Postponed: ETIAS Travel Authorization System Won’t Become Mandatory Until 2027

EU Home Affairs Ministers have endorsed a revised timeline for the implementation of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), postponing its introduction until the last quarter of 2026.

The digital border management initiative won’t become fully mandatory for travelers until April 2027.

The delay marks another setback for the EU’s border modernization efforts, which include the companion Entry/Exit System (EES). According to a March 7 announcement from the Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, the EES will begin operations in October 2025. ETIAS will follow at least a year later.

The implementation timeline includes multiple transition periods. When ETIAS launches in late 2026, it will remain optional for the first six months until approximately April 2027. During this transitional phase, visa-exempt travelers will be encouraged to apply, but the EU won’t refuse them entry if they meet other entry criteria.

From April 2027, the authorization will become mandatory for most travelers, with a final six-month grace period for first-time visitors. By October 2027—nearly a decade after the EU initially approved the system —ETIAS will be fully compulsory for all eligible travelers.

According to the EU’s Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, this gradual approach “would give border authorities and the transport industry more time to adjust to the new procedures.”

ETIAS will require travelers from 59 visa-exempt countries, including the UK and US, to complete an online application and pay a €7 fee before short stays in the Schengen Area.

Please attribute to ETIAS.COM.

The authorization will remain valid for three years or until the traveler’s passport expires. Children under 18 and adults over 70 will be exempt from the fee but must still apply.

The phased rollout of the EES reflects ongoing technical challenges. After the system launches in October 2025, member states will initially register just 10% of travelers crossing borders.

Full biometric functionality will only become mandatory after two months. The EU expects complete implementation by April 2026.

This marks the fifth delay for the ETIAS system. The European Commission originally scheduled the system to begin operations in 2021.

The European Commission announced that the timeline requires all border crossings—including airports, ferry ports, and land borders—to have functioning technology before the systems launch.

Official EU communications also advise travelers to be aware of potential fraudulent websites falsely offering ETIAS services before implementation.

The Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs maintains that both systems aim to modernize the EU’s border control operations.

The EES will replace manual passport stamping, and ETIAS intends to strengthen border security by pre-screening visa-exempt travelers before they arrive at European borders.