Is the EU bringing back paid visas for Ukrainians? What ETIAS actually changes

Publication date: 27 August 2026

Claim

A Belarusian Radio broadcast claimed that visas for Ukrainian citizens travelling to the European Union would become paid again from the end of 2026. The presenter cited a mandatory travel authorisation costing EUR 20 as evidence.

Verdict

False and misleading. The EU has not announced the end of visa-free travel for Ukrainian citizens. ETIAS is an electronic travel authorisation for short visits by nationals of visa-exempt countries, not a Schengen visa. It is not limited to Ukrainians. People who benefit from temporary protection in the EU are also exempt from ETIAS when they can demonstrate that status.

In brief

• ETIAS is intended for travellers who do not need a visa for short visits to 30 European countries.

• Ukrainian citizens with biometric passports are part of the general group of visa-exempt travellers, alongside citizens of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Georgia and other countries.

• The standard application fee will be EUR 20. An authorisation will remain valid for up to three years or until the passport expires.

• ETIAS is not operating yet. The official EU website says that applications are not being collected and that the specific launch date will be announced several months in advance.

• Beneficiaries of temporary protection do not need ETIAS. Temporary protection for displaced people from Ukraine is in place until March 2027.

Why this matters

Calling a travel authorisation a visa creates the false impression that the EU is withdrawing visa-free access from Ukrainians or imposing a charge specifically on them. It mixes up three different legal situations: a short visa-free visit, a Schengen visa and residence under temporary protection.

The wording also hides the general scope of ETIAS. The system applies according to nationality and the purpose of a short trip, not as a special measure against Ukraine. Incorrect descriptions of the rules may prompt people to pay intermediaries for applications that do not yet exist or to assume that their current documents are no longer valid.

What we checked

We compared the broadcast claim documented by the Belarusian Investigative Center with current European Union pages on ETIAS. We checked the purpose of the system, the list of nationalities, the fee, validity, launch status and the exemption for beneficiaries of temporary protection.

We also checked whether ETIAS means the return of a visa requirement for Ukrainians. Official EU material describes it as an authorisation for visa-exempt travellers and separately explains that ETIAS is not a visa.

Evidence

1. ETIAS is designed for visa-exempt travellers

The official EU portal defines ETIAS as a new travel authorisation for visa-exempt nationals visiting 30 European countries for a short stay. The normal limit is up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

If the EU were restoring a Schengen visa requirement for Ukrainians, they would not be in the visa-exempt category for which ETIAS was created. Ukraine's inclusion in that category shows that the system is an additional electronic check within visa-free travel, not its cancellation.

2. Ukraine is not singled out for a special paid category

The official "Who should apply" page places Ukraine in a general list of visa-exempt countries and territories. The same list includes the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Moldova, Georgia and Serbia, among many others.

A document condition applies to Ukrainian citizens: a biometric passport that meets international standards is eligible for ETIAS. A non-biometric passport may require a visa, but that is not a new rule restoring paid visas for every Ukrainian citizen.

3. A EUR 20 fee does not make ETIAS a visa

An ETIAS application will cost EUR 20 for most fee-paying applicants. The authorisation will be linked to the passport and valid for up to three years, or until that passport expires if it expires sooner. Most applications are expected to be processed automatically within minutes, although individual cases may take longer.

A visa and ETIAS serve different groups of travellers. A visa is generally required from citizens who do not have visa-free access and follows a separate consular procedure. ETIAS is completed online by people who already have the right to make short visits without a visa.

4. Beneficiaries of temporary protection are exempt

The official EU page explaining who should apply says that beneficiaries of the Temporary Protection Directive do not need an ETIAS travel authorisation. A person must be able to demonstrate that status to use the exemption.

The European Commission says temporary protection for people displaced from Ukraine by Russia's invasion is in place until March 2027. That status provides a right of residence and is legally different from a short tourist or business visit.

5. The system is not accepting applications yet

As of 27 August 2026, the official ETIAS website says that the system is not in operation and no applications are being collected. The EU says it will announce the specific start date several months before launch.

Any message urging travellers to pay for or urgently obtain ETIAS now should therefore be treated with particular care. The official source is hosted on the europa.eu domain.

What remains unknown

The exact date when ETIAS will start has not yet been published on the official portal. Transitional arrangements and practical instructions for carriers and travellers may be clarified before launch.

An individual's requirements depend on the passport, residence status, temporary protection and purpose of travel. This fact-check is not a substitute for individual migration advice.

Conclusion

The claim that paid visas are returning for Ukrainians is false. ETIAS does not cancel visa-free travel and is not a visa. It is a general electronic authorisation for short visits by citizens of many visa-exempt countries. Beneficiaries of temporary protection are exempt, and the system was still not accepting applications on the publication date.

Sources

1. Belarusian Investigative Center, fact-check of the Belarusian Radio claim: https://www.belarusfiles.org/en/fakenews/belarus-radio-etias-ukraine-paid-visas-claim

2. Official EU portal, ETIAS home page and current launch status: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias

3. Official EU portal, what ETIAS is, validity and processing: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias/about-etias/what-is-etias

4. Official EU portal, who should apply and who is exempt: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias/about-etias/who-should-apply

5. Official EU portal, travel document requirements for Ukrainian citizens: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias/how-to-apply/what-you-need-to-apply

6. European Commission, temporary protection for displaced people from Ukraine: https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/migration-and-asylum/asylum-eu/temporary-protection_en

7. European Commission, the EUR 20 ETIAS fee: https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/news/european-travel-authorisation-etias-will-cost-eur-20-2025-07-17_en

Corrections and updates

If the EU publishes a new official ETIAS launch date or revised rules after publication, we will update this article and record the change in this section.