Travellers heading to Europe can put their wallets away for now. The long-dreaded (and repeatedly delayed) European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) has been pushed back yet again, now set to launch in late 2026.
“ETIAS will start operations in the last quarter of 2026,” states an update on the official ETIAS website. “No action is required from travellers at this point.” In other words, there’s nothing to see here just yet.
However, due to a transitional and grace period, applying for an ETIAS before traveling to the bloc will not be mandatory until 2027, according to local media reports.
Originally set to debut in 2021, ETIAS has been stuck in a cycle of delays. The latest holdup is tied to the rollout of the Entry/Exit System (EES), a digital border management system that must be in place before ETIAS can go live. While the European Council has confirmed that EES will be introduced over six months, they’ve yet to pin down an exact date – so, naturally, ETIAS gets kicked further down the road – a win for travellers everywhere.
When, or if, ETIAS is finally set into motion, it will require visitors from 60 visa-exempt countries to obtain advance approval and pay a €7 application fee before entering any of the 29 Schengen Zone countries. Travellers under 18 and over 70 will need approval but can skip the fee.
For now, those planning European getaways can enjoy a little more red tape-free travel – at least until the next delay.