ETIAS Postponed: New Timeline and What Travelers Need to Know

The launch of the ETIAS system has been postponed several times since 2022. As of September 2026, the European Union has not yet confirmed an official date. The year 2027 remains the most likely possibility, though this is not guaranteed.

Status as of September 2026: The ETIAS launch, originally scheduled for late 2026, will not take place. The European Union has not yet announced a new official date. The next announcement is expected at the eu-LISA Council meeting. The year 2027 has been suggested as a likely timeframe, but no specific date has been confirmed.

Timeline of Successive Delays to ETIAS

Since its inception, the ETIAS project has undergone numerous schedule adjustments. Here are the key milestones:

📅

2016 — Official Proposal

Official proposal by the European Commission for the ETIAS system, as part of efforts to strengthen security at the external borders of the Schengen Area.

📅

2018 — Adoption of the regulation

Adoption of the ETIAS Regulation by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. The program is then expected to launch in 2022.

📅

2022–2024 — First postponements

The initial launch dates that had been planned (2022, then 2023, then 2024) were successively scrapped due to technical delays related, in particular, to the EES system.

📅

2025 — Another postponement

The launch has been postponed until late 2026. The Entry/Exit System (EES), on which ETIAS depends, was finally launched on October 12, 2025.

📅

2026 — Postponement Confirmed

The launch, originally scheduled for late 2026, has been canceled. The eu-LISA agency confirms that deployment in 2026 is no longer feasible. No new official date has been announced.

📅

2027 — Likely Outlook

The year 2027 is now most commonly cited as the launch date, though this has not been officially confirmed. An announcement from the European Commission is expected several months before the actual rollout.

Why was the launch of ETIAS delayed?

The postponement of the ETIAS system is due to a combination of several technical and organizational factors.

Dependence on the EES system

The ETIAS system relies on the proper functioning of the Entry/Exit System (EES), which is designed to record travelers’ entries and exits at European borders. Until this system became operational, the rollout of ETIAS was impossible. The EES was finally launched on October 12, 2025, but its phased implementation has itself been delayed.

Technical coordination at the European level

The rollout of ETIAS requires coordination among all Schengen Area countries, the interconnection of several European security databases, and the upgrading of IT systems at border crossings. This complexity has caused additional delays at every stage.

A Commitment to a Gradual Transition

The European Union wants to avoid an abrupt rollout that could cause delays at the borders. A transition period is planned to allow travelers to adjust, airlines to get organized, and authorities to resolve any technical issues before the rules take full effect.

What Will Change for Travelers with ETIAS

Once the ETIAS system is launched, a new requirement will be added for nationals of visa-exempt countries before traveling to Europe. The main changes are:

Requirement to complete the ETIAS form online before departure;
Automatic verification of traveler data against European databases;
Mandatory authorization to board — verification by airlines;
You may be denied entry into the Schengen Area without a valid ETIAS.

Reminder: The ETIAS system does not replace a Schengen visa. It is an additional requirement for travelers who are currently exempt from the visa requirement. Nationals required to have a Schengen visa are not affected by ETIAS. The ETIAS fee is set at €20 and is valid for 3 years for multiple visits.

What you need to do now

Even though the ETIAS system is not yet in effect, there are certain precautions you can take in advance:

Check your passport: A biometric passport will be required to apply for ETIAS. Make sure it is valid before your next trip to Europe;
Follow the official announcements: The European Commission will announce the official launch date of ETIAS on the travel-europe.europa.eu website;
Be wary of fake websites: Many unofficial websites are already offering ETIAS applications. It is not yet possible to apply. The only authorized website will be the official European portal.

Who will be affected by ETIAS?

The ETIAS system will apply to travelers who are nationals of countries exempt from visa requirements for the Schengen Area. Please visit our pages dedicated to your specific nationality:

Brazilians All countries →