Europe’s much-delayed travel permit for visa-free visitors has hit yet another roadblock, with the European Union now pushing back the launch of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) indefinitely.
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The system, which will eventually require travellers from countries including the UK, US, Canada and Australia to apply for pre-travel authorisation, was previously expected to launch in 2027. Now, even that timeline is uncertain, as technical problems with Europe’s new border system continue to cause headaches.
For travellers, the message is simple for now: don’t apply, and don’t pay anyone claiming to offer ETIAS applications.
Last month, UK-based newspaper The Financial Times reported that the scheme was likely to be postponed and, on its website, the EU made the decision official, writing: "ETIAS is currently not in operation and no applications for travel authorizations are collected at this point.”
“The European Union will inform about the specific date for the start of ETIAS several months prior to its launch,” the statement added.
The move comes following chaos surrounding Europe’s new electronic entry/exit system (EES), which has seen passengers face huge airport queues and missed flights over the busy summer holiday season. That scheme was initially supposed to launch in 2022, but faced countless pushbacks.
When ETIAS does eventually launch, it’s set to cost €20 and grant access to 30 European countries in the Schengen Zone, as well as Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland. Children under 18, adults over 70, and some family members of EU citizens will reportedly be exempt from the charges.
It will be valid for three years or until your passport expires, and it will allow holders to stay in the Zone for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
Based on the US ESTA program, which has operated since 2008, applicants will need to complete an online form and provide personal information. They’ll also need to answer security questions and undergo pre-travel screening, with most applications expected to be approved within minutes.
According to reports, ETIAS officials are expected to put forward a revised ETIAS timeline next month and, while there are rumours it could still come into force this year, it seems more likely that a 2027 launch will be the case.