It’s been a tough few months for Europe’s tourism industry, with travellers facing major delays on the borders due to the introduction of the Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES).
Now, the launch of a separate scheme – the new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) – could also be facing delays, according to the UK’s Financial Times, after the “chaotic rollout” of the EES electronic border-check system “disrupted visits to the bloc”.
The launch of ETIAS, a new online system to pre-authorise entry to the EU, is set to be delayed until 2027, the FT reported. While the ETIAS website states that operations will start in the last quarter of 2026, and has not officially been postponed, the FT says it is “unlikely to be rolled out this year”.
Similar to the US ESTA system, ETIAS will see applicants pay €20 and undergo pre-travel security checks.
Even when ETIAS operations start, a transitional period of at least six months is planned. The EU says that “travellers should apply for their travel authorisation in this period, but those without one will not be denied entry if they fulfil the remaining entry conditions”.
