Nigeria, Turkey...) |
| Type | Electronic travel authorisation | Visa (sticker in passport) |
| Process | Online form, a few minutes | Full file + appointment at consulate or visa center (TLScontact, VFS, BLS) |
| Cost | 20 € (free under 18 and over 70) | 90 euro visa fee for an adult, plus center fees |
| Processing time | A few minutes to 4 days (up to 30 if an interview is required) | Several days to several weeks |
| Validity | 3 years, multiple entries | Depends on the visa issued (stay dates or multi-entry) |
| Insurance | Not required (recommended) | Mandatory: 30,000 euro minimum, Article 15 |
| Stays | 90 days max per 180 | 90 days max per 180 (type C visa) |
How to know which applies to you
If today you fly to Europe with your passport alone, you will be affected by ETIAS at launch. If today you must obtain a visa at the consulate, nothing changes for you: same file, same mandatory insurance, ETIAS does not apply to you. Dual citizenship with a European passport exempts you from both.
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Insurance in both cases
For the Schengen visa, the compliant certificate is a mandatory file document: without it, the file is incomplete. For ETIAS, no insurance is required, but European medical costs make coverage essential in practice. In both cases, the plans are the same and can be compared in 2 minutes.
Travel insurance from 1 €/day for your Europe trip
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✓ Instant certificate · ✓ No commitment · ✓ Secure payment
