In just a few months, the new regulations for traveling to the Schengen Area will take effect, requiring travelers to submit the ETIAS (SEIAV) form online—we’re already just one step away. But with every change come doubts and uncertainties, which are mounting as we approach the start date, which is expected to be October 1 of this year, 2026. And it’s very likely that one of the most common questions among travelers is: if I plan to travel multiple times in the same year, will I have to pay the fee every time I travel?

It’s a perfectly reasonable question, since one possibility is that it’s an entry fee, as many countries have, although it’s usually included in the cost of the plane ticket, which we’ve already paid. But the answer to our question is: with a valid ETIAS, we’ll have already paid the corresponding fee, and that payment will be sufficient for the 3 years the authorization is valid. Keep in mind that if your passport expires before the 3-year validity period of the ETIAS – SEIAV form, the authorization also expires. So you’ll have to pay again to apply for a new ETIAS form, which will be linked to your new passport.

The same applies if you lose your passport and need to have a new one issued—whether on an emergency basis or not. The lost passport is no longer valid, so you will need to apply for a new ETIAS – SEIAV to accompany the new passport you will receive. Each passport has a different number, so you must apply for a new travel authorization to ensure the new passport number is included and all the information matches correctly.

We must do everything possible to avoid any issues at the airport that might prevent us from catching our flight on time, and if you show up with an ETIAS that doesn’t match your passport, we have a serious problem. The airline’s ground staff are responsible for checking all your documentation and its validity, so you must ensure that your ETIAS – SEIAV travel authorization matches your current passport exactly.

And be careful!! You can only travel once every 6 months, as each stay is limited to 90 days.