Brussels, July 10, 2026 — The European Union is expected to postpone the launch of its new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) until 2027, following operational difficulties during the rollout of the new Entry/Exit System (EES) at Europe's external borders.
The delay has not yet been formally confirmed through updated EU legislation, but multiple reports indicate that EU institutions are preparing to push back the implementation timetable after border authorities experienced significant disruption during the introduction of the biometric Entry/Exit System.
ETIAS is a pre-travel authorisation system for visa-exempt travellers entering most European countries in the Schengen Area.
It is similar in concept to:
- The UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
- The US ESTA system
- Canada's eTA
Travellers from countries that do not normally require a Schengen visa, including the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and many others, will need to obtain ETIAS approval before travelling once the system becomes operational.
Why is the launch being delayed?
According to reports, the European Commission and member states want to ensure that the Entry/Exit System is operating reliably before introducing another major border technology.
The EES electronically records:
- passport details,
- biometric information,
- dates of entry and exit,
- and automatically calculates permitted stays.
Several airports, airlines and border authorities have reported operational challenges as the system has been introduced, leading EU officials to reconsider the timing of ETIAS.
At the time of publication:
- ETIAS has not started.
- Visa-free travel rules remain unchanged.
- Travellers should continue following the current entry requirements for the Schengen Area.
Until the European Union officially confirms a new implementation date, no traveller is required to apply for ETIAS.
Once introduced, ETIAS will apply to most visa-exempt travellers visiting Europe for short stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
It is not a visa. Instead, travellers will complete an online application before departure and receive travel authorisation after automated security checks in most cases.
The system is expected to affect millions of visitors every year, including tourists, business travellers and family visitors.
Anyone planning to visit Europe in 2026 should continue checking the official ETIAS website before travelling, as implementation dates may change.
Reports indicate that the European Union is preparing to delay ETIAS until 2027 following issues with the rollout of the Entry/Exit System. However, until the European Commission formally updates the implementation timetable, travellers should treat the delay as expected but not yet officially enacted. Existing Schengen travel rules remain unchanged.