Tourist Visa to France: All the Information You Need About ETIAS – Updated for 2026

Do Israelis need a visa to France?

Starting in the last quarter of 2026, every Israeli citizen (including minors) will be required to issue an electronic entry permit called ETIAS Before flying to France and other European countries. This is not a traditional visa, but an express travel authorization issued online. The fee is 7 euros (exempt for children under 18 and adults over 70), the authorization is valid for 3 years, and requires a valid Israeli biometric passport. After many years in which we enjoyed completely free entry to European countries, the reality is changing. Tourists from Israel who wish to fly on vacation, whether it is in search of ETIAS Paris For a romantic weekend, a family trip to the Black Forest or a relaxing vacation in Greece, you will need to issue an entry permit in advance, called ETIAS. Don’t panic! You don’t need a long and complicated process with the embassy to get what many mistakenly call a “visa to France” or a “visa to Europe.” In fact, it is a smart digital travel authorization system designed to make border crossings faster and safer. In this comprehensive guide, I have compiled for you all the most up-to-date, accurate, and complete information on the subject. But before we get into the nitty-gritty, I recommend watching the following video to get you started:

Identity card: Everything you need to know about ETIAS at a glance

Property	Detail
Launch target date	Last quarter of 2026
Cost of the fee	Only 7 euros
Exemption from payment	Children under 18, adults over 70
Certificate validity	3 years (or until the passport expires – whichever comes first)
Allowed stay time	Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
Mandatory passport requirement	Biometric passport only, valid for 3 months from the date of departure

What is ETIAS and why does the European Union require it?

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (for short) ETIAS) is not a traditional visa as we know it from the United States (until recently) or other countries, but a visa waiver system, similar to the American ESTA system or the Canadian and British ETA. The purpose of the system is to collect information on travelers from visa-exempt countries (such as Israel). Before that they reach Europe's borders. In doing so, the European Union seeks to achieve several key objectives:

• Increasing security: Early screening of passengers who may pose a security threat, terrorism or serious crime.
• Preventing illegal immigration: Identifying people who may take advantage of the visa exemption to settle or work in Europe illegally.
• Public health protection: Identifying health risks and epidemics at early stages.
• Streamlining border crossings: A pre-approved traveler will pass through border control more smoothly and quickly, significantly reducing long queues at airports such as Charles de Gaulle in Paris or Schiphol in Amsterdam.

Which countries require ETIAS approval?

It is important to understand that the authorization is not limited to France. ETIAS is required for entry into 30 European countries (most of which are members of the Schengen area). Once you have the authorization, you can move freely between these countries without having to obtain a separate authorization for each country. The list includes, among others:

• Western and Central European countries: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Portugal, Greece.
• Northern European countries: Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland.
• Eastern European and Balkan countries: Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus (which recently joined the system requirements).

Which countries do not require ETIAS? Ireland is not part of the Schengen area and therefore does not require the permit. The UK is also not part of the European Union and has its own system for tourists called the ETA.

EES vs. ETIAS: Let's clear up the confusion

One of the most common mistakes Israeli tourists make today is the confusion between the two new European Union systems: EES and ETIAS. Both complement each other, but operate at completely different stages of your trip.

How to apply for ETIAS? Step-by-step guide

The application process is expected to be simple, fast and user-friendly. It usually takes between 10 and 20 minutes. Here are the steps you need to know to get your “France visa” without any problems:

Step 1: Preliminary preparations

Before you sit down to fill out the form, make sure you have the following items:

• Biometric Israeli passport: Old passports that are not biometric will not be accepted in the system! The passport must be issued within the last 10 years and be valid for at least 3 months from your planned departure date from the Schengen area. If you have an old passport (without a chip), you will have to go through a long process of issuing a regular visa at the embassy, ​​so it is recommended to renew for biometric as soon as possible.
• International credit or debit card: For online fee payment.
• Active email address: Your ETIAS approval and any correspondence regarding this will be sent to it.

Step 2: Fill out the online application form

On the official website, you will be asked to fill in basic personal details in a secure system:

• Identifying details: First name, last name, date and place of birth, gender, nationality.
• Contact Information: Residential address, email address, telephone number.
• Passport details: Passport number, date of issue, expiration date.
• Occupational/Educational Information: General details about current profession or educational institution.
• Background and Security Questionnaire: You will be asked to answer honestly questions regarding criminal history, past illegal stays in European countries, travel to conflict or war zones, and specific medical conditions (in cases of serious infectious diseases that pose a danger to the public).

Step 3: Pay the fee

After filling out the form, you will be taken to the payment page. The fee is Only 7 eurosAs mentioned, children under 18 and adults over 70 are exempt from paying the fee, but they are still You must fill out the form and submit an application! (For minors, the parents or legal guardian will complete the application for them).

Step 4: Obtaining approval

After submitting the application and payment, the system will scan your data in real time against international and European databases (such as Interpol, Europol and the Schengen information systems). In the vast majority of cases, approval is granted. Automatically in a few minutes and will be sent directly to your email.

How long is the permit valid for and are there any restrictions?

The ETIAS approval you receive will be valid for a period of 3 years from the date of issue, or until your passport expires – whichever comes first. This means that if your passport expires in six months, your ETIAS will only be valid for six months, after which you will need to apply for a new permit with the new passport details. It is important to remember: ETIAS is not a work, long-stay or full-time study visa. It allows you to enter the Schengen countries. For tourism, business, short-term medical treatment or transit purposesYou are allowed to stay in Europe for up to 90 days in any 180-day period (the familiar 90/180 standard). If you wish to study or work in France for an extended period, you will need to obtain an appropriate visa through the French Embassy in Israel, and the ETIAS alone will not be sufficient.

What to do if the ETIAS application is rejected?

Although most applications are approved almost immediately, there may be situations where the system detects a discrepancy or requires manual review by the European authorities (ETIAS National Units). In such cases, the processing of the application may take up to 4 days. In more exceptional cases where additional information, supporting documents, or even an interview (which can be conducted virtually) is required, the process may take up to 14 or even 30 days. Therefore, my unequivocal recommendation is Submit the ETIAS application before booking flight tickets or paying for hotels! If your application is ultimately rejected, do not despair. This does not mean that the doors of France are closed to you forever. You will receive a detailed email explaining the reason for the rejection. The email will specifically state the authority and country that rejected the application, and you will receive clear instructions on how to appeal. For example, if the French immigration authorities rejected the application, the appeal process will be filed and managed in accordance with French law.

Frequently Asked Questions about ETIAS (France and Europe Visa)